Cabinet has approved the White Paper on Conservation and Sustainable Use of South Africa’s Biodiversity emphasising the importance of the biodiversity sector to the country’s economic growth, conservation and equity in the biodiversity economy.
South Africa’s is one of the most biodiverse countries in the world and the policy will help the country take advantage of its rich biodiversity.
The White Paper is a recommendation of the High Level Panel that advised the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Ms Barbara Creecy, on matters related to the management, hunting, breeding, trade and handling of elephant, lion, leopard and rhinoceros. The Panel had recommended the development of an overarching national policy on biodiversity, including wildlife, that would provide a clear vision and objectives on South Africa’s approach to conservation and sustainable use of the country’s biodiversity.
The draft White Paper was published in July 2022 for public consultation, which was extended to September to allow for input by all stakeholders. Due to substantial changes to the draft White Paper subsequent to the public consultation process, the revised document was republished for additional comment in October 2022.
By adopting the White Paper, Cabinet has mandated the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) to develop an implementation plan in consultation with stakeholders and report on implementation at regular intervals.
The White Paper promotes the conservation of the rich, diverse biodiversity and ecological infrastructure, which supports ecosystem functioning for livelihoods and the well-being of people and nature. This can set the country on a strong path of sustainable development, considering the historical, socio-economic, and environmental context of South Africa, and the aspirations and needs of the people.
Key elements of the White Paper include a vision to create an inclusive transformed society living in harmony with nature, where biodiversity conservation and sustainable use ensure healthy ecosystems, with improved benefits that are fairly and equitably shared for present and future generations.
Its mission is to conserve and manage South Africa's biodiversity, and ensure healthy ecosystems, ecological integrity and connectivity, with transformative socio-economic benefits to society for current and future generations through ecologically sustainable, and socially equitable use all values of its components.
The five guiding principles are transformation, sustainable development, good governance, evidence-based decision-making and duty of care.
There are four goals and two cross-cutting enablers. Goal 1 is to enhance biodiversity conservation, while Goal 2 addresses sustainable use and Goal 3 equitable access and benefit sharing. Goal 4 deals with transformed biodiversity conservation and sustainable use, while the enablers focus on integrated, mainstreamed and effective biodiversity conservation and sustainable use (Enabler 1), and enhanced means of implementation (Enabler 2).
The White Paper not only provides policy certainty and a strong policy base for biodiversity conservation and sustainable use and equitable growth in the biodiversity economy, but also advocates for coherent and effective biodiversity conservation for the benefit of current and future generations. It integrates environmental, social, and economic elements to advance sustainable development.
The White Paper also seeks to reposition protected and other conservation areas as effective mechanisms to contribute to sustainable rural development, advance the process of transformation of the sector, with sustainable nature-based access and benefit flows for equitable and inclusive socio-economic growth and development. Additionally, it aims to enhance South Africa’s leadership in biodiversity conservation and sustainable use which is internationally recognised and promotes African unity and coherence.
Because nature conservation is a concurrent government function involving national, provincial and local government, as well as conservation-linked public entities, implementation of the White Paper will be coordinated by the DFFE.
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