Today, Dr David Mabunda, Chief Executive of South African National Parks (SANParks) launched the Leadership for Conservation in Africa (LCA) initiative at a media briefing held in Johannesburg. This initiative, the first of its kind in the continent, is in joint partnership with Gold Fields Limited (funding patron) and the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) (conservation patron).
It is aimed at bringing together a core group of African conservation leaders and businessmen to establish long-term business and development frameworks. It is also envisaged that through this programme, issues of sustainable bio-diversity and conservation and related socio-economic advancement will be promoted.
Essentially, the LCA kicks off with a workshop to take place in the Kruger National Park from 22 to 27 August 2006, which will involve more than a dozen conservation leaders in Africa and a number of local and international business experts. Both the African conservation practitioners and the business leaders will come together in information sessions aimed at achieving a number of objectives, including capacity building; good corporate governance; issues of skills development and investment opportunities.
Equally, the LCA objectives speak to the founding tenets of both the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD), and the African Union (AU) as espoused by President Thabo Mbheki and other eminent African leaders. Delegates invited include participants from Uganda; Mozambique; Cameroon; Ethiopia; Senegal; Zambia; Ghana; Malawi; DRC; Botswana; Tanzania; Zimbabwe; Rwanda and Namibia.
Said Dr Mabunda: “All our patrons have pledged their commitment to this initiative, and I have high expectations for the inaugural workshop and related future events. Our main focus is to establish a secretariat that will manage and co-ordinate the interim process as well as a council that will set out process guidelines for future implementation."
“The idea to bring together all these experts is born out of the need to break the silos created over centuries of geo-political divisions. There is no doubt that Africa has done us proud in the world with her rich culture, heritage and bio-diversity,” said Dr Mabunda.
He added that it was the responsibility of all the conservation practitioners and business leaders not only to protect the continent, but also to restore what had been destroyed for the benefit and enjoyment of all people of the world. He further lauded the involvement of all participating countries and members of the local and international business community, all of whom had eagerly embraced this initiative.