The iSimangaliso Wetland Park Authority (iSimangaliso Authority) was established following regulations published in terms of the World Heritage Convention Act of 1999. With this dedicated national act, South Africa became only the second country to incorporate the World Heritage Convention into its domestic law. The legislation is unique because it ensures that the principles and values of the Convention are given genuine application over South Africa’s potential and inscribed World Heritage Sites but in a manner that is uniquely suited to South African conditions. By carefully balancing preservation and conservation with job and wealth creating economic development, it brings an integrated approach, which recognises the value of our global assets and our people.
In terms of the Act, national government can, where appropriate, strengthen the powers of existing bodies to manage World Heritage Sites. Where conditions are particularly challenging, it can however establish new institutions, called Authorities, to manage such sites. The national Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism – the minister charged with responsibility in terms of the Act – considered iSimangaliso to be such a special case that it became the first World Heritage Site to be entrusted to a dedicated Authority.
A small board made up of suitably qualified representatives from government and civil society, and chaired by Mavuso Msimang, heads the iSimangaliso Authority. Reporting to the National Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, it is responsible for policy formulation and formal direction of the executive. In a first for conservation in South Africa, it includes local people and traditional leadership living in or adjacent to a Park of national and universal significance who suffered the disadvantages of apartheid are fully represented in the highest decision making body of that Park.
The iSimangaliso Board acts through an executive, which is organised essentially along business rather than bureaucratic lines. This represents a new ‘model’ for protected area development and management in South Africa. It is characterised by a small, experienced and specialised management team and by a flat organisational structure, which allows for an efficient flow of information across the organisation and for quick and responsive management and rapid decision-making.
The executive, headed by a CEO, is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the iSimangaliso Authority including relationships with other organisations such as Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, the KZN Tourism Authority and local government. It has three broad divisions dealing with conservation, nature-based tourism and socio-economic development. It draws its staff from local communities, NGOs and the business sector, combining the broad range of skills required to implement its task.
In line with modern management practices, non-core functions are contracted out to specialist organisations. Thus, the iSimangaliso Authority does not seek to develop and operate tourism in the park but rather to optimise and regulate private and community sector-driven development. Similarly, the iSimangaliso Authority regulates conservation but has contracted the day-to-day conservation management of the Park to Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife. This forges a partnership that allows the park to benefit from the world-class expertise of Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife as a conservation manager while maintaining the core focus of each organisation. content source : iSimangaliso Wetland park authority.
