THURSDAY, 14 SEPTEMBER 2000: The Minister of Public Enterprises, Jeff Radebe, and the Minister of Water Affairs and Forestry, Ronnie Kasrils, today announced that, as part of the restructuring of the state's forest assets, 12 000 hectares of land currently under commercial forestry on the western and eastern shores of Lake St Lucia are to be transferred to the Greater St Lucia Wetland Park Authority (GSWLPA) under the World Heritage Act. The land will be incorporated in the conservation area that constitute the World Heritage Site, and restored to its natural state.

"This is a victory for conservation and a boost to the park's development into a leading world-class tourist destination. The GSLWP anchors governments tourism led Lubombo SDI programme to deliver jobs, empowerment and regional economic growth by way of park development," said Valli Moosa, Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism.

"When we fought the dredge-mining issue some years ago one of the crucial factors considered by the review panel was the sense or spirit of place at St Lucia. This spirit is also an important requirement for World Heritage status. So with this decision to give back natural wetlands to the park a vital part of the GSWLP's sense of place is being restored.

"Without this land the GSWLP would be like a magnificent jigsaw puzzle with a significant piece missing," said Moosa.

The land comprises 10 000 hectares of forest on the western shores of the lake and about 2 000 hectares on the eastern shores where commercial forestry is to phased out within two to five years restoring the land to its natural state. The western shores will be incorporated into the conservation area falling under the World Heritage Site. The matter had been extensively discussed between the ministers of Public Enterprises, Water Affairs and Forestry, Trade and Industry, Environmental Affairs and Tourism and the KwaZulu-Natal MECs for Economic Development and Tourism, and Agriculture and Environment.

"In removing this land from the restructuring and sale of state forests, Government has taken a visionary step in bolstering the South Africa, Mozambique and Swaziland's Lubombo SDI tourism led regional economic development programme. Several tourism investment sites such as Perriers Rock on the eastern shores of Lake St Lucia are being incorporate into the Park and will be put out to tender along with other sites as a first phase of investment in the GSLWP. Expressions of interest will be called for in October," said Minister Moosa.

It is also significant that the winner of the forest tender in KwaZulu-Natal the Siyaqhubeka Consortium comprising Mondi Limited and Imbokodvo Lemabalabala, the black empowerment company, have agreed to the removal of the land from the bid in the greater interests of conservation and broader regional development strategy in the GSWLP area.

It was also clear that these forests did not meet today's self-regulatory measures applicable to the forestry industry nor national and provincial environmental legislation, nor international obligations in terms of the World Heritage and Ramsar conventions.

The tourism potential of this area is now enhanced. From a tourism perspective visitors will eventually be able to travel from one corner of the park to the next without having to leave the park and travel on the N2 to the next entrance as is presently the case.

With fencing, as is planned for the park, it will also allow the successful reintroduction of the big five -- lion, elephant, buffalo, rhinoceros and hippopotamus -- and the restoration of an African landscape.

In the past year major strides have been taken through the Lubombo SDI process with key agencies to implement governments development strategy for the area.

• The GSWLP was declared a World Heritage Site.
• In terms of the World Heritage Act draft regulations to establish an authority for the area have been published.
• An interim authority for the GSLWP to oversee the first phase of tourism tenders and establish the Park which includes KwaZulu-Natal Nature Conservation Services; Tourism KwaZulu-Natal; and the Lubombo Spatial Development Initiative with its manager Andrew Zaloumis as chairperson, has been established.
• An Integrated Development Management Plan, aimed at structuring the proper management and development of the area, is currently undergoing public process. Public meetings are being held in Hluhluwe and Mtubatuba on 19 September.
• In October government launch the tender of several key investment opportunities in the GSLWP, calling for expressions of interest.
• A regional malaria programme is being implemented with a spraying programme starting in southern Mozambique in October.
• Through the LSDI process more than R640 million is currently being invested in infrastructure and other development. In the process significant numbers of short term jobs are being created that will translate into long-term job opportunities in tourism and supporting industries.