On Tuesday, 30 April 2013, Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs, Ms Edna Molewa, MP, was presented with the Gift of the Earth Award by WWF South Africa in Cape Town.
Minister Molewa received the accolade on behalf of the South African government, following the recent proclamation of the Prince Edward Islands as a Marine Protected Area (MPA) – South Africa’s first offshore MPA.
The Gift of the Earth Award is WWF SA’s highest accolade for conservation work of outstanding global merit. In her acceptance speech, Minister Molewa noted that: “Our oceans, which surround us on the Southern tip of Africa, are perhaps one of our most neglected natural assets. These oceans that provide are livelihoods for hundreds of thousands of South Africans and provide food to millions more, remain vulnerable against increasing global pressures.
She went on to say that the South African government remains convinced that Marine Protected Areas, when used in conjunction with other measures, play a vital role in securing our marine natural assets both now and into the future.
“South Africa is playing a leading role in establishing this massive conservation area, one of the first of its kind for an African country. WWF praises the government for its commitment to securing our marine biodiversity for future generations and acknowledges the Minister for her visionary leadership,” said Dr Morné du Plessis, WWF-South Africa CEO.
The islands, which consist of Prince Edward and Marion Islands, are located almost 2,000km south of South Africa in the Southern Ocean. The Prince Edward Islands form an important global biodiversity hotspot.
“Minister Edna Molewa is only the fourth South African to receive the Gift of the Earth award. Former Presidents Nelson Mandela and Thabo Mbeki, and former Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, Marthinus van Schalkwyk were also honoured with the award, stated WWF SA Board Chair, Mr Valli Moosa.
