A great achievement during the past year, was the finalisation of the delegation to SanParks affecting the management control over approximately 97 000 ha of State forest land in the Southern Cape and Tstikamma areas. SanParks as a conservation agency will manage natural forests in terms of all the provisions of the National Forests Act, 1998.

A further 1000 ha of plantation forests at Tokai and Cecilia have also been transferred to SanParks for incorporation into the Table Mountain National Park. SanParks will manage the lease with Mountain To Ocean (MTO) for the duration of the conversion process and during the time that the forest company clear-fells the plantation area. It is expected that the land will thereafter be released from the provisions of the NFA. Discussions between the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DEAT), the South African Forestry Company Ltd (SAFCOL) and the Greater St Lucia Wetland Park (GSWP) Authority about the integration of approximately 43 000 ha of State forest land into the Wetlands Park are in progress.

The Lowveld plantation exit strategy to incorporate 11 000 ha of plantation area into the National Parks system is at an advanced stage. There are also 12 000 ha of indigenous forests included in the plan. In collaboration with DEAT a comprehensive exit strategy that takes the broader local economic impact into consideration, should be completed during 2005-2006 financial year. An additional area of 15 200 ha of savannas and grasslands will be transferred to the National Department of Agriculture (NDA) and the Department Land Affairs (DLA) in 2005-2006.

In the Eastern Cape over 50% of the natural forests should be transferred to the Department of Economic Affairs and Environmental Tourism (DEAET) during 2005-2006.