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WORD OF WELCOME 

Mr Chairman, Dr. Vollmar, ladies and gentlemen! 
It is indeed a pleasure on behalf of the National Parks Board of 

Trustees to welcome all the delegates to the symposium which coincides 
with the 50th anniversary of the National Parks Board. 

I think it human after 50 years to think back and to give a summary of 
the years past. When we talk about Nature Conservation, it is natural to 
make a summary of what has been done not only in the Republic of 
South Africa (RSA) but in th e whole of southern Africa. Therefore, 
knowledgeable persons have been approached to evaluate critically th e 
position of Nature Conservation in southern Africa . In some instances , 
certain countries could not be represented due to political upheaval. 

On behalf of the National Parks Board of Trustees I extend a very 
hearty word of welcome to each and everyone and to those who have 
come from afar to take this opportunity of not only noting what has been 
done in the Republic of South Africa , but also look with a critical eye on 
what they think should be done. I would like to welcome representatives 
of the National Parks Board of Trustees and similarly the welcome is 
extended to representatives of Lesotho, Rhodesia, Swaziland , 
Bophutatswana, the Ciskei, Gazankulu, Kwa-Zulu, Lebowa, Quaqua, 
the Swazi Territorial authority, the Republic of the Transkei, the Venda, 
the Provincial Administrations of the RSA, the Universities of Pretoria 
and Stellenbosch, the South African Nature Foundation, SATOUR, the 
National Zoological Gardens, the National Botanical Gardens, different 
Government D epartments and last, but not least, th e Wildlife Society of 
Southern Africa. 

You will permit me to mention one name i.e. Dr Fritz Vollmar and his 
good lady. Dr Vollmar is the Director General of the World Wildlife 
Fund (WWF) employed in finding the necessary funds for the estab-
lishment of new National Parks all over the world . We are very pleased 
to have them here. 

I sincerely hope, ladies and gentlemen, that you will leave our 
boundaries (after completion of our proposed programme) with op-
timism and enthusiasm as far as Nature Conservation is concern ed. We 
appreciate your presence at this, our 50th anniversary. We shall try our 
best to do what is still to be done (albeit a long-time programme) and I 
would emphasise the fact that we are to learn considerably from this 
symposium on your account - the mere fact ofypur presence here being 
testimonial of our common idealism. 

The Hon S G J van Niekerk 
Chairman 
National Parks Board qf Trustees 

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