INVITATION FOR STAKEHOLDER CONSULTATION MEETING REGARDING THE EXTENSION OF THE iSIMANGALISO WETLAND PARK WORLD HERITAGE SITE (SOUTH AFRICA) TO MAPUTO NATIONAL PARK (MOZAMBIQUE) TO FORM ONE TRANSBOUNDARY WORLD HERITAGE SITE

Background
The Government of Mozambique is currently embarking on a process of inscribing its Maputo National Park as a Transboundary World Heritage Site through the extension of the existing iSimangaliso Wetland Park World Heritage Site. To this effect, the Government of Mozambique has contacted the Government of South Africa soliciting support for this initiative. It is a requirement from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) that a supporting letter from the country whose existing site will be extended into the envisaged transboundary heritage site be part of the submission. The Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment (the Minister) in South Africa has since positively responded and agreed to support the initiative in principle, pending the consultation process with all known interested and affected parties (I&APs) on the side of South Africa consistent with the Amended Format and Procedures for Nomination of World Heritage Sites in the Republic of South Africa 2022, published in Government Notice No. 2251, Government Gazette No. 46685 on 8 July 2022.

To this end, the Peace Parks Foundation, on behalf of the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (the DFFE), and iSimangaliso Wetland Park Authority, will conduct stakeholder consultations on the proposed initiative to provide engagement platforms for inclusive participation for all I&APs, identify the South African implications for the extension of the iSimangaliso World Heritage Site to Mozambique, and produce a comprehensive report with recommendations.

Public Comments
All I&APs are hereby invited to submit written inputs, comments and recommendations on this Notice of intention to extend the existing iSimangaliso Wetland Park World Heritage Site to Maputo National Park to form one transboundary World Heritage Site no later than 30 days from the date of publication of this notice. The Background Information Dossier is available for download on the iSimangaliso Wetland Park Authority website: www.isimangaliso.com. Hard copies of the dossier will be available for reference, during normal working hours, at the following public venues: St Lucia Public Library, Manguzi Public Library, Mbazwana Public Library, Sokhulu Traditional Council Hall, and Big 5 Hlabisa Municipal, from the 17th of June 2025 until the 16th of July 2025.