28 March 2014 - South
Africa and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam
concluded fruitful discussions in Pretoria
on 28 March 2014 on issues related to biodiversity
conservation and management.
The commitment to improving
cooperation on biodiversity conservation
especially controlling the illicit trade
and poaching of wildlife, including rhino,
has formed an important part of the working
visit to South Africa by a high level delegation
from the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.
The 20-member delegation
to South Africa was headed by the Vice Minister
of Natural Resources and Environment, Associate
Prof Dr Bùi Cách Tuy?n. The
visit to South Africa follows after the
signing on 6 May 2013 of an Implementation
Plan in terms of theMemorandum of Understanding
on cooperation in the field of Biodiversity
Conservation and Protection that was signed
in Hanoi, Vietnam, in December 2012.
The action plan was
developed, and is being implemented, in
accordance with the nature of the MoU. It
is aimed at promoting cooperation between
the Parties in the field of biodiversity
management, conservation and protection,
law enforcement, compliance with CITES,
technology transfer, and other relevant
legislation and international Conventions
on the basis of equality and mutual benefit.
The working visit comprised
a visit to Cape Town’s table mountain, a
three-day workshop in Pretoria and a visit
to the Kruger National Park.
The visit took place
in a week when the number of rhino poached
in South Africa increased to 233 since January
1, 2014. A total of 144 rhino have been
poached in the Kruger National Park, 32
in North West, 21 in Limpopo and 16 in KwaZulu-Natal.
Fifty-four alleged poachers have been arrested.
Officials from the Departments
of Environmental Affairs, the Department
of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry,
SANParks and the South African Police Service
briefed the delegation on subjects including:
The implementation of
biodiversity management legislation in South
Africa;
Curbing poaching and the illegal wildlife
trade;
Biodiversity management and the sustainable
utilisation of resources;
Lessons learnt on existing financing mechanisms
and offsets in terms of biodiversity monitoring;
Wildlife and protected area management,
biodiversity conservation and management
experiences;
Forest management; and
Enforcement-related matters.
The delegation were briefed on rhino anti-poaching
initiatives in the Kruger National Park,
and were provided an insight into the research
and work being undertaken by the non-governmental
sector in South Africa to curb rhino poaching.
Following the robust
discussions, agreement was reached to advance
the implementation of the Action Plan and
to assist South Africa in meeting its international
obligations.
Whilst it was noted
that rhino poaching across South Africa
and Africa has risen sharply in the past
few years and has threatened to reverse
the hard-won progress achieved by conservation
authorities during the 20th Century, South
Africa acknowledges and values the contribution
and effort by Vietnam in the fight against
Rhino poaching and the illegal trade in
wildlife and its products.
“This resonates well
with the purpose of the visit to South Africa
which is to learn more about South African
biodiversity conservation and management
with specific focus on wildlife and protected
areas management, the team’s specific intention
for the visit is to strengthen cooperation
among the two countries in controlling illegal
wildlife trade including endangered species
trade such as rhino in the context of the
signed MOU on cooperation in the field of
Biodiversity Conservation and Protection
between the two countries through sharing
of experiences, information, best practices
and lessons learnt,” said the Director-General
of Environmental Affairs, Ms Nosipho Ngcaba.
During the discussions,
actions directed at specific areas of intervention
were vigorously deliberated and agreed upon
in order to address this problem.
These include engagements
and exchange of expertise on the optimisation
of management of protected areas and monitoring
systems, the promotion and sharing of awareness
raising efforts in both countries, technology
enhancement for improvement of communication
exchange and investigation, optimal natural
resources management to sustain wildlife
resources, and the strengthening of joint
research on market demands for illegal and
legal wildlife products. The exchange of
technology includes invasive species control
and DNA detection of rhino horn.
“Through these discussions
we have learnt and exchanged many valuable
lessons including that biodiversity management
is unified in South Africa, the mobilization
and involvement of stakeholders, as well
as the establishment of joint management
structures to protect biodiversity, ” said
Dr. Pham Anh Cuong, Director of Biodiversity
Conservation Agency of Vietnam.
In addressing the thorny
area of demand reduction, as a critical
intervention in curbing rhino poaching and
as tasked through a decision from the recent
CITES COP16 in Thailand, Vietnam expressed
enthusiasm in assisting South Africa address
the scourge.
South Africa has accepted
an invite from Vietnam to undertake a working
visit to Vietnam later in the year, to gain
a greater understanding of the elements
influencing illegal consumption of and trade
in wildlife. Thereafter, both parties will
jointly develop material to create and enhance
awareness, particularly targeted at the
youth in both countries.
South Africa and Vietnam
recognise the value for both countries to
share information, policies and legislation
on biodiversity protection and committed
to further developing cooperation between
the two countries in striving to address
international wildlife crime and the conservation
and management of biodiversity.
+ More
Deputy Minister Mabudafhasi
and Executive Mayor Ramokgopa to launch
the Eco Furniture Factory and War on Leaks
Projects in Tshwane
05 March 2014 - Ms Rejoice
Mabudafhasi, MP, the Deputy Minister of
Water and Environmental Affairs in partnership
with the Executive Mayor of Tshwane Metropolitan
Municipality, Cllr Kgosientso Sputla Ramokgopa
will launch the Eco Furniture Factory and
War on Leaks projects in Garankuwa and Mamelodi,
respectively on Friday, 07 March 2014.
Eco Furniture Factory
The Eco-Furniture Project of the Department
of Environmental Affairs, implemented through
the South African National Parks, is a partner
in the Department of Basic Education’s systematic
approach to address the needs of schools,
inter alia the requirement for quality school
desks for Learners. These desks are made
in South Africa from wood of invasive alien
trees cleared by previously unemployed workers.
The expansion of this
project to areas such as Garankuwa will
ensure 200 skills development and work opportunities
through the Expanded Public Works Programme
(EPWP) model for the previously unemployed
community members in Tshwane.
War on Leaks project
South Africa is losing 37% of water through
leaks which translates to R7 billion per
year. The Department of Water Affairs initiated
the War on Leaks project which is currently
being implemented at different municipalities
across the country. This project is aimed
at eradicating water leaks in households,
schools, clinics and other public buildings,
training of unemployed youth with basic
plumbing skills and job creation.
The launch of War on
Leaks in Tshwane will also ensure 200 skills
development and work opportunities through
the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP)
model for the unemployed locals.
The main partners and
stakeholders for both the launches include
the Departments of Water and Environmental
Affairs, City of Tshwane, Rand Water and
Fiber Pipe.
