DAY1 OF PEOPLE & PARKS CONFERENCE
Former People & Parks veteran Oom Gert Links has challenged young people to encourage their peers to play an active role in community affairs for the improvement of their communities. Oom Links was making opening remarks during the two day Provincial People & Parks Conference in Upington. The two day Provincial Conference seeks to reflect on what the disbanded People & Parks Committee has achieved and not achieved.
The People & Parks Program in South Africa was designed to facilitate the active participation of rural communities by supporting resolutions of land claims in protected areas.
Oom Links cited old age as a challenge on their side. Hence, young people must be proactive in developing areas next to protected areas.
Part of the mandate of People & Parks across the country is to make sure that local communities are involved in the management of protected and surrounding areas. This also ensures the promotion of biodiversity values in the proclaimed and protected areas.
The conference elected the newly Provincial People & Parks Committee.
Chairperson - Felicia Rooi
Deputy Chairperson - Gavin Klaas
Secretary - Heinle Heir
Deputy Secretary - Jo Ann Robert's
Treasurer - Norman Philander
The elected committee will represent the Northern Cape in the next conference to be held in Mpumalanga later this year.
The conference will end tomorrow, 31st of May 2023.