Representatives from AMCEN,
UNDP, Cab International, and the UNDP,
Government officials,
Distinguished guest
Ladies and Gentlemen.
Good morning and a very warm welcome to e-Thekwini
- Durban . It is indeed our pleasure to host
you in one of the fastest growing cities in
Africa . I trust that our deliberations over
the next two days will be fruitful and deliver
a programme that will benefit the whole of
Africa .
Programme Director, some of you will remember
that nearly six months ago we were in Dakar
and we made a Declaration that has reference
to this workshop.
Some of the key aspects of the declaration
were as follows:
the incorporation of environmental problems
in the process of Africa ’s economic development,
the integration of NEPAD’s environmental initiatives
into regional and sub-regional development
strategies
capacity building to deal with environmental
challenges especially amongst women and children
commitment by governments to implement priority
projects selected by the Conference of African
Minister of the Environment, and
support by other African countries for South
Africa to organise and host this conference
Programme Director, I am therefore pleased,
that this conference is finally taking place.
We are gathered here to discuss an environmental
problem with potentially devastating socio-economic
impacts.
It is currently harming Africa ’s development
and threatens to prevent Africa from ever
achieving the Millennium Development Goals
of environmental sustainability and reduction
of poverty and disease.
Invasive Species in many guises are present
on the continent and if we are not careful
enough, a wide range of further species will
be introduced to equally devastating effects.
These species threaten agriculture, water
resources, tourism, human health and economic
growth and development in Africa .
We have a great responsibility to find and
implement ways of preventing further entrance
of these species in the continent and fighting
those that are already present.
As you know, Chromolaena odorata , is one
of the worst invasive plant species in the
humid tropics and sub-tropics of the world.
It decreases the region’s agricultural productivity
by invading crops, grazing areas and young
or neglected plantations of timber, cocoa,
citrus, rubber and palm oil.
The leaves cause acute diarrhoea in cattle,
skin rashes and irritation in some people
after contact. Chromolaena is also a threat
to conservation and ecotourism, as it has
primarily invaded our natural vegetation.
Our rivers and fresh water resources are
threatened by Water Hyacinth.
Rats are undoubtedly the world’s most widespread
invasive alien mammals and have contributed
to the extinction of wildlife species. Rats
also spread diseases like bubonic plague.
We must ensure that invasive species are
part of our NEPAD programme as their impacts
are critical and crosscutting.
One of the thirteen projects identified at
the January 2003 workshop was the prevention
of Invasive Species entering through Airports.
I believe that this is one of the important
projects to pursue. We need to develop and
implement a invasive species prevention strategy.
ur challenge now is to raise awareness and
build capacity to both officials and communities.
I am reliably informed that the Global Invasive
Species Programme will be hosting at least
two training workshops funded by the Bank
Netherlands Partnership Project funds.
One workshop will focus on marine invasive
species while the second will focus on terrestrial
and freshwater invasive species. I encourage
you to attend these training workshops. Most
importantly I would encourage you to promote
the participation of women in these projects
as they are the ones who bare the brunt of
environmental degradation.
We are all aware of the work that (Common-wealth
and Agriculture Bureau - International) CAB-International
is doing on identifying the Barriers to Invasive
Species Management in Africa . I encourage
countries involved in this programme to share
their findings with us over the next two days.
In January 2003 we identified thirteen projects.
I would like to recommend that at this workshop
we focus on three or four high profile projects
and make sure that we use these as ‘flagships’
to promote the need to address the issue of
Invasive Species.
As expects and representatives of different
organisations take the message back and ensure
that resources are allocated for these programmes.
We all know that if this problem is not given
the necessary attention the consequences will
be devastating.
We must ensure Programme Director, that our
deliberations over the next two days are focused
on the delivery of a realistic programme that
has time frames to fight invasive species
across Africa.
Once again I would like to welcome you and
wish you a very successful and fruitful programme.
I look forward to receiving and implementing
the outcomes of this workshop.
Thank you.
