THE SIGNING OF THE INTERNATIONAL TREATY FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT, DEVELOPMENT AND MANAGEMENT OF THE !AI- !AIS/RICHTERSVELD TRANSFRONTIER PARK

INTRODUCTION Negotiations for the establishment, development and management of the !Ai-!Ais/Richtersveld Transfrontier Park started six years ago. In October 2000 Minister Mohammed Valli Moosa and his Namibian counterpart Minister Malima signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) providing a political support and framework for the initiative to move forward

INTRODUCTION ….. Continued Since the MoU came into effect, several negotiation processes have taken place inside South Africa with relevant stakeholders and government departments, as well as with the government of Namibia. Stemming from those negotiations a treaty on the establishment, development and management of !Ai- !Ais/Richtersveld Transfrontier Park has been signed by Presidents Thabo Mbeki and Sam Nujoma on 1 August 2003, in Windhoek, Namibia.

INTRODUCTION ….. Continued The !Ai-!Ais/Richtersveld Transfrontier Park (ARTFP) is 6.222km² in extent, with 39% in South Africa and 61% in Namibia. The Transfrontier Park spans some of the most spectacular scenery of the arid and the desert environment in Southern Africa. It comprises the !Ai-Ais Hot Springs Game Park in Namibia and the Richtersveld National Park in South Africa.

INTRODUCTION ….. Continued This arid zone is further characterized by a unique and impressive variety of Succulent plant species, which makes the transfrontier park an undisputed biodiversity “ Hot spot “.

THE IMPORTANCE OF THE TREATY ON THE ESTABLISHMENT, DEVELOPMENT AND MANAGEMENT OF THE !AI- !AIS/RICHTERSVELD TRANSFRONTIER PARK

THE OBJECTIVES OF THE TREATY SHALL BE TO: Foster trans-national collaboration and co- operation between Namibia and South Africa which will facilitate effective ecosystem management in the area comprising the Transfrontier Park. Promote alliances in the management of natural and cultural resources by encouraging social, economic, responsible tourism and partnerships between the two countries, including the Private Sector, local communities and non-governmental organizations.

THE OBJECTIVES OF THE TREATY SHALL BE TO:.. continued Enhance ecosystem integrity and natural ecological processes by harmonizing environmental management procedures across the boundaries. Facilitate the establishment and maintenance of sustainable sub-regional economic base through appropriate development frameworks, strategies and work plans. Establish mechanism to facilitate the exchange of technical, scientific, economic and legal information for the joint management of the ecosystem.

The implementation of the treaty.. Continued Signing of the treaty heralds the beginning of the implementation of this initiative. The implementation shall be done through the establishment of the Bilateral Ministerial Committee which shall be responsible for the overall policy guidance in the management of the Transfrontier Park Joint Management Board (JMB) which shall be responsible for the development and implementation of Joint Management and Integrated Tourism plans.

The implementation of the treaty… Continued The JMB shall consist of Namibian and South African officials including Community Representative in the case of South Africa.

Conditions and potential of the area The Communities living around the !Ai- !Ais/Richtersveld Transfrontier Park currently face high levels of poverty, unemployment, inadequate basic services and limited infrastructure The scaling down of the mining operations is worsening the situation.

Conditions and potential of the area… Continued The development of the !Ai-!Ais/Richtersveld Transfrontier Park has a potential to create sustainable economic growth for the region through investments in tourism infrastructure development and promotion of desert tourism by linking Richtersveld National Park to !Ai- !Ais Hot Spring Game Park which attracts an estimated number of tourist per annum.

Conditions and potential of the area… Continued The !Ai-!Ais Hot Spring Game Park has well developed tourism facilities with capacity to accommodate 146 overnight visitors, whereas, the Richtersveld National Park has limited accommodation, which amount to ten beds Arid Guest Cottage and three camping sites accommodating maximum of six persons per site. As part of the implementation of tourism strategy the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism has, through its Poverty Relief Programme allocated R27,260,000 towards tourism infrastructure development

Conditions and potential of the area… Continued The allocated funds are part of a broader Government objective to alleviate poverty, through improving tourism potential by creating necessary facilities. One of the main challenges associated with the implementation of the Transfrontier Park, is the rehabilitation of diamond mining areas on both sides of the Orange River.