New proposal puts Kruger National Park's environmental safeguards 'at risk'

A government proposal to drop some statutory safeguards for the Kruger National Park has raised the alarm among some experts. .

But one of those who did respond was a Cape Town lawyer specialising in environmental, heritage and planning law, Richard Summers. In a comprehensive, 10-page comment, he argues the proposed changes will allow South African National Parks to decide on and implement developments without appropriate checks and balances.

Full EIAs are usually required before authorities such as the DFFE can give or refuse approval to developments or"listed activities." But NEMA does allow for identified activities to be excluded from the requirement of environmental authorisation in certain circumstances – ostensibly to streamline the EIA process, promote efficiency in the system, and reduce costs.

However, there are two important provisions: such activities must take place in accordance with both the zoning scheme set out in the park's 10-year In his comments, Summers acknowledged that the purpose of the proposed regime was to streamline decision-making. But, he said, the park's management plan"does not offer the requisite scientific and empirical informational basis from which to streamline environmental decision-making in the park which is a strategically important and sensitive area that should not be subject to the risks imposed by the proposed regime.

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