Biodiversity and Conservation
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Introduction |
Purpose and functions |
Structure and contact details |
Related projects / programmes categories |
Policy and legislation |
Related events with media products |
Introduction
A safe, healthy and sustainably managed environmental and natural resource base provides critical eco-system services that are a foundation for economic and social development.
Our rich species, ecosystems and natural heritage which form the very foundation of our economy and society, providing eco-system services such as food security, clean and secure water provision, flood attenuation, biomass energy and building material as well as a resource base for the sustainable development and growth of the tourism, bio-technology, pharmaceutical, bioenergy, agriculture, forestry, fisheries and indigenous knowledge based sectors of the economy are threatened by growing human population and their increasing demands on the environment, climate change and invasive alien species amongst others.
The focus of the biodiversity and conservation programme is on the regulation and management of all biodiversity, heritage and conservation matters in a manner that ensures equitable and sustainable use, conservation, management and, where necessary, the restoration of this resource base as well as to mitigate threats to them as a basis for sustainable and inclusive socio-economic development facilitates sustainable economic growth and development.
Biodiversity richness is one of South Africa’s important natural assets as it provides goods and services which are vital for human well-being. The department is mandated to ensure the equitable and sustainable use, conservation, management and, where necessary, the restoration of this resource base as well as to mitigate threats to them as a basis for sustainable and inclusive socio-economic development.
Purpose and functions
Purpose
Establishment, management and maintenance of ecologically representative national and cross-border systems of protected areas to advance the heritage of humankind as well as contribute to the three objectives of the CBD and Millennium Development Goals.
Functions
- Establishment, development and management of comprehensive, ecologically representative and effectively managed regional network of transfrontier conservation areas
- Establishment, development and safeguarding of the integrity of World Heritage Sites as well as implementation of world Heritage Convention in South Africa
- Strengthen governance of the protected areas system in South Africa in line with national imperatives and international obligations
- Establishment and development of a comprehensive and ecologically representative national network of protected areas that safeguards key ecological processes across the landscape and provides resilience against climate change
- Development and implementation of policy and legislation relating to and monitoring performance of protected areas
- Manage strategic, administration, logistical and financial support to the Chief Directorate.
Structure and contact details
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Related projects and programmes categories
UNDP/GEFProject Overview The South African Government, through the National Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE), in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme-Country Office, are implementing the Global Environment Facility (GEF) 6 funded project, which is aligned to achieving the objectives of the Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit Sharing, and the draft National Biodiversity Economy Strategy (NBES). The objective of the UNDP/GEF 6 Project is to strengthen the value chains for products derived from indigenous plants’ genetic resources with a view to contributing to the equitable sharing of benefits and conservation of biodiversity. The outcome of the project contributes to the following sustainable development goals: The project objective has been proposed to be achieved via three technical project outcomes and one dissemination of project lessons outcome.
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Rhino Dialogues South Africa
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Working for Wetlands
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Working for Land
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Biomass Energy
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Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES)
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Man and the Biosphere Reserves (MAB) Programme
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Policy and legislation
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Policies
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Acts of Parliament
- The World Heritage Convention Act, 1999 (Act No. 49 of 1999)
- The National Environmental Management: Protected Areas Amendment Act, 2009 (Act 15 of 2009)
- The National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act, 2004 (Act No. 10 of 2004)
- National Environmental Management: Protected Areas Act, 2003 (Act No. 57 of 2003)
- The National Environmental Management: Protected Areas Amendment Act, 2004 (Act No. 31 of 2004)
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Regulations
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Related events
People and Parks Conference
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International Day for Biological Diversity
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World Rhino Day
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World Wildlife Day
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World Ranger Day
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World Migratory Bird Day
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World Wetlands Day
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