She was joined by leadership from both political and traditional origins in celebrating this international occasion which marked the history in our liberation and participation in the global community.
The celebration has drawn participants from communities, land users, farmers, media, civil society organisations, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), government departments, private sector in marking this day.
17 June 2010, commemorates the 16th anniversary of the adoption of the United Nations Convention to combat Desertification (UNCCD) and is observed as World Day to Combat Desertification.
This year's theme of the World Day to Combat Desertification is: "Enhancing soils anywhere, enhances life everywhere". This caption is consistent with the theme of 2010 being the International Year of Biodiversity.
The day has been observed since 1995 to sensitise the public to the fact that desertification, land degradation and drought significantly affect the biodiversity resident in the soil and thus threatening the human livelihood.
Desertification is the serious degradation of land in dry and semi-dry areas that is primarily caused by human activities and climatic variations over the long-term.
There is a close relationship between livelihoods and soils that are rich in biodiversity. Healthy soils produce life, and yet soil health depends a lot on how individuals use their land.
What we do to our soils determines the quality and quantity of the food we eat and how our ecosystems serve us. Our increasing ecological interdependence also means enhancing soils anywhere, enhances life everywhere.
In her address, MEC Letsatsi-Duba indicated that the marking of this day was hosted nationally by Deputy Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs, Ms Rejoice Mabudafhasi in Upington, Northern Cape on 17 June 2010 as a response to international obligation to which South Africa forms part.
She referred all the attendants to the surrounding area where the event was held, pointing out the level of land degradation that has afflicted the area which will consequently lead to desertification if the situation is not halted.
She said: "If we can all look around, our beautiful mountains have no longer trees, but bare stones. Perennial rivers are now dry, the once beautiful vegetation cover is continuing leaving some bare patches exposing the soil to erosion, grazing areas of unique types of grass have been replaced by the emergence of alien and invader plants, our natural springs and wetland are continually degraded, our indigenous forest is degrading through deforestation; unsustainable mining practices. The vagaries of climatic conditions notably drought, floods, veld fire have compounded this scourge. Where are we heading to?"
She emphasised that the province is guided by Limpopo employment, growth and development plan (LEGDP) which has identified environmental and natural resources management as one of the pillars for growth and development.
She said Limpopo's unique endowment of natural resources is a blessing of an indispensible wealth that need to be looked after for both "our survival and of the generation to come".
Ms Letsatsi-Duba highlighted that Limpopo has diverse soils which vary in productivity and are also vulnerable to various forms of degradation (physical, chemical and biological), hence appropriate management strategies are critical if productivity of the soils is to be improved and sustained. She said her department through the community based Land Care programme dealt with unsustainable land management practices.
She mentioned that Sekhukhune is hardly hit by land degradation and government was doing something about it, hence Limpopo's Premier Cassel Mathale recently launched the Greening Limpopo programme at Jane Furse in the same district as part of the expansion areas for the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP).
She said the planting of trees and other associated activities will provide measures to curb land degradation and to deal with impacts of climate change. She noted that the greening is often derailed by people who indiscriminately cut down trees for firewood.
"This is a serious setback as it removes soil cover which leads to soil erosion."
She urged people to use deadwood and invader species for firewood.
"As such people were encouraged to plant trees in their homesteads, church yards, school yards etc." the MEC advised.
She made the community aware of the conducted research which has unveiled the baseline study that about 75 percent of land in the country is affected by soil erosion and that measures should be in place to reduce it to 55 percent by 2014.
She concluded by saying: "let's join hands together and fight against any form of degradation of natural resources as the theme of this year dictate. If we are to preserve our treasured natural resource we must act now and we must act decisively".
She encouraged everyone to continue supporting the world cup till the last day.
"Let us show the world that we are a caring nation, and we are proud to be the host of the 2010 FIFA World Cup," she urged everyone.
For more information contact:
Mashudu Mabata
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