Assuming the world’s least-developed countries will be able to come up with the resources to pay for and conserve fragile ecosystems is not sensible, says Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism Valli Moosa.
Speaking in Durban on Monday at a ”curtain-raiser” media briefing ahead of the official opening of the fifth World Conservation Union World Parks Congress, he suggested a mechanism should be sought whereby the world’s wealthier nations played a part in the protection of such areas.
Former president Nelson Mandela and Jordan’s Queen Noor are set to officially open the congress, being held in the port city’s International Convention Centre, shortly after 4pm.
The congress has attracted 2 500 of the world’s top conservationists and environmental policy makers for 10 days of discussion and debate on the continued protection of the world’s more than 100 000 protected areas. It ends on September 17.
Moosa noted that the event, for the first time, was being held on African soil, and said this was a great honour for South Africa.
He said the continent was strongly represented at the conference, and ”poised to make major changes as far as conservation is concerned.
”This congress could not have come at a better time for Africa, as we are looking at the economic revival of our continent across a whole range of spheres, with conservation being one of the fundamental priorities.
”Its outcomes will feed directly into the engine rooms of governments around the world.”
However, it was ”not sensible to assume the least-developed countries will find the resources to fund fragile ecosystems,” he said.
Also speaking at the briefing, World Conservation Union president Yolanda Kakabadse, touched on the same theme, saying ”new mechanisms” needed to be found to financially sustain protected areas.
”This is becoming harder and harder; how do we address this?” she asked.
Moosa, responding to a question on mining in the area of the proposed Pondoland National Park, repeated that he was opposed to any such venture.
”It is something I am greatly concerned about; I am opposed to mining of dunes.”
The area that is expected to be proclaimed a national park later this year, on the Eastern Cape’s Wild Coast, is currently being prospected by an Australian company interested in extracting titanium minerals from the coastal dunes.
”Once a national park is declared, no mining or prospecting is allowed,” Moosa said.
The minister also said he was working closely with his Zimbabwean counterpart, Francisco Nhema, on the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park agreement, which incorporates that country’s Gonarezhou National Park.
Conservationists have raised concerns that the recent spate of land claims and political turmoil in Zimbabwe could have affected the park’s integrity.
”All indications are that none of the processes involving land has impacted on the Gonarezhou National Park. I am quite satisfied all the international agreements are being implemented,” Moosa said.
The World Parks Coongress is set to tackle a broad spectrum of issues relating to protected areas, including national parks, World Heritage sites, nature reserves and marine sanctuaries. — Sapa