South Africa: At global PA leadership forum, chief of SANParks calls for diversifying sources of revenue
Opening the World Protected Areas Leadership Forum (WPALF) this morning at Skukuza Restcamp, in the Kruger National Park, the Chief Executive of South African National Parks (SANParks), Dr David Mabunda said the hosting of a forum such as WPALF could not have come at a better time for Protected Areas world-wide, particularly as governments are at this stage wrestling with the effects of the recent economic recession.
The forum aims to provide an opportunity for leading heads of parks and protected area agencies to discuss issues of mutual interest, identify emerging issues and share information, as well as to discuss the forward agenda for parks and protected areas in the context of the global conservation agenda. “As protected areas or national parks we need to gather thoughts on how can we reduce a reliance on government appropriations by diversifying the revenue streams”, said Dr Mabunda.