the public-private partnership (PPP) to drive eco and adventure tourism in previously disadvantaged areas has been recognised after the Durban Green Corridor (DGC) scooped an award at the recent KwaZulu-Natal Top Business Awards ceremony.

The DGC is the brainchild of eThekwini Municipality and the Duzi uMngeni Conservation Trust (DUCT).  The DGC project is also supported by the INK Area Based Management office, the Extended Public Works Programme, the German government through the Sister Cities Programme and various private donors.

Chairperson of Economic Development and Planning Committee and Deputy Mayor Nomvuzo Shabalala said DGC is a model of a successful PPP project that has created employment and provided skills development for local communities.

""This project works works with the eco and adventure tourism industry to change the lives of local people living along the uMngeni River Valley through job creation and skills development,"" she said.

DGC Programme Manager Gury Cullen said:""Through this partnership, we have created the Durban Green Corridor, which trains and employs more than 250 previously disadvantaged people throughout the uMngeni Valley and the Inanda, Ntuzuma and KwaMashu areas as tour guides, environment maintenance teams, trail builders and environmental educators, as well as site and administration staff managing 13 outdoor adventure, eco tourism and environmental rehabilitation project sites"".

He added that the advantage of the DGC project is that it develops tourism products to increase Durban''s appeal to visitors and to kick-start a sustainable township and rural tourism economy as visitors can enjoy the lush green valley and stunning natural scenery, as well as participate in canoeing, hiking, mountain biking, bird watching, in addition to experiencing rural and township Zulu culture.

nonduduzo.ngcongo@durban.gov.za