South Africa's National Biodiversity Strategy Takes Shape

PRETORIA, South Africa, March 18, 2004 (ENS) - South Africa is making plans to conserve and protect its biodiversity and make these goals part of the life of every South African. The National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan already is part of the life of Dr. Crispian Olver, and he took the podium Wednesday at the Farm Inn in Pretoria to tell his colleagues why it is particularly important this year as the country celebrates its tenth year of democracy.

"Emerging from a terrible past of exclusion and total neglect of black people in our biodiversity and conservation regime, we have to ask the question whether we have returned the sense of ownership of our biodiversity assets to the majority of our people in the last 10 years," said Dr. Olver, who serves as director general of the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism.

Dr. Crispin Olver makes a point at a meeting in New York to prepare for the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development held in South Africa. (Photo courtesy IISD)

And some events are for fun. A three day Wilderness Bush Bash opens today in Kruger National Park to celebrate one of the richest areas for biodiversity in the world.

Established in 1898 to protect the wildlife of the South African Lowveld, this national park of nearly two million hectares, Kruger National Park shelters 336 species of trees, 49 fish, 34 amphibians, 114 reptiles, 507 birds and 147 mammals. It will be celebrated this week while the means are sought to safeguard this treasure of biodiversity for future generations.

"The biggest issue facing the sustainable use of our natural resources is the issue of equity," Dr. Olver told the delegates in Pretoria. From various spheres of government dealing with environment and conservation, from community based organizations, nongovernmental organizations and academic institutions, they had come to this first formal workshop to shape the national biodiversity strategy.

As a contracting party to the Convention on Biological Diversity, South Africa is required to develop a national strategy for the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity and equitable sharing of benefits derived from genetic resources.

A meeting of people from South African communities who were removed or threatened with removals from protected areas to make way for wildlife at the IUCN World Parks Congress. (Photo courtesy IUCN)

Over the past four months, the Task Teams have been working to provide technical guidance and expert opinion in each of the five key thematic areas - conservation, sustainable use, access and benefits sharing, invasive alien species, and economic integration and poverty alleviation.

The Task Teams have identified draft national objectives, priorities and strategies for all key thematic areas in what they are calling a "straw dog" strategy. It formed the basis for discussion and debate on national objectives, priorities and strategic options, at the first national workshop.

The main strategic objectives of the national biodiversity strategy and action plan are to:

• Ensure that biodiversity is a priority consideration of all the people of South Africa and is an integral component of all sectors of the economy

• Enhance institutional effectiveness and efficiency to ensure good governance in the biodiversity sector

• Ensure that benefits derived from biodiversity and costs of maintaining a sustained flow of environmental goods and services are equitably shared

• Ensure that direct and indirect consumptive use of biological resources is sustainable

• Ensure that biodiversity pattern and process is effectively conserved in a network of protected areas

• Engage with the international community to promote and develop cross-boundary and international cooperation and partnerships, in order to meet international obligations and commitments as far as possible, within the context of national priorities and constraints

A South African leopard enjoys a meal of antelope in the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park. (Photo courtesy South Africa National Parks)

A Draft Action Plan will be debated at the Second National Workshop, scheduled for July 2004.

Dr. Olver told the delegates that South Africa is "conscious of what we have achieved in 10 years of democracy and mindful of what we still need to achieve, in terms of redress, development and sustainability."

"At the same time, he said, the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan must be "achievable, realistic and visionary. It must be adaptive, fair and measurable. It must become a part of the life of every South African."