Signing of agreement sets foundation for more sustainable baboon programme on the Cape Peninsula
07 July 2023
The Cape Peninsula Baboon Management Joint Task Team (JTT) wants to inform the public that the Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) between SANParks, CapeNature, and the City of Cape Town has been signed by all parties. The MoA sets the foundation for the cooperation between the three spheres of government for a more sustainable management plan for the Cape Peninsula’s Chacma baboon population.
The MoA clarifies the roles and responsibilities of each sphere of government, and stipulates the collective and individual functions and mandates in working towards the sustainable management of the Chacma baboon population.
Actions and interventions will be undertaken, either individually, or as a collective, as required, according to the roles and responsibilities as set out in the MoA. The MoA also facilitates joint decision making, through the Cape Peninsula Baboon Management Joint Task Team, and will oversee the implementation of the Baboon Strategic Management Plan, once approved.
The signed MoA is available for download here:
Submissions on the draft Baboon Strategic Management Plan
The draft Baboon Strategic Management Plan is the result of the collective effort of the Joint Task Team, comprising representatives of SANParks, CapeNature and the City of Cape Town.
It is informed, among others, by research, international best practice and operational experience, as well as the input from stakeholders, and the community engagements undertaken by the City of Cape Town in August and September 2022.
The JTT is busy with the mammoth task of assessing the large volume of public submissions on the draft Baboon Strategic Management Plan. The plan was published for public comment on 27 January 2023 and by the closing date of 31 March 2023 the JTT has received over 800 individual comments, inclusive of the submissions made at the JTT's stakeholder engagement on 3 March 2023 in Tokai.
The JTT also had a conducive engagement with the Cape of Good Hope SPCA in May 2023, who provided valuable input and guidance on the draft plan. The CGHSPCA is an important stakeholder and their contribution is welcomed.
All of the comments will be duly considered as the JTT is working towards finalising the draft plan for signing by the end of August 2023, if all goes as planned.
Thereafter, the JTT will be calling for mandated representatives from recognised community organisations such as ratepayers associations, advocacy groups and research institutions to participate in the Baboon Advisory Group.
The JTT also notes the extension of the City's Urban Baboon Programme contract with NCC Environmental Services to 31 December 2024 to allow for a transitioning period.
Meetings with individual communities in close proximity to baboons' natural habitat
Once the plan has been signed by all three authorities, the JTT intends to meet with the affected communities to work on area-specific solutions applicable to that community. The intention is to operationalise the plan with specific solutions that address the different needs, circumstances, resources and geographical concerns of the different communities, to ensure these are best suited and most appropriate to their respective areas, and are supported by residents as far as possible.
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Published by:
City of Cape Town, Media Office
