03 September 2007 - Media
Statement - Department of Environmental
Affairs and Tourism
MONDAY, 03 SEPTEMBER 2007: Officials from
the Department of Environmental Affairs
and Tourism are currently attending the
eighth Conference of the Parties to the
United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification
(UNCCD COP8), which is taking place in Madrid,
Spain from 03 to 14 September 2007.
The UNCCD is the centerpiece of the international
community’s efforts to combat desertification
and land degradation in the drylands. The
UNCCD was adopted on 17 June 1994, entered
into force on 26 December 1996, and currently
has 191 parties.
The UNCCD recognizes the physical, biological
and socioeconomic aspects of desertification,
the importance of redirecting technology
transfer so that it is demand-driven, and
the involvement of local communities in
combating desertification and land degradation.
The core of the UNCCD is the development
of national, subregional and regional action
programmes by national governments, in cooperation
with donors, local communities and NGOs.
Land degradation is an ecological problem
that manifests itself both at local level
by affecting the economic well being of
people and at a global level by undermining
the integrity, stability functions and services
of ecosystems. More than 250 million people
in over 110 countries are directly affected
by desertification and about one billion
people are at risk. Arid areas of all continents
have deserts. However desert margins, semi-deserts
and steppes with their vulnerable natural
resources are the major areas affected by
desertification.
Desertification and climate change linkages
lead to a multitude of socio-economic problems
for vulnerable communities, especially in
Africa. Most of African communities live
on agriculture-based economies, and survive
by subsistence farming or productivity of
marginal lands. However, activities that
take place in the developed economies can
indirectly contribute to the livelihood
of these distant communities due to the
global impacts of climate change and desertification.
The most vulnerable continent is Africa;
with about 60% of its total area covered
by deserts or drylands. The United Nations
Environment Programme (UNEP) estimates that
desertification costs Africa about US$ 9
billion a year.
The socio-economic dimension of desertification
is most pronounced in Africa where extensive
areas bordering the Sahara are affected.
About half of Southern Africa is semi-arid,
and thus vulnerable to the effects of desertification.
Some of the most vulnerable regions are
the areas around the edges of the Kalahari
Desert and some regions in the Karoo. The
region around Kalahari Desert in Southern
Africa has been recognized by the United
Nations Environment Programme as one of
the top five endangered dryland regions
in the world.
South Africa’s government Departments,
private sectors and national research institutions
are involved in multi-pronged programmes
to identify vulnerable regions, and mitigation
actions to alleviate the threat posed by
desertification and climate change.
The Eighth A high-level interactive dialogue
on the theme "Desertification and adaptation
to Climate Change” will also take place.
The seventh Round Table of Members of Parliament
will occur at the margins of the Conference
to address issues ranging from “Challenges
of forced migration due to drought and desertification”
to “Meeting the Challenges of combating
desertification as they relate to climate
change.”
Affected countries that are party to the
United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification
have an obligation to prepare a National
Action Programme (NAP) for the implementation
of the provisions of the convention. NAPs
provide a framework of partnerships that
calls for all government structures, scientific
research institutions communities, non-government
organizations and private sector to work
together and for the international community
to provide the necessary technology, capacity
development and financial resources for
the implementation of the Convention.
Mava Scott (Acting Chief Director: Communications)
+ More
LAUNCH OF TOURISM ROUTE MARKS TENTH ANNIVERSARY
OF ESTABLISHMENT OF MALOTI-DRAKENSBERG TFCA
Launch of Maloti - Drakensberg Tourism
route to ease cross border tourism and promote
regional cooperation between Lesotho and
South Africa.
“Ten years ago, Lesotho and South Africa
forged a partnership towards the conservation
and sustainable management of natural and
cultural resources. For this initiative
to succeed the two countries need to strengthen
their efforts to address the challenges
or threats facing this Transfrontier Conservation
and Development Area (TFCA), that is the
destruction of wetlands and heritage resources,
wild fires, illegal hunting and tourist
safety.”
These were the sentiments echoed by Lesotho
Minister of Tourism, Environment & Culture,
Lebogang Ntsinyi and South African Deputy
Minister of Environmental Affairs &
Tourism, Rejoice Mabudafhasi, at the 10th
anniversary for the establishment of the
Maloti - Drakensberg TFCA. The anniversary
celebration was marked by the launch of
the Maloti Drakensberg tourism route linking
the two countries as well as the launch
of a book titled, “Maloti Drakensberg Experience,”
which highlights the main attractions within
this route.
Minister Ntsinyi said it was critical for
South Africa and Lesotho to take advantage
of the potential for nature based tourism
and position it so that it benefits people
of the region especially Lesotho, where
most tourism products are underdeveloped,
if we are to optimise the spin-offs from
the 2010 World Cup Tournament.
The Maloti Drakensberg TFCA links the Sehlabathebe
National Park in Lesotho and Ukhahlamba
Drakensberg Park World Heritage site in
South Africa and is funded by the Global
Environment Facility (GEF) through the World
Bank.
This TFCA is renowned for its rich biodiversity
and its internationally recognized heritage
status of the Ukhahlamba Drakensberg Park,
the Ramsar listing of wetland areas namely
the Ukhahlamba Park and Lets’eng - La -Letsie
in Lesotho - the SAN rock art. It is also
a major water source in southern Africa.
Deputy Minister Rejoice Mabudafhasi said
that the vision is to position southern
Africa’s Transfrontier Conservation Areas
as a single tourism route and international
destination for 2010 and beyond.
To date Southern Africa has identified
6 TFCAs, namely Kgalagadi, Ai/Ais/Richetersveld,
Greater Limpopo, Maloti Drakensberg, Lubombo
and Limpopo Shashe. These peace parks have
contributed towards the upliftment of communities
living in and adjacent to the parks.
Mava Scott
Chief Director Communications
