South Africa don declare eighteen Eastern Cape properties as Grasslands National Park, covering 10,225.9242 hectares. Government announcement wey SANParks publish on 9 October say the declaration move the area from proposal enter formally established national park, after the process wey authorities follow.
The landscape dey between Nqanqarhu and Rhodes and include part of important Eastern Cape Drakensberg water-source area. The announcement connect grassland protection with biodiversity, water security and livelihoods wey depend on agricultural land for the wider region.
Dem establish the park mainly through biodiversity stewardship. Landowners wey join still own their properties while dem commit the land to agreed conservation and management arrangements. According to the announcement, farming wey fit work together with conservation fit continue inside this model.
Dem assign management to SANParks. WWF South Africa help coordinate the park establishment alongside environment department and other partners. So the arrangement combine national conservation institution with cooperation involving the people wey own and work the land for the area.
The department say declaration follow notice of intention for 2025 and completion of statutory process. That establish new formal status. By itself, e no announce visitor accommodation, public access routes or booking system wey people fit already use for the new park.
The importance na effort to protect connected landscape while compatible activities continue on working land. Performance go depend on whether conservation and management commitments happen in practice. The announcement give institutional starting point; ecological results and future visitor arrangements na other things to follow.