20 June 2007
"Desertification is a significant problem for South Africa, threatening not
only our ecological integrity, but the well being of our people. It impacts
most severely on the poorest of the poor." The Deputy Minister of Environmental
Affairs and Tourism, Ms Rejoice Mabudafhasi, opened the event with these
enduring words during the occasion to celebrate the World Day to Combat
Desertification in the Machubeni Village of the Eastern Cape, today, Wednesday,
20 June 2007. This year's celebration will take place under the United Nations
(UN) Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) theme of "Desertification and
climate change - one global challenge".
Speaking in attendance of the Eastern Cape Provincial Government,
non-governmental organisations (NGOs), the private sector and communities at
the event, the Deputy Minister said that agricultural production, energy and
water supply as well as human beings' health would be subjected to greater risk
if counter programmes weren't introduced to combat the scourge of climate
change and thus desertification. "Environmentally insensitive practices by
commercial sector and communities' underdevelopment coupled with natural
disasters have already done a severe blow and damage to our environment, the
challenge of climate change further exacerbates the situation," she said.
She added that the celebration will encompass showcasing the department's
initiatives contributing to combating desertification and drought. "Needless to
say droughts affect economic production in many spheres of life and force the
country to import basic food needs and price and inflation increase" said the
Deputy Minister. The department has already introduced eight pilot projects
funded to the tune of R40 million to rehabilitate the land and fight land
degradation under the Community Based Natural Resources Management (CBNRM)
programme. Some of these projects are the Madibaneng in Sekhukhune district in
Limpopo province, Mkhuze Catchment in KwaZulu-Natal province and Machubeni
Catchment Management in Eastern Cape province and others throughout the
country. The latter has produced 10 small, medium and micro enterprise (SMME)
graduates who will carry on with activities to combat desertification and
drought.
She also said that successful implementation of Community Based Natural
Resources Management (CBNRM) requires all South Africans' participation. "To
this end, the department will also use the day's activities to raise awareness
and appeal to the public to observe protection of the environment and utilising
natural resources in a sustainable manner for our livelihood and those of the
future generations" she added. The department and Development Bank of Southern
Africa (DBSA) are finalising an agreement to rehabilitate dry lands with the
aim of alleviating poverty and intensifying efforts contributing to the
realisation of Millennium Development Goals to halve poverty by 2014. The
department has already initiated the Machubeni Catchment Management project to
combat land degradation aimed at restoring land to its productive conditions,
improve the quality of water, which lead to good health.
Similar initiatives have been introduced all over the country. "Two weeks
ago, the G8 meeting discussed the challenge of Climate change and its
disastrous implications to socio-economic development globally. It is
encouraging to observe the heavily industrialised United States (US) and the
east European countries acknowledging the bad effects of Climate change and
agreeing to take action. The world will now act collectively to fight and
reverse activities which give rise to climate change through programmes and
improved technology. South Africa is already doing her part by introducing
environmentally friendly legislation," she said.
For further information, please contact:
Mr Mava Scott
Cell: 082 411 9821
E-mail: mscott@deat.gov.za
Moses Rannditsheni
Tel: 012 310 3899
Cell: 082 448 2450
E-mail: MRannditsheni@deat.gov.za
Issued by: Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism
20 June 2007
Source: Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism (http://www.deat.gov.za)
