South Africa unveils plans to expand Kruger Park

GOVERNMENT intends converting commercial forestry plantations surrounding Mpumalanga's Blyde River Canyon into a public game reserve as part of an ambitious five-year plan to expand the Kruger National Park (KNP) westwards. The 12 000 hectare government-owned plantations will be clear logged to link the Blyde Canyon to the KNP. Water and Forestry Affairs Minister Ronnie Kasrils said rare indigenous forest would be re-established on the logged land, creating a key water catchment area and helping conserve South Africa's endangered indigenous forests. The new park will be managed by South African National Parks (SANParks), and will form the core of a new conservation zone where private land owners will be encouraged to convert their land into tourism-orientated wildlife businesses. (African Eye News Service)