National Environmental Management: Protected Areas Act, 2003 (Act No. 57 of 2003)

Chapter 1 : Interpretation, Objectives and Application of Act

2. Objectives of Act
Purchase cart Previous page Return to chapter overview Next page

 

The objectives of this Act are—

(a)to provide, within the framework of national legislation, including the National Environmental Management Act, for the declaration and management of protected areas;
(b)to provide for co-operative governance in the declaration and management of protected areas;
(c)to effect a national system of protected areas in South Africa as part of a strategy to manage and conserve its biodiversity;
(d)to provide for a diverse and representative network of protected areas on state land, private land, communal land and marine waters;

[Section 2(d) substituted by  of Act No. 21 of 2014]

(e)to promote sustainable utilisation of protected areas for the benefit of people, in a manner that would preserve the ecological character of such areas;

[Section 2(e) substituted  by section 2(a) of Act No. 31 of 2004]

(f)to promote participation of local communities in the management of protected areas, where appropriate; and
(g)to provide for the continued existence of South African National Parks.

[Section 2(g) inserted by section 2(b) of Act No. 31 of 2004]