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Entities
The iSimangaliso Wetland Park was listed as South Africa's first World Heritage Site in December 1999 in recognition of its superlative natural beauty and unique global values. Since 1 August 2019, the iSimangaliso Wetland Park's marine protected area (MPA) expanded significantly, with the result that the World Heritage Site is now 1,328,901ha in extent (marine and terrestrial combined). The Park is now South Africa's second largest protected area after the Kruger National Park, incorporating the country's largest MPA – also the only Transfrontier MPA as it joins Mozambique's protected waters.
The park contains three major lake systems, eight interlinking ecosystems, 700 year old fishing traditions, most of South Africa's remaining swamp forests, Africa's largest estuarine system, 530 bird species and 25,000 year-old coastal dunes – among the highest in the world. The name iSimangaliso means miracle and wonder, which aptly describes this unique place.
South African Forestry Company SOC Limited (SAFCOL) is a state-owned enterprise in South Africa, operating under the auspices of the DFFE. As a key player in the forestry sector, SAFCOL manages extensive operations across several regions, including Limpopo, Mpumalanga, and KwaZulu-Natal. Additionally, its influence extends beyond South Africa's borders into the southern regions of Mozambique, specifically the Manica and Sofala provinces.
SAFCOL's mandate is; to conduct forestry business which includes timber harvesting, timber processing and related activities, both domestically and internationally. SAFCOL employs about 5,000 people through direct and indirect employment and by extension, are responsible for about 20,000 lives in communities adjacent our operations.
The South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) contributes to South Africa's sustainable development by facilitating access to biodiversity data, generating information and knowledge, building capacity, providing policy advice, showcasing and conserving biodiversity in its national botanical and zoological gardens.
SANBI has a broad mandate that is primarily derived from National Environmental Management Biodiversity (NEMBA) Act No. 10 of 2004, but also from other legislation and processes over the past decade. The mandate is to explore, reveal, celebrate and champion biodiversity for the benefit and enjoyment of all South Africans, which includes managing the National Botanical and Zoological Gardens as 'windows' to South Africa's biodiversity for enjoyment and education.
As a leading conservation authority, the South African National Parks (SANParks) is a public entity under the jurisdiction of the DFFE, where inclusive conservation as opposed to previous policies of exclusion is central to advancing the policies in line with the National Development Framework for Sustainable Development and the National Development Plan.
South Africa's national parks conserve the country's rich diversity of flora and fauna through a system of 21 national parks, including three world heritage sites and ten marine protected areas (in terms of the National Environmental Management: Protected Areas Act No. 57 of 2003). This represents approximately 70% of state-owned terrestrial protected areas and 22% of state-managed marine protected areas, comprising over four million hectares (ha) on land and almost 370 000 ha at sea. In addition, five parks are integral components of Transfrontier conservation areas with Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, and Lesotho.
The National Environmental Management Protected Areas Act mandates SANParks to create destinations for nature-based tourism in a manner that is not harmful to the environment. SANParks generates a substantial percentage of its operating budget from its ecotourism business, therefore, the fulfilment of its conservation mandate is heavily reliant on thriving and sustainable tourism operations.
The South African Weather Service (SAWS) is a section 3(a) public entity under the DFFE and is governed by a board. The organisation became a public entity on 15 July 2001 in terms of the SAWS Act (No. 8 of 2001), as amended in 2013. It is an authoritative voice for weather and climate forecasting in South Africa and as a member of the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) it complies with international meteorological standards.
As an aviation meteorological authority, SAWS is designated by the state to provide weather services to the aviation industry, marine and a range of other identified clients and to fulfil a range of international obligations of the government. It provides two distinct services, namely public good services that are funded by government, and paid-for commercial services.