In April 2023, the Cabinet approved a White Paper published by the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment which mandates the Minister to develop and implement a national plan to promote the conservation and sustainable use of the country’s biodiversity.

Biodiversity is defined as the “variability among living organisms from all sources including, terrestrial, marine and other aquatic ecosystems and the ecological complexes of which they are part and also includes diversity within species, between species, and of ecosystems.” Simpler put, it relates to all living organisms, and the habitat in which they live or grow.

In her opening address at the recent Global Conference on Biodiversity Finance, Minister Barbara Creecy stated that a survey of retail stores in 2014 found that 549 products containing indigenous South African species, such as Aloe, rooibos, honey-bush, baobab and hoodia are some of the local plants that have been used in international medicinal, cosmetic or food products. In addition, approximately 12% of tourism demand in South Africa, which equates to R31 billion, is based on nature-based activities and on our unique biodiversity.

Unfortunately, water scarcity, loss of biodiversity through unsustainable economic practices, poaching and even the lack of adequate financing for protected areas are some of the problems that have a detrimental effect on our ecosystems. As it constitutes such a large part of our tourism demand we should encourage clear and strict policies to keep our biodiversity safe.

The White Paper has identified four goals of the policy being to harmonise people and their natural environment while ensuring that both will thrive:

Goal 1: Biodiversity Conservation promotion –  to conserve all biological diversity and its components

 
Goal 2: Sustainable Use –  ensure that sustainable use enhances thriving, living land and seascapes and human wellbeing while avoiding adverse effects of biodiversity

 
Goal 3: Equitable Access and Benefit Sharing –  ensure that the benefits are derived and shared from the use and development of genetic and biological resources without compromising national interests

 
Goal 4: Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Use is Transformative –  give effect to the environmental right contained in section 24 of the Constitution and other human rights while promoting transformation.

The White Paper aims to provide a strong policy base for conservation and sustainability, but also advocates this to be implemented to the benefit of future generations.

The complete and revised white paper that sets out the goals and principles of the policy to be implemented can be obtained on the SA Government website: https://www.gov.za/sites/default/files/gcis_document/202210/47378gon2689.pdf

Conservation environmental law