The government is hoping the introduction of a ”tax break” into draft property-rating legislation will increase the area of land under conservation in South Africa, journalists at the fifth World Parks Congress in Durban heard on Tuesday.
Speaking at a United Nations Environment Programme media briefing on protected areas, South Africa’s Environmental Affairs and Tourism Director General Dr Chippy Olver said the Property Rating Bill, set to come before Parliament next month, will provide an economic incentive to individuals to convert their land to conservation purposes.
The measure includes a clause exempting certain landowners from property taxes.
Olver said there are a total of 403 protected areas in South Africa, making up 6,6% of the country’s land area. If private land is included, the figure rises to ”more than 10%”.
Conserved land has increased by more than 500 000ha over the past decade.
A total of 17% of the coastline is now under protection and this figure is expected to rise to 20% over the next few years.
The country is also involved with its neighbours in the management of nine transfrontier parks.
Olver said the introduction of a tax break will provide a ”massive spurt” and economic incentive to expand the amount of land under conservation.
”The government will continue to buy land, but the incentive is a solid basis for expansion.”
Later on Tuesday, he said the incentive in the draft legislation was aimed at private landowners who wanted to enter into ”high-level conservation” contracts with SA National Parks.
Olver was reluctant to put a figure on the extent to which this would increase the area of protected land in South Africa, but suggested it could be substantial.
He stressed the conservation break was one of a suite of strategies his department is using to increase protected areas. — Sapa