Government is hoping the introduction of a "tax break" into draft property rating legislation will increase the area of land under conservation in South Africa, journalists at the fifth World Parks Congress in Durban heard yesterday.

Speaking at a United Nations Environment Programme media briefing on protected areas, South Africa's environmental affairs director-general Chippy Olver said the Property Rating Bill, set to come before Parliament next month, would provide an economic incentive to individuals to convert their land to conservation purposes.

The measure included a clause exempting certain landowners from property taxes.

Olver said there were a total of 403 protected areas in South Africa, making up 6,6% of the country's land area.

If private land was included, the figure would rise to "more than ten per cent".

Conserved land had increased by more than 500 000 ha over the past decade.

A total of 17% of the coastline was now under protection, and this figure was expected to rise to 20% over the next few years.

The country was also involved with its neighbours in the management of nine trans-frontier parks.

Olver said the introduction of a tax break would provide a "massive spurt" and economic incentive to expand the amount of land under conservation.

"The government will continue to buy land, but the incentive is a solid basis for expansion".

Later yesterday, he said the incentive in the draft legislation was aimed at private land owners who wanted to enter into "high-level conservation" contracts with SA National Parks.

Olver was reluctant to put a figure on the extent to which this would increase the area of protected land in South Africa, but suggested it could be substantial.

He stressed the conservation break was one of a suite of strategies his department was using to increase protected areas. – Sapa.