"Real and urgent" threats were facing SA's conservation areas and first world countries had to do more to help, Environment Minister Marthinus van Schalkwyk said on Wednesday.

As a result of climate change, the Kruger National Park could see more intense rainfall interspersed with longer dry spells, he told the World Parks Conference in Somerset West.

This could see changes in tree cover and greater competition for water.

Fynbos species in the Table Mountain National Park could become extinct, along with more fires and accelerated spread of alien invasive species.

While South Africa was ready to do more, economically advanced countries had to do go even further and "come good in supporting us".

"Therefore, we must conclude the negotiations on climate change, as agreed in the Bali Roadmap, by the end of 2009."

Van Schalkwyk said it would be one of the most complex, but also one of the most defining international negotiations ever.

Outlining steps the country was already taking to combat climate change, Van Schalkwyk said expanding national parks could make them more resistant to climate change.

Examples were the Namaqua National Park and the Tankwa National Park.

Making them larger was creating parks with greater variety in altitude and more "biologically important" components.

This would provide a greater variety of habitats, which would reduce the risks climate change posed to endemic species.

He said "significant" amounts of money had already been spent to expand formal protected areas, bringing the number of national parks to 22.

http://iafrica.com/news/sa/646106.htm