In terms of Section 25 (3) of the World Heritage Convention Act No. 49 of 1999 and section 39(3) of the Protected Areas Act No. 57 of 2003, consultation is required with municipalities, other organs of state, local communities and other affected parties, which have an interest in the area, when compiling a management plan for a protected area. Furthermore, the input and support of key stakeholders is considered vitally important in the management of protected areas and in the implementation of many of the actions set out in the Integrated Management Plan. For this reason a comprehensive public participation process has been undertaken in preparing the management plan for UDP WHS.

The stakeholder process commenced in August 2011 when two stakeholder workshops were held for north and south Ukhahlamba Drakensberg Park World Heritage Site. The first stakeholder workshop took place on the 22nd of August 2011 at Spioenkop followed by a meeting on the 25th of August 2011 at the Underberg Country Club. Preliminary meetings and presentations were done for the Buffer Technical Committee (15 September 2011) with a broad representation of district and local municipalities and government departments including AMAFA. Presentations included The Maloti Drakensberg Transfrontier Programme (29 August 2011) and to the Biodiversity and Protected Area Working Group on 19th of October 2011 at Golden Gate National Park. On the 29th of September 2011 a meeting was held with the Underberg Farmers Association and the Mhlwazini youth to discuss specific concerns the two parties wanted to be addressed in the Integrated Management Plan.