AfriForum is ready to protect the critical biodiversity area of Marakele National Park
A breeding colony of the endangered Cape vulture is currently endangered by planned mining operations in the Waterberg, next to the Marakele National Park. The civil rights organisation AfriForum has already taken steps to register as an interested and affected party in this case.
If the planned operations were to continue, it would have devastating consequences for the unique character of the Waterberg and environment. The natural habitat of the Cape vultures, as well as the rare wild dogs, are threatened by this planned activity.
“This area was declared a critical biodiversity area in 2019, therefore no development and/or specifically mining activities may take place here. These planned activities must be nipped in the bud. We are therefore now waiting for the documents from the environmental impact assessment practitioner after which AfriForum will appoint a specialist to prepare comments,” says Lambert de Klerk, AfriForum’s manager for Environmental Affairs.
“AfriForum is not opposed to mining operations, but it must be done in an ethical and legal manner. This critical biodiversity area must be protected, and we must not allow it to be irreparably changed by mining operations,” says Cee-J van der Walt, AfriForum’s District Coordinator for the Soutpansberg.
“We encourage all people who are concerned that the natural beauty of this critical biodiversity area will be destroyed to put their support behind us and get involved,” concludes De Klerk.
