The focus of the study is to determine the extent to which Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife's nature conservation policy seeks to implement development-led conservation. During the course of the investigation there was a change in the management structure at Ithala Game Reserve.
THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK: POLICY AND PUBLIC POLICY
Fox, Schwella and Wissink say that public policy in a democracy can be seen as the authoritative but also democratic allocation of values. The horizontal dimension of public policy is seen as structuring action at the same level (Colebatch, 2002: 24).
POLICY IMPLEMENTATION
This view recognizes the fact that policy implementation is driven by policy content and influenced by contextual conditions. The involvement of the intended beneficiaries increases the effectiveness of policy implementation (Cloete and Wissink, 2000).
THEORIES OF ENVIRO MENT: CONSERVATION AND DEVELOPMENT This chapter seeks to discuss and place in context some of the main concepts around
PRESERVATION
Biodiversity conservation is an important aspect of nature conservation and maintaining the sustainability of ecosystems. Foster explains that another purpose of preservation is that it gives those involved an opportunity to enjoy the pleasure of being in the presence of valuable items or objects.
CONSERVATION
The task of conserving and conserving natural resources requires skilled leadership committed to the practice of "just" environmental conservation. Contemporary environmental management policy must therefore be used as an essential instrument to protect natural resources while enabling human development (Kidd, 1997).
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
Sustainable development seeks to meet the needs and aspirations of the present without compromising the ability to meet those of the future. Sustainable development focuses on improving the quality of life of all Earth citizens without increasing the use of natural resources beyond the capacity of the environment to supply them indefinitely. One of the important findings of the 1987 Brundtland Report was the identification of sustainable development problems in developing countries, such as those experienced by African states.
This recognition or finding led to their inclusion in the global agenda in environmental conservation and sustainable development policy areas. This plan states that a variety of policy instruments must be used to achieve sustainable development.
THE ECONOMIC VALUE OF CONSERVATION
The economic value of natural resources, Foster argues, is a major site of conflict between values and interests and the institutions and communities that articulate those values and interests. One of the dominant perspectives in the field of cost-benefit analysis is the utilitarian perspective, which has its philosophical foundations in neoclassical economics. According to Tisdell, the economic use of natural resources can be consumptive or non-consumptive, commercial or non-commercial.
The danger of a purely economic or utilitarian view of natural resources is that poor countries would only support conservation approaches that are economically justifiable. Tisdell says wildlife use must be balanced in the sense that both public and private conservation practices that exist promote conservation and preservation of natural resources.
CONSERVATION, DEVELOPMENT AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
The incorporation of the concept of sustainable development into South African environmental policy will also be briefly explored as it relates to the background of contemporary environmental policies in South Africa. At this point, it is important to consider how the concept of sustainable development has been integrated into contemporary South African environmental policy. There is no doubt that the global theory of sustainable development has influenced the content of South Africa's environmental management policies.
The concept of sustainable development is important and relevant in South Africa for a number of reasons. Conservation policies in South Africa have changed and accepted the global contemporary views and perspectives of sustainable development that govern environmental management.
The National Environment Management Act (Act 107 of 1998), (NEMA)
The latest environmental management and conservation policy to be enacted is the National Environmental Management for Protected Areas Act (Act 57 of 2003). Another interesting provision in this law is on the issue of co-management of protected areas. The Protected Areas Act further provides the basis for establishing an appropriate institutional and administrative framework to ensure the effective management of conservation of protected areas by provincial government.
This law states that the Member of the Executive Committee (ECM) responsible for environmental affairs in a province can make regulations for provincial and local protected areas in the province. This view is essential because the Protected Areas Act generally protects the use of natural resources for human, social, cultural, spiritual and economic development.
THE CASE STUDY
A SHORT PROFILE OF THE PROVINCE OF KWAZULU-NATAL
They are also denied voice and power in the institutions of the state that make decisions that affect their livelihoods. Most key government offices such as the Provincial Parliament and head office of government departments are located in the large urban cities of Pietermaritzburg and Durban, far removed from the poor living in rural areas. The rural youth find it difficult to access quality education and employment opportunities, resulting in the growing number of unemployable and unskilled individuals in the province (KZN Provincial Profile Analysis, 2004).
Based on the above provincial profile document, it is clear that there is a big difference between the urban and rural areas in the KZN province. The tourism industry is considered one of the strongest sectors in the province that can drive development.
THE POLICY FRAMEWORK FOR DEVELOPMENT AND CONSERVATION
The clause providing for the establishment of local councils is crucial for democratic governance as it allows ordinary people to participate in decision-making processes on matters that affect them. Furthermore, these clauses include the new provincial expectations and objectives of sustainable development and the promotion of sustainable livelihoods. These expectations include the activities of promoting awareness of the functioning and importance of the biosphere, promoting sustainable and equitable use of wildlife resources.
