Africa Wild

Molewa addressing the official opening of the Mapungubwe Interpretation Centre at the Mapungubwe National Park

She said her department recently hosted an expert meeting on the subject of World Heritage and Mining bringing together development with conservation.

We have to find some info on this meeting


Molewa's speech

The meeting was probably more to do with Fracking...but I'm sure there will be some sort of release...


This part always confuses me:

We can only have all South Africans taking pride in our parks when they start understanding the value of conservation

Sometimes it is quoted that SA's various populations have historically always lived in harmony with nature, and that it forms an integral part of said cultures. Sometimes it is suggested that communities have scarcely any knowledge of the value of natural areas.

All a bit paternalistic, I think.

As said before, the tourism value alone of Conservation areas is perfectly understood by all South Africans.

It's not only conservation of nature, but also of history (re Mapungubwe)