South African National Parks (SANParks) invites all South Africans to join in the celebration of the annual World Environment Day (WED) which is celebrated under the theme “Connecting People to Nature”.
The WED was declared by the United Nations General Assembly in 1972, and was celebrated for the first time on June 5, 1974 and every year since. The event raises global awareness to take positive action to protect nature and the planet Earth. It is run by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and celebrated worldwide with the aims to protect our unique and life sustaining environment as well as to raise global awareness of the collectively termed Illegal ‘Wildlife Trade’ affecting our fauna and flora.
According to SANParks, Acting Head of Communications, William Mabasa, “SANParks is the leading conservation authority in the country responsible for 4 163 262 hectares of protected land in 21 national parks and as such we want to encourage society to tell the world ‘I’m with Nature’ by visiting a national park near them or even spending some time in their own piece of nature today.”
“SANParks is hosting various activities in most of its parks and would like people to go and connect with nature through the activities in the different parks. Garden Route National Park together with the Knysna Municipality will be participating in a clean-up campaign which will highlight the increase in pollution around the park. Marakele National Park will be hosting an exhibition at the Waterberg Technical and Vocational Educational Training College where they will educate and inform society about the importance of nature and how people can connect to nature and the Kruger National Park will host its annual Keep Kruger Clean campaign near Orpen Gate,” continued Mabasa.
Mabasa concluded by saying “In celebration of World Environment Day, join SANParks as we strive to create a sustainable National Park System connecting society. WED is your chance to connect with the beauty that is all around, use today to be one #WithNature.” Share any pictures you take in our national parks today with with #WithNature on our Social Media pages.