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SANParks Handover Launch of Fishing Equipment, Apparel and Permits to Communities Around Addo Elephant National Park
62 beneficiaries living adjacent to Addo Elephant National Park in the Eastern Cape received fishing equipment, fishing apparel, fishing permits and certificates of participation in practical angling skills workshops yesterday (30 March 2024). Consequently, community members are now better equipped to sustain their livelihoods resulting from successful support provided through the South African National Parks’ Anglers Support Program.
The handover follows a similar ceremony in Knysna on Thursday with 45 beneficiaries. The program underscores SANParks’ continued commitment to the social well-being of communities neighbouring national parks.
The beneficiaries of the project are from Colchester, Alexandria and a Kenton-on-Sea fishing co-operative – which has also received small grants from GEF 7 Small Grants through the United Nations Development Program with the facilitation from the SANParks Socio-Economic Transformation unit and the Ndlambe Local Municipality Local Economic Development office.
The Anglers Support Program was launched in the Wilderness Section of the Garden Route National Park two years ago. It underscores the important connection between the marine natural resources managed by SANParks and the communities living next to parks. It addresses the needs of families who depend on these resources for their livelihoods.
The program currently assists over 300 fishermen and women (and their families and communities) across four national parks with Marine Protected Areas – Table Mountain National Park, West Coast National Park, Addo Elephant National Park and three sections of the Garden Route National Park.
Through the Corporate Social Investment (CSI) Social Legacy Programme, SANParks continues to implement various initiatives aimed at socio-economic development, including infrastructure projects in schools, community bursaries, food and water security and biodiversity economy initiatives. Funding for these projects is sourced from the 1% tourism income on all accommodation bookings, totalling an estimated R6 million to R7 million per annum over the past five years.