Gonarezhou National Park General Management Plan 2011 – 2021.

The Gonarezhou National Park General Management Plan 2011 – 2021 identifies four management programmes: 1. Biodiversity and Natural Resource Management Programme. It deals with the conservation of the Gonarezhou ecosystem components with a focus towards the park’s resource values and identified conservation targets. A key component of the programme is monitoring and research to ensure that the success of the conservation activities can be measured and modified during the life of the plan. 2. Sustainable Tourism Programme. The Sustainable Tourism Programme strives to ensure that Gonarezhou positions itself as to provide a unique tourism destination. The tourism plan capitalises on the wilderness aspect of the park and two zones have been created (Wilderness and Wildland) to ensure that this endures. Branding of the park is seen as being important for marketing so that it can compete regionally in a crowded marketplace. The undeveloped character of the park provides a unique opportunity for the future direction of tourism in the park. 3) Park Operations, Administration and Infrastructure Programme. This programme provides the backbone and support structure on which all park management activities are based. It provides a solid foundation to the operations of the other management programmes by developing and maintaining an effective and efficient human resource base and establishing a successful resource protection programme. 4) Collaborative Management Programme. It deals with issues beyond the boundaries of the park. One of the primary focuses of the programme is to foster good relations with the surrounding communities and this will be achieved by providing conservation services and education and information to the affected groups. Safari hunting is an important mechanism to provide community benefits and other ways of allowing communities to benefit form the park are also suggested. The programme also recommends strategies to maintain habitat connectivity and to ensure that Gonarezhou becomes an integral part of the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Conservation Area.