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Never in South Africa's conservation history has there been so concerted an effort to put more land under protection as there has been in the past year. For the first time ever, Government has budgeted directly for land acquisition for national parks, setting aside an amount of R8 million.

In fact, there are few other countries in the world at the moment where national parks are being created or expanded faster than in South Africa.

Within 20 years, the protected areas estate in South Africa will be increased from its current 6% to 8% of the land's surface, and protected marine and coastal environments will be expanded from 5% to 20%. These areas will fully represent South Africa's considerable biodiversity.

Greater Addo National Park. Ten years ago, Addo covered less than 9 000 hectares. But in the past year, a coordinated effort between DEAT, SANParks, NGOs such as IFAW, the local communities, farmers, conservationists, provincial authorities and the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry has seen the park grow to 90 000 hectares. Another 25 000 will be added within the near future.

With all its additions, Addo will be South Africa's largest national park, beaten only by Kruger and Kgalagadi Transfrontier Parks.

One of the most exciting prospects, especially for tourists, is that Addo will become a Big Seven park (leopard, lion, elephant, rhino, buffalo plus whales and dolphins) because the National Park will sweep right down to the sea. It may be possible to see elephants and whales by standing in one place.

It will also include a large marine reserve, and will be the country's most biologically diverse protected area, including thicket, fynbos, savannah, Nama Karoo, forest, grasslands and the marine ecosystem.

The Golden Gate Highlands National Park is to be formally joined with the neighbouring QwaQwa National Park. This will not only increase the size of the area under conservation, but will also consolidate and strengthen its management capabilities.

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The GKG Transfrontier Park. In November 2000, the ministers responsible for environmental matters in Mozambique, South Africa and Zimbabwe signed an agreement formally committing the three nations to establish the Gaza-Kruger-Gonarezhou Transfrontier Park.

The GKG Transfrontier Park will be one of the biggest conservation areas in the world, and is expected to be one of the top ecotourism destinations. The first fences between Mozambique and South Africa will be dropped in November 2001, in time for the Christmas holidays.

The proposed park has two objectives - the promotion of biodiversity conservation on a regional basis across international boundaries, and the socio-economic upliftment of rural communities living in and around the park.

One thousand elephants are to be moved into the Mozambican section, Coutada 16, within the next three years, in a massive operation to be funded by the Peace Parks Foundation.

In February 2001, His Royal Highness Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands, bestowed the order of the Golden Ark award on the three countries' Ministers responsible for the environment.

Other transfrontier parks being worked on include the Richtersveld-Ai-Ais between South Africa and Namibia, as well as the Limpopo Shashe Transfrontier Park between South Africa, Botswana and Zimbabwe.

Commercialisation. This programme aims to enable private sector operators to become involved in SA National Parks' commercial operations, while freeing the organisation to focus on its core business of biodiversity conservation.

The first phase of the programme was completed in November last year, when seven lodges (six in Kruger and one in Addo) were awarded to private operators via 20-year concessions.

In March 2001, the second phase was announced, with 16 restaurants, 12 retail shops, and 14 picnic spots in various parks offered for outsourcing. They have been offered as going concerns, complete with staff and assets. In keeping with SANParks objectives, particular attention will be paid to creating opportunities for historically disadvantaged individuals, especially women, particularly those from communities adjacent to the parks.