1. ANNUAL REPORT 2003/2004 PRESENTATION TO PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE

2. ACHIVEMENTS ORGANISED V th WPC ESTABLISHMENT OF P&C KNP RECORDS 1.3 MILLION VISITORS WILD CARD (83 838) –INTERNATIONAL WILD PASS WORKING FOR WATER –ISCU established –169 701ha cleared POVERTY RELIEF PROGRAMME –TOURISM INFRASTRUCTURE UPGRADES –6 641 people employed –169 SMMEs used

3. CHALLENGES LAND CLAIMS –KNP claims –Management challenges ELEPHANT MANAGEMENT –Management strategy –Public participation & opinion FINANCIAL VIABILITY BLACK TOURISTS

4. CONSERVATION LAND ACQUISITION (target of 8% by 2010) –CONTRACTUAL AGREEMENTS –ADDO (WB- US$5.5 MILLION) –NEW MPAs ON THE PIPELINE (Aliwal Shoal, Pondoland, Bird Island Group, TMNP) will result in cover of 19% of country’s marine surface. |Ai|Ais/RICHTERSVELD TFCA –Treaty signed on 1 August 2003 878 animals translocated to Limpopo NP Phasing out artificial water points in the KNP Elephant populations –11.59% in KNP, 47,6% in Marakele NP 96 research projects completed

5. TOURISM Construction of Giriyondo Border Post Room Seeker system implemented Go Wild Marketing campaign (adv. activities in NPs) Tourist figures rose by 12.8% to 3 018 820 Overnight visitors dropped by 1.6% to 464 144 (probably due to Wild Card sales)

6. TOURISM Concessions facing challenges –Lodges facing declining visitor numbers –Retail shops & restaurants saw an increase in income To attract black tourists the WBB campaign was implemented. Aging infrastructure Overhauling the tourism model

7. PEOPLE AND CONSERVATION Partnership with DoE (Curriculum 2005) Partnership with DWAF on water resource management training for communities around arid parks. Imbewu Youth Project Junior Honorary Rangers participated at Official Opening of V th WPC Community craft exhibitions at V th WPC involving four national parks, (earning R53 000,00) Efforts concentrated on creating more awareness.

8. FINANCE PRODUCED AN UNQUALIFIED AUDIT REPORT Overall a sound increase in income from previous year. Cash at end of period is slightly lower than last year due to the spend on special projects (e.g. WPC) Report demonstrates that the Operational Grant from DEAT is insufficient to meet programme needs. Over reliance on tourism income deemed to be a huge risk for effective biodiversity management.