BIODIVERSITY ECONOMY

The biodiversity economy of South Africa encompasses the businesses and economic activities that either directly depend on biodiversity for their core business or that contribute to conservation of biodiversity through their activities. The economy contains formal commercial biodiversity markets of SA, which recognises the informal markets.

GOSM

Greening and Open Space Management (GOSM) play an integral part in maintaining healthy, vibrant and environmental integrity in the communities. Over time, these open spaces have been degraded due to several demands ranging from housing developments and other land use demands and at times end up being illegal dump sites. 

PEOPLE AND PARKS

The People and Parks programme is aligned with the sustainable development goals (SDGs) because of enhancing and securing the effectiveness participation of local communities on indigenous knowledge on biodiversity conservation, as well as involvement during policy development, projects planning and the implementation thereof. 

YED

Youth Empowerment and Development (YED) projects promote youth participation in socio and economic growth. The objective is to address youth unemployment through creation of temporary jobs and skills development opportunities, which intends to increase chances of youth employability and/or progression to entrepreneurship.

WORKING FOR LAND

This focus area aims to restore and rehabilitate degraded land as well as the composition structure of environment leading to better performing ecosystems. Improvements on ecosystems generally will lead to carbon sequestration, better water yields and quality. This will reduce environmental risks and improve the sustainability of livelihoods while increasing productive potential of land and promote economic empowerment in rural areas. 

WORKING FOR THE COAST

The coastlands of South Africa are characterised by a coalescence of effects of inland resource practices and those from the marine coastal zone. High population densities and poor techniques of resource development among inland communities create significant impact on coastal resources. Rapid developmental needs have had a negative impact even on un-spoilt yet pristine areas along the coastline. 

WORKING FOR WATER

Significant resources have been invested to combat biological invasions. Over R1 billion has been spent per year by the government to manage existing plant invasions and create jobs. Over the past 25-years, control operations have been conducted on ~ 76 000 sites, covering 2.7 million ha. However, this is only ~ 14% of the estimated invaded area. But there are notable success stories dating back many decades.

WORKING FOR WETLANDS

The vision of the Working of Wetlands (WfWet) Programme is to facilitate the protection, conservation, rehabilitation and sustainable use of wetlands in South Africa, in accordance with national policies and commitment to international conventions and regional relationships. The main objective of WfWet is wetland conservation conducted in a way that ensures poverty reduction through employment and skills development.

WORKING ON FIRE

The department’s Working on Fire (WoF) Programme currently employs 5 300 men and women (70% of whom are youth, 30% are women and 2% are People with Disabilities) who have been trained as veld and forest fire fighters and are stationed in more than 200 bases throughout South Africa. It supports the prevention and control of wildland fires to enhance the sustainability and protection of life, poverty and the environment.

WORKING ON WASTE

There is pressure on government to implement immediate action to ensure that waste is better managed. The introduction of an international best practice in waste management, the waste hierarchy (figure 1 below) is one of the best mechanisms that came into effect with the promulgation of the Waste Act. Enshrined in the Waste Act is the duty to care and implement the waste hierarchy while protecting the environment.