Regional Value 

 

Source: Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife

 

Vision for the Park 

To realise sustained benefits to the Tembe people through sound resource management by maintaining the ecological integrity and cultural values of TEP, while conserving the Sand Forest, associated biodiversity and Tembe elephants, through:

• Ecological partnerships based on land,

• Sustainable tourism, and

• Environmental education, appropriate to the character and inherent values of the Park.

 

Objectives for the Park 

• Conservation of key biodiversity features, biophysical processes, landscapes, abiotic, cultural, historical, archaeological and palaeontological resources.

• The formation of functional partnerships to integrate the TEP with regional development plans and the Usuthu-Tembe-Futi Transfrontier Conservation Area initiatives, and other initiatives which underwrite the vision of TEP.

• The provision of socio-economic benefits (benefit flow) to the Park’s neighbours and to contribute to the local economy and the efforts of conservation in a sustainable manner based on sound business principles (Ezemvelo Business Plan).

• The provision of eco-cultural tourism business opportunities in the natural and cultural environment based within the influence sphere of TEP.

 

Cultural Heritage Values

• Relationship between people and the environment (isifonyo fishing, wild fruit utilisation (marula festivals, palm wine, monkey oranges etc.) and the importance of fish.

• The unique Thonga culture and customs (Ndau spirit possession, importance of mother’s brother, settlement rules.)

• Thonga language

• Border identities and character (Thonga, Swazi, Zulu).

• Frontier lifestyle of the local people – kin on both sides of the border, trade across borders, border markets etc.

• The history of the various Traditional Authorities in the area.

• The settlement history of the area.

• The influx of refugees during the Zulu Wars (1815) and later during the Mozambican War (1975-1992) and the influence it has had on local customs.

• The political history – splitting of a nation (International boundary line – MacMahon Award).

• The history of conservation and the role the region has played.

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Socio-Economic Values

• Recognition of conservation as viable and sustainable land use option.

• Wilderness nature of a rea.

• Part of a larger Trans Frontier Conservation Area (TFCA) eco-cultural tourism development area.

• Unique biodiversity assets as part of guest experience.

• Big five area.

• Investment opportunities for local entrepreneurs.

• Important role in eco-cultural tourism development both within South Africa and Mozambique.

• Employment opportunities.

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Partnership Values

• Keep people safe from elephants and lions.

• Serve an important role for conservation and regional economic empowerment through partnership agreements.

• Key stakeholder in planning initiatives with Transfrontier Conservation Area (TFCA), District and Local Municipalities, Amafa, private and communal initiatives.

• Economic benefit flow to Tembe people from sustainable resource use.

• Integrated planning and resource utilisation.

• Catalyst for biodiversity conservation, cultural heritage management and ecotourism development to form part of a consolidated conservation area.