The R38,5 implementation phase of Greater Addo Elephant National Park project was officially launched earlier this month.

Funder of the project, the World Bank, attended the launch workshop wich dealt with the overall vision of the four-year old project.

Project coordinator Jill Gordon said that over the next six years, the project’s vision was to expand both the terrestrial and marine areas of the park and increase the amount of land under private ownership by way of contractual agreements.

“The World Bank is very happy to see such a well developed plan, with a very capable team to execute the project,” said project task team leader and World Bank member Chris Warner. “The success of the project is not that it is merely a plan, but that it is being implemented at such a rapid rate.