News

Today, South African National Parks (SANParks – the public institution managing South Africa’s national parks) and the Agence Francaise de Developpement (AFD) launched the bipartite agreement between the Table Mountain National Park (TMNP) and Reunion Island National Park worth 1.5 million euros. The agreements were signed at a ceremony attended by Mr Remy Rioux, Chief Executive Officer of the AFD, and Dr Luthando Dziba of SANParks. The funding is allocated to support park actions that facilitate sharing of knowledge and experiences between South Africa and Reunion Island.

The implementation of this project is part of the cooperation agreement signed on 28 February 2019 in Pretoria (South Africa) between PNR and SANParks. The project will benefit from 1.5 million euros in financial support from AFD, including 1 212 730 million euros to SANParks and 287 270 thousand euros to Reunion Island National Park.

“Biodiversity conservation is one of France’s priorities. France will host the World Conservation Congress in 2021. Through this exemplary regional cooperation project, France is providing concrete support for the preservation of biodiversity in Southern Africa and the Indian Ocean.” Aurelien Lechevallier, Ambassador of France to South Africa.

The project focuses on territory-to-territory cooperation between Reunion Island National Park (PNR) and Table Mountain National Park in Cape Town. TMNP, nominated as the main project partner, is managed by South African National Parks, an internationally recognized reference for protected area management. SANParks oversees the management of 67% of the country’s terrestrial protected areas. TMNP covers 25,000 ha of natural areas located in the heart of Cape Town, stretching to the tip of the Cape of Good Hope. The park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2004 and is the most visited park in the SANParks network with 5 million visitors per year (pre-pandemic). The PNR was created in 2007 and is a French public institution. Its territory covers 70% of the island’s surface area, with a central zone that houses 94% of the island’s endemic biodiversity. The park attracts around 1 million visitors per year (pre-pandemic), and manages the UNESCO World Heritage Site “Pitons, cirques and ramparts of Reunion Island.”

The indigenous people of the Cape, the Khoisan, knew Table Mountain as Hoerikwaggo, ‘the mountain in the sea’. Towering mountains rising immediately adjacent to the ocean are a dramatic and remarkable feature of both parks. TMNP covers 25,000 ha of natural areas located in the heart of Cape Town, stretching to the tip of the Cape of Good Hope. Reunion National Park covers 70% of Reunion Island’s surface area, with a central zone that houses 94% of the island’s diverse endemic biodiversity. Both parks have UNESCO world heritage status and conserve highly diverse ecosystems and cultural heritage sites of great global value. Joint challenges include invasive alien species, illegal plant harvesting, protecting threatened species, climate change and restoring degraded habitats.

Both SANParks and PNR will contribute expertise and collaborate on improving park management. The project will enable new collaboration opportunities with partner research bodies including the University of Reunion, CIRAD and the University of Cape Town.

According to SANParks Acting Chief Executive Officer, Dr Luthando Dziba, this peer-to-peer project will allow the teams of the two parks to strengthen their capacity by exchanging experiences around park management. “The main project activities include developing strategic plans and sharing tools for invasive species management, vulnerable species management, fire management and climate change preparedness, training, pilot field interventions, awareness-raising activities and joint studies and research.”

Dr Dziba said the expected project impacts include strengthening know-how and skills for the biological control of invasive alien species and associated restoration, for example, integration of new detection tools from aerial images, anti-poaching, and analysis of risks. In addition, project outputs will address management of vulnerabilities related to the effects of climate change and its consequences for the territories of PNR and TMNP, governance and dialogue with stakeholders involved in the management and use of the parks, and management of the World Heritage site.

Joint statement by:
South African National Parks (SANParks) and Agence Francaise de Developpement (AFD)

Media enquiries:
AFD – Southern Africa Regional Office
Erica Penfold: [email protected]

AFD – Indian Ocean Regional Directorate
Severine Barde Carlier: [email protected]

Reunion National Park (PNR)
Lisa Prieure: [email protected]

SANParks
Lauren Howard-Clayton: [email protected]