Executive Director: People and Conservation, SANParks
In the past, for communities around parks, conservation generally meant a saga of ongoing battles with the authorities. Before 1994, the old Parks Board held a preservationist view which excluded local people. Often, land was expropriated on a whim, causing deep rifts between those in parks and those around parks.
Razeena is intent on healing these divides. When SANParks identified a need to involve local communities in conservation efforts within parks, the Directorate for People and Conservation was created. ‘It is important to bring people into conservation. Our parks should no longer be silos of isolation,” she says.
Education is not a new role for her. Before being recruited by SANParks, Razeena advised former education minister Kader Asmal about environmental education.
One of her favourite projects at SANParks involves children who have never visited a park. In a joint project with DEAT and the Department of Education, SANParks arranges for these children to visit one of their country’s national parks.
She says conservation is still too male-dominated, although more women are coming to the fore. ‘This is a very exciting time for women,” she adds.