GENERAL POLICY REGARDING TERRESTRIAL AND MARINE PROTECTED AREAS

The 'General Policy Regarding Terrestrial and Marine Protected Areas', published on 9 May 1994 under the Environment Conservation Act 73 of 1989, establishes a six-category classification system for protected areas in South Africa. This system shifts away from treating all protected areas as 'sacrosanct wildlife sanctuaries' to incorporate the needs of local communities and align with international trends in nature conservation management.

• Category I consists of scientific reserves and wilderness areas. Scientific reserves are primarily for 'scientific research and/or environmental monitoring' and limit public access to 'accredited research scientists'. Wilderness areas are large, unmodified areas managed to preserve natural conditions for 'human physical and spiritual well-being', emphasizing 'Non-mechanised and strictly controlled access'.
• Category II covers National Parks and equivalent reserves, which are large natural areas designed to protect ecological integrity and exclude 'exploitation or intensive occupation'. These areas must be large enough to sustain 'viable, free-living populations' of wild species, including predators, without requiring 'unrealistic control measures' to protect nearby farming or development.
• Category III is designated for natural monuments and areas of cultural significance. These are typically smaller sites protecting 'one or more features of outstanding significance' due to their 'uniqueness, rarity or representivity'. They can be managed by government agencies, non-profit trusts, corporations, or private landowners.
• Category IV focuses on habitat and wildlife management areas where 'human intervention' is used to maintain sustainable populations and protect rare or threatened species. Management may include 'habitat manipulation', such as using grazing to protect specific grasslands or removing reeds from marshes for waterfowl.
• Category V defines protected land/seascapes as areas resulting from the 'harmonious interaction of people and nature'. These areas protect cultural manifestations, traditional practices like 'agriculture, grazing or fishing', and aesthetically unique settlement patterns while providing for recreation and tourism.
• Category VI establishes sustainable use areas, which are predominantly natural areas managed to protect biological diversity while providing a 'sustainable flow of natural products'. Management is preferably conducted 'in partnership with the local community' and these areas can serve as 'buffers and links' within a wider network of protected areas.

APA

Centre for Environmental Rights (1994). GENERAL POLICY REGARDING TERRESTRIAL AND MARINE PROTECTED AREAS. https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/General-policy-regarding-terrestrial-and-marine-protected-areas.pdf?x21779

Chicago

Centre for Environmental Rights. GENERAL POLICY REGARDING TERRESTRIAL AND MARINE PROTECTED AREAS. 1994. https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/General-policy-regarding-terrestrial-and-marine-protected-areas.pdf?x21779.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Centre for Environmental Rights |title=GENERAL POLICY REGARDING TERRESTRIAL AND MARINE PROTECTED AREAS |date=9 May 1994 |url=https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/General-policy-regarding-terrestrial-and-marine-protected-areas.pdf?x21779 |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{centreforenvironmentalrights1994general, author = {{Centre for Environmental Rights}}, title = {{GENERAL POLICY REGARDING TERRESTRIAL AND MARINE PROTECTED AREAS}}, institution = {Centre for Environmental Rights}, year = {1994}, month = may, url = {https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/General-policy-regarding-terrestrial-and-marine-protected-areas.pdf?x21779}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }