Table Mountain National Park and China’s Mount Taishan have signed a cooperation agreement covering protected area management, biodiversity conservation, sustainable tourism, environmental education and climate change adaptation.
Signed on July 17 with the support of the Western Cape government and China’s Shandong Province, the agreement also provides for the exchange of knowledge and technical expertise.
“As two globally recognised UNESCO World Heritage Sites, Table Mountain and Mount Taishan provide a strong platform for building relationships and promoting shared conservation values,” JP Louw, SANParks Spokesperson and Head of Communications, told Tourism Update.
“The initial focus will be on institutional collaboration and knowledge exchange and, as the partnership develops, opportunities that may benefit the broader tourism sector will be explored.”
Over the next two to three years, SANParks hopes the partnership will translate into meaningful collaboration through the exchange of technical expertise, protected area management practices, shared approaches to biodiversity conservation and climate change adaptation and enhanced environmental education initiatives.
“We want this agreement to open the door to even more opportunities for tourism, trade, investment and stronger people-to-people ties that will benefit the Western Cape and Shandong Province for many years to come,” said Western Cape Minister of Social Development Jaco Londt.
“The most sacred mountains in China; the other an iconic, globally recognised landmark and one of the seven Natural Wonders of the World. This twinning agreement is about further unlocking the full potential of collaboration between two remarkable destinations,” he said.
