Consultation processes and efforts to extend KwaZulu-Natal’s iSimangaliso Wetland Park into Mozambique as a Transboundary World Heritage Site are underway.
This was one of the big six priorities announced by the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) Minister Dion George during the budget vote on Friday.
George referred to KISS – Kruger National Park, Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, iSimangaliso Wetland Park Icon Status Strategy, which the DFFE is elevating into engines of ecological protection, job creation, inclusive tourism, and community empowerment.
George added that iSimangaliso Wetland Park Authority is advancing its commercialisation strategy, with 62 contracts already signed and new revenue from tourism concessionaires set to flow directly to the entity from 1 September 2025.
“South Africa’s biodiversity is a powerful engine for development. The revised National Biodiversity Economy Strategy will unlock 397,000 jobs and inject R127 billion annually into the economy by 2036 through eco-tourism, bioprospecting, and sustainable game meat production,” he said.
George said his department’s 2025 and 2026 allocation is R9.08 billion. Transfers and subsidies to public entities such as South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI), SANParks, iSimangaliso, and SA Weather Service will account for approximately R5.5 billion.
George stated that the Fair Industry for Lions, Leopards, and Rhinos (FILLER) prioritises ethical and sustainable management of lions, leopards, rhinos, and elephants.
“This year, we are finalising the Elephant Heritage Strategy. Through Fishing for Freedom, we are securing sustainable access, supporting small-scale fishers, and combating illegal harvesting that threatens biodiversity and food security,” he said.
George also emphasised that the DFFE is doubling down on financial discipline and identified significant cost-saving opportunities, including discussions with international donors, private partners, and philanthropies.
Bheki Manzini spokesperson for iSimangaliso Wetland Park Authority explained that the government of Mozambique is currently embarking on a process of inscribing its Maputo National Park as a Transboundary World Heritage Site through the extension of the existing iSimangaliso Wetland Park World Heritage Site.
“To this effect, the Government of Mozambique has contacted the Government of South Africa, soliciting support for this initiative. It is a requirement from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) that a supporting letter from the country whose existing site will be extended into the envisaged transboundary heritage site be part of the submission,” he explained further.
Manzini said the Peace Parks Foundation, on behalf of the DFFE and iSimangaliso Wetland Park Authority, are conducting stakeholder consultations on the proposed initiative to provide engagement platforms for inclusive participation for all Interested and Associated Partners, to identify the South African implications for the extension of the iSimangaliso World Heritage Site to Mozambique, and produce a comprehensive report with recommendations.
