Protected Environment: Have your say

GRAAFF-REINET NEWS — The stakeholder participation process for comments and inputs on the Management Plan for the Mountain Zebra Camdeboo Protected Environment (MZCPE) has kicked off and is open until March 1.

The MZCPE Landowner’s Association is in the process of creating their first management plan for the MZCPE, aimed at guiding the future management of the protected environment for a period of ten years until 2017.

The protected environment is situated between Graaff-Reinet, Nieu-Bethesda, Cradock and Pearston. Its purpose is to maintain the landscape in terms of its scenic, biodiversity and landscape value through collective action by the private landowners and to protect the area from detrimental developments. The protected environment was officially proclaimed by the Minister of Environmental Affairs on 1 April 2016, involving 65 landowners and spanning an area of 286 343ha.

In terms of the National Environmental Management: Protected Areas Act No. 57 of 2003 (NEM:PAA), interested parties are required to register in order to participate in the process.

This can be done by accessing the MZCPE website at www.mzcpe.co.za/Management or by post to Bronwyn Botha (Buffer Zone Co-ordinator) - PO Box 349, Graaff-Reinet, 6280 or 071 272 5784 or Bronwyn.botha@sanparks.org.

Alternatively, stakeholders may also register at one of the public information sessions:

• Tuesday, February 14 at 9am: Pearston Town Hall, 49 Voortrekker Street, Pearston

• Wednesday, February 15 at 3pm: Vusubuntu Lodge and Cultural Village, Eluxolwni Street, Lingelihle, Cradock

• Thursday, February 16 at 9am: Trinity Methodist Church, 57 Caledon Street, Graaff-Reinet

An electronic version of the management plan is available on the MZCPE website www.mzcpe.co.za/Management. The plan can also be viewed at the following locations:

• Cradock Public Library, JA Calata Street, Cradock

• Masizame Library, Cradock

• Horseshoe Public Library, Parsonage Street, Graaff-Reinet

• Kroonvale Public Library, Akasia Street, Graaff-Reinet

• Pearston Public Library, Main Street, Pearston

• Middleburg Public Library, corner Van Reenen and Church Street

• Kwa-Nonzame Public Library, Cetyiwe Street, Middelburg

• Camdeboo National Park

• Mountain Zebra National Park

Written comments are to be submitted either electronically or by mail, to Bronwyn Botha by March 1 via her details above.

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