Trust aims to protect the marine heritage and with this support was able to submit a letter of concern regarding the proposed nuclear power plant at Bantamsklip, just over 22 km from their head office (March 2010). Bantamsklip is one of the three preferred sites earmarked by government for the construction of the power plant based on the wealth of its own research findings and local knowledge was able to point out critical flaws in the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for the proposed power plant. Most importantly the University of Pretoria will in future be consulted regarding the species of this area and any possible monitoring programs.
“It is the hope of the Cape Whale Coast that, by becoming part of an international network of Hope Spots, the profile of Overstrand will be raised both locally and abroad. By showcasing the remarkable resources and outstanding work being done in the area, and by prioritizing and drawing attention to the threats to these resources, stakeholders in the area hope to also attract resources and focus efforts towards creating a culture of caring that will translate into one of protection of our natural environment. Iconic animals such as whales and sharks will be used to draw attention to the plight of the environment, and this attention will then be broadened to include the habitats of these and of lesser known species. Conservation efforts will be focused on parts of the coast that are currently not formally protected, with the idea of lifting the status of these areas and linking them into one unified protected area stretching from the Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve in the west to the De Hoop Marine Protected Area in the east”
How could your example be transferred to another protected area and how could your experience be shared with others?
Fair Trade Tourism promotes good practice examples such as these from our Cape Whale Coast partners as solutions for responsible tourism development in coastal destinations elsewhere. A colaborative multi-stakeholder approach like the one taken by DICT, which continues to involve local communities, municipal government, the local and national business community and NGOs from the local to the global, forms the backbone of any sustainable destination development approach. These experiences, from a institutional and communication can be replicated elsewhere.Any destination in the world is unique in its attractions, business models and stakeholder landscape. But learning from each other in how to set up proper mechanisms for change and how people and organizations can work together better toward conserving their natural environment and safeguarding the natural capital enshrined in the intactness of their landscape is transferable. In the case of the Cape Whale Coast, replication of their lessons learned would be especially interesting for marine-based destinations along the African coast, such as in Mozambique, Tanzania or Kenya.
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