Eastern Cape Parks is a public entity established in terms of the Provincial Parks Board Act 12 of 2003. The Eastern Cape Parks mandate is a biodiversity conservation inside the Nature Reserves. It is striving to be one of the world's renowned biodiversity conservation agencies and prides itself in its unique rich biomes and malaria free network of Provincial Nature Reserves.
The Eastern Cape is one of South Africa's leading nature and conservation based tourism destinations, offering a wealth of game viewing, diverse scenic beauty and boasting all seven of South Africa's plant biomes. The Nature Reserves managed by the Eastern Cape Parks cover an area of 438,000ha.
Commitment to protecting biodiversity & conservation of biomes will see:
* a total increase of this area by 10 000ha annually
* mutually beneficial relationships with neighbouring communities
* the preservation of natural resources.
The reserves extend in scope from the 184 385 ha Baviaanskloof Nature Reserve in the Baviaanskloof mega conservation area - the third largest protected area in South Africa, to the 400 ha forested valley reserve on the Wild Coast, Silaka.
Accommodation ranges from luxurious lodges and renovated classic Cape-style farm homesteads to wooden chalets, bungalows and hikers huts. Picnic and camping sites are available at selected reserves.
To be a premier entity in managing biodiversity through mutually beneficial partnerships by 2010.
The ECPB undertakes best practice conservation management and sustainable utilization of natural resources within the Eastern Cape provincial parks, in partnership with communities and other stakeholders.
The ECPB is guided by and committed to the following values:
| Integrity: | Work ethically, honestly and transparently. |
| Accountability: | Act honourably and take ownership of our actions and the outcomes thereof. |
| Excellence: | Provide the best possible service. |
| Partnership: | Build and sustain constructive and mutually beneficial partnerships with clear goals and objectives. |
| Sustainability: | Pursue sustainable management of resources through application of good governance principles. |
| Learning: | Support continued learning for the growth of individuals for the benefit of the organisation. |
| GOAL 1: Develop & maintain a functional, competent and sustainable organisation. |
Ensuring the organization is financially sustainable in the long-term by increasing the commercial income, investing in its people and processes, establishing an investment fund as well as a research and development fund and securing government funds for effective delivery of services. |
| GOAL 2: Institutionalize biodiversity conservation best practice. |
Improve on the processes of biodiversity management. |
| GOAL 3: Optimize linkages between biodiversity and economic development initiatives. |
Strengthening the link between biodiversity and economic development initiatives by introducing innovative programmes. |
| GOAL 4: Linking People and Parks. |
Increase participation and engagement of people in the management and development of parks for mutual benefit. |
| GOAL 5: Enhance the image of the organisation. |
Provide a platform for the visibility of the organisation and management of its public profile. |