They specifically protect the promotion of conservation of ecological processes and biodiversity; facilitating public access and opportunities in protected areas; and to ensure the integration of social, economic and environmental values. All this emphasizes the importance of respecting the principles of sustainable development, paying particular attention to the integration of social, ecological, political and economic values or considerations at the planning, policy and implementation levels (Focus Publication, 2003).
THE PROVINCIAL AND DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY (PGDS)
One of the main objectives of PODS is to familiarize all stakeholders with the priorities of the development of the province. Most importantly, PODS identifies both Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife (the provincial conservation authority) and the KwaZulu-Natal Tourism Authority (KZNTA) as strategically located public entities or parastatals through which the province's comparative advantage (which they believe is its tourism potential ) and are used for the greatest possible development. The PODS identifies two key functions of Ezemvelo, including the conservation of biodiversity (including land use planning to support the sustainable conservation of natural resources) and the provision of ecotourism facilities in the protected area and the facilitation of access to these areas.
KZNTA is expected to provide a favorable environment and support for civil society and business to invest in the development of tourism in the province. PODS is argued to be essential to development in the province as "tourism and conservation activities translate into many business and employment opportunities for various classes of people" (KZN 10 Year Review, 200S: 84).
KZN CO TSERVATION POTENTIAL AND TOURISM SUPPORT
PGDS recognizes the nature conservation sector as a key priority in the province's tourism development agenda (PGDS, 2004). In addition, the tourism industry employs 2,000,000 local individuals. It argues that the conservation sector and the tourism industry have achieved tremendous success (KZNTA. Based on the various reviews, reports and development strategies of KZN, there is general agreement in KZN that the provincial conservation and tourism authorities and agencies have made significant contributions to the political, economic, ecological and the social aspects of the lives of the people of the province (as highlighted in the KZN Review 10, 2005).
Here are some successes of the tourism and conservation sectors in recent years. This practice aims to promote local decision-making regarding the management of nature conservation and heritage resources in the protected areas and to promote the integration of activities of the protected areas into those of the surrounding areas.
EZEMVELO KZN WILDLIFE
Ezemvelo's main responsibility and objective is the conservation and protection of the province's unique natural resources, the promotion of eco-tourism and the nurturing of partnerships with people. The EKZNW strategy identifies the need to improve their relationship with the public and mostly the community living adjacent to the protected areas under them. The core of this policy is that Ezemvelo recognizes that all people in the province have the right to benefit from protected areas.
This policy is called the Partnership for the Development of Ecotourism in or near Protected Areas (Policy File No: 7 (d) of 30 November 1996). This policy is a result of Ezemvelo's recognition of the need to support and maintain conservation operations and programs if they are to increase community access and involvement in protected areas.
THE ITHALA GAME RESERVE
This provision further restricts reserve management to initiate and carry out community development projects. This can be done through community development projects, which could include capacity building and support for entrepreneurship among people in neighboring communities. This chapter has provided a broad scope of the policy framework for conservation and community development in the province, in Ezemvelo as well as the Ithala Game Reserve.
However, as the Lthala Game Reserve illustrated, the implementation of community development programs has not been very successful. Based on existing experiences with community development adjacent to the nature reserve, very little has been done.
CONCLUSION
LIMITATIONS EXPERIENCED IN POLICY IMPLEMENTATION
The IDP for Ithala provides little detail in terms of budget or financial commitments for community development projects. It does not provide estimates of how much will be spent on community development projects. Ithala is a beneficiary of the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism's (DEAT) national programme, 'Poverty Relief Projects', which allocates funds to protected areas to implement community development projects.
Ithala has created employment opportunities for the local community, but has not facilitated community development projects that lead to community empowerment or capacity building. There are no skill development or training programs directed in the interest of community development.
RECOMMENDATIONS
The point is that community development should not be focused on job creation or community involvement alone. There must be an adaptation of these poverty alleviation projects to suit local people of all ages and genders if they are to truly enable community development and alleviate poverty. However, Ezemvelo should take a greater responsibility to assist its nature reserve managers with the necessary skills and support for community development and assist the nature reserve managers to establish local community participation forums (such as the legally mandated Local Councils).
Finally, if the questions will be asked whether community development is happening or happening in Ithala or not. Ultimately, this can be translated into sustainable development practices at the local level, meaning that people are empowered to the extent that they can support their own development in their community (Fitzgerald, McLennan and Munslow, 1997 ).
Conquest to Conservation: History of Human Impact on the South Austria, Environmental, Wakefield Press: Netley, South Australia. Training Manual for Neighborhood Committee Members, Capacity Building for Sustainable Development: Development Bank of South Africa and Department of Local Government and Traditional Affairs (DTLGA), South Africa (2003). Ecotourism and Rural Development in Democratic South Africa: The Role Played by South African Parks (SANParks).
