The purposes of the declaration of areas as protected areas according to the National Environmental Management: Protected Areas (Act No 57 of 2003) are:

to protect ecologically viable areas representative of South Africa's biological diversity and its natural landscapes and seascapes in a system of protected area;

to preserve the ecological integrity of these areas;

to conserve biodiversity in these areas;

to protect areas representative of all ecosystems, habitats and species naturally occurring in South Africa;

to protect South Africa's threatened or rare species;

to protect an area which is vulnerable or ecologically sensitive;

to assist in ensuring the sustained supply of environmental goods and services

to provide for the sustainable use of natural or biological resources;

to create or augment destinations for nature based tourism;

to manage the inter-relationship between natural environment biodiversity, human settlement and economic development;

generally to contribute to human, social, cultural, spiritual and economic development;

to rehabilitate and restore degraded ecosystems and promote the recovery of endangered and vulnerable species

More information about the National Protected Areas Expansion Policay (NPAES)