programme in Hlabisa, KwaZulu-Natal
22 August 2006
"The commitment to eradicate extreme poverty and hunger by 2015 and to
ensure environmental sustainability needs to be the priority not only at United
Nation Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) level but by all
governments," said the Deputy Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism
Rejoice Mabudafhasi, during the commemoration of the World Day to Combat
Desertification held in the village of Hlabisa in KwaZulu-Natal.
Celebrated under the theme "Beauty of Deserts - The Challenge of
Desertification", the Deputy Minister said "The theme serves two distinct
purposes, to celebrate the richness and cultural diversity of our deserts which
deserve protection while highlighting the need to combat desertification as a
global sustainable development challenge."
The celebration also served as a launch of a land degradation project funded
by the Department to the tune of R5 million. The main focus of the project is
to address the problem of land degradation through land and catchments area
rehabilitation, using both conventional and indigenous technologies. The
project also focuses on eradicating invasive alien species and bush clearing
with the ultimate goal of establishing a game reserve.
Use of these funds has already resulted in the creation of 68 temporary jobs
and 20 community members have participated in learnership training in
conservation guardianship. The long-term objective of the project is to
increase the number of employment to 168.
"This project is one of the shining examples of how communities can take
charge of their immediate environment and make sure that they derive
sustainable benefits from it," said Mabudafhasi.
The celebration is a series of events planned to celebrate 2006 as the
International Year for Deserts and Desertification, declared by the United
Nations General Assembly.
For more information contact:
Molefe Molamu
Media Liaison Officer
Tel: (012) 310 3898
Cell: 082 561 6261
Issued by: Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism
22 August 2006
