For discussion: World Heritage Areas

Here is a a proposal on World Heritage areas submitted to the Western Cape provincial government by NECCSA members Ben & Karen Marais.

Send your comments to them at bkrm@freemail.absa.co.za.

What is happening in our World Heritage areas?

How well do we manage these national/international treasures?

Why is this important?

These areas are National- and International assets that need to be managed and guarded in a fashion that reflects its importance.  The local population carries an environmental responsibility that overshadows their own local interests.  People living in or entering these special areas need to be aware that they have a responsibility towards the whole world and have to limit their environmental impact.

Significant role players identified:

Local governments

Municipalities

National roads

Golf clubs and golf estates

Schools

Churches

The players identified reflect some of the most influential groups that should create and exercise environmental awareness.  We all have an individual responsibility, but these players can influence general awareness and enforce environmental responsibility.  They carry the future of these areas, with preservation of its unique bio-diversity, largely in their hands.

Strategy

The first and most influential player to be targeted is the local municipality.  They are directly responsible for the practical daily running of these precious areas and as such the main player responsible for what happens on the ground.  We hope to focus attention on the successes and failures of local municipalities and improve general awareness amongst the local population and visitors to the area.

This aim can be achieved by creating a web-site (with the help of the WWF or government) that evaluates and monitors the performance of municipalities according to clearly defined guidelines.  This can be done by asking each municipality to complete a standard questionnaire.  This will be analyzed and an environmental rating attached to the performance of each municipality.  This rating can be used by local government to evaluate performance, but will also be displayed on the web-site for local and foreign visitors to access.  This will also serve to improve the general awareness by using media, radio and television exposure in programs with an environmental emphasis (eg.50/50). 

Proposed evaluation of local municipalities will be according to the following guidelines.

1)       Showing environmental awareness themselves

-          Is environmental preservation prominent in its mission statement?

-          Is environmental preservation/restoration high on its true agenda?

-          Is there a public document outlining human/environmental interaction?

-          Is recycling promoted?

-          Is waste disposal environmentally sensitive?

-          Are all present municipal gardens locally indigenous?

-          Are all new plants introduced to municipal gardens locally indigenous?

-          Are open areas left undeveloped/undisturbed?

-          Are wetland areas preserved and protected?

-          Is alien plant invasion actively fought?

2)       Creating environmental awareness

-     Are residents informed about the surrounding natural heritage? (information on local bio-diversity,  fragile ecosystems, alien invader plants etc.) 

-          Are existing areas of natural beauty treasured?  (environmentally sensible/restricted access, informative signs, involvement of local interest groups)

-          Are locally indigenous private gardens/golf courses promoted?

3)       Enforcing environmental awareness

-          Are all new developments subjected to strict environmental guidelines?

-          Is adherence to the environmental guidelines monitored at all times?

-          Is the environmental importance reflected in the zoning of all private/public land?

-          Is alien invader eradication enforced on all private land/gardens/golf courses?

-          Is littering / environmental destruction adequately penalized?

-          Is recycling / litter reduction programs enforced?

After further consultation these guidelines will be finalized and presented in the form of a questionnaire to all municipalities in the Cape Fynbos/Renoserveld World Heritage area.  Municipalities will be environmentally ranked according to their responses.  Random municipalities will be visited to investigate local programs and its effectiveness.  We hope to highlight poor and good practices in a special television documentary.

We focus on the Cape Floral Kingdom as a pilot project.  Hoping that this can be extended to all other areas with equal environmental splendour in South Africa. We hope to get full support from local and central government in this important venture.   Various environmental agencies will take part in its implementation and sustained application. 

This principal may be modified and expanded to other significant role players mentioned above.

We also hope to reach these target groups via different avenues.  For schools we plan a similar environmental awareness questionnaire with an increased focus on environmental education.  We aim to approach different churches via their central structures, emphasizing the religious responsibility we all have towards the environment.  We hope to encourage debate on these important issues and to get wide ranging support in promoting respect for our fragile environment.

The preservation of these national treasures is in everyone’s interest.  Not only for the irreplaceable biodiversity it represents, the visual splendour, the ethical responsibility etc., but also because the optimum realization of this area’s tourist potential is dependent on its correct management.

We would welcome all suggestions and comments.