as they will ensure that we will have to do in-depth specialist studies
regarding our EMP or Environmental Management Plan.
It must be remembered that iSimangaliso Birding Route envisages having a very
large and extended ecological foot print that will have many diverse
ecosystems and have a high human impact ratio. The whole aim of iSimangaliso
Birding Route is to make use of the environment as a draw card for domestic
tourists to the Elephant Coast.
iSimangaliso Birding Route Members will be active in changing the land use
policy and rezoning of many tracts of land to be listed as SMZ's or Special
management Zones, This will only be accomplished if we have the tools and
will power to put a serious action plan in place which will motivate the general
population to look after our wild life, as this is the key attraction which
brings a large portion of our tourism to the Elephant Coast.
This rezoning will need commitment from the people on the ground at each site
where we apply for rezoning. This commitment will not be forth coming if the
local population see no benefit or economic income from this tract of
land. If on the other hand we place a bird hide or two with a related facility
on or adjacent to these tracts of land we will get a different response, as the
land which will be rezoned will be generating an income from the use of the
tourism facilities on or adjacent to this land.