SANParks recognises the need to change the historic perspective of national parks as islands of privilege only for the elite. Our national parks have been, by virtue of their existence and geographic location, a catalyst of rural and local economic development through the creation of jobs and local entrepreneurship.
SANParks Corporate Social Investment (CSI) Programme is aimed at advancing SANParks’ vision of “A world-class system of sustainable National Parks reconnecting and inspiring society” by contributing to the development of communities living adjacent to national parks through the provision of much-needed facilities and services.
The Enterprise and Supplier Development Strategy is developed to provide guidance to SANParks on how these enterprises can be better served and supported to create jobs and contribute to the national government’s objectives of sustained economic development and employment creation.
SANParks, through Environmental Awareness (EA) programmes, promotes environmental ethics whilst facilitating understanding and appreciation of the SANParks mandate. The programmes enhance understanding and awareness of environmental issues, thereby promoting action taking and building support and appreciation for conservation.
SANParks Biodiversity Social Projects (BSP) programme has three main objectives: namely, poverty relief, community upliftment and contribution to biodiversity management in National Parks, Integrated Zones and other Protected Areas.
Through mutually agreed beneficiation packages, land claimants are enabled to derive benefits from the use of their land for conservation and related value chain activities. The land claim programme, therefore, provides the opportunity to build bridges between national parks and communities, brings about healing and restores the dignity and sense of pride of landowners in national parks.