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Ref: 02/1/5/2
MS NOSIPHO NGCABA
DIRECTOR-GENERAL
DATE:
DRAFT REPLY APPROVED/AMENDED
MRS B E E MOLEWA, MP
MINISTER OF WATER AND ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS
DATE:
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
(For written reply)
PARLIAMENTARY QUESTION NO.689 [ NW600E[
INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO.6 OF 2014
DATE OF PUBLICATION 25 JULY 2014
Mr M G P Lekota (Cope) to ask the Minister of Environmental Affairs:
Whether the Government has made any significant progress in its
negotiations with the government of Mozambique to ensure Mozambiqueâs
support for better security of the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park
in order to stem the poaching of rhinos; if not, how does the
Government intend to take this matter forward; if so, what are the
details and the outcomes thereof? NW773E
THE MINISTER OF ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS REPLIES:
1. The MoU between the two countries has been signed and the implementation
plan is being developed by officials of the two countries. The
implementation plan will facilitate, among others, conducting of
coordinated law enforcement operations that will include the management
and protection of Protected Areas and the TFCAs. The GLTPâs security
plans will form an integral part of the Implementation Plan in order to
curb poaching of Rhinos in this area.
2. At macro level, South Africa and Mozambique are strengthening
coordination and are undertaking interventions jointly between the Kruger
National Park and the Limpopo National Park Conservation authorities at
park management level, in order to improve co-operation between the
Limpopo National Park (LNP) in Mozambique and the Kruger National Park
(KNP) in South Africa as part of the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park
(GLTP) initiative. Regular bi-lateral collaboration meetings between LNP
and KNP managers and field rangers are held; Joint operations between LNP
and KNP, to discuss the Security Cluster related issues such as Operation
Capricorn is ongoing. The security cluster also forms part of the
implementation mechanism for a cross-border protocol to facilitate
movement of officials across the international boundary; Joint training
of rangers from each of the GLTP partner countries also happens
periodically.
3. A fence is being erected in the Limpopo National Park to create an
Intensive Protection Zone to strengthen and support enforcement and
patrols. 54km of this fence is already completed.
4. Other areas of collaboration include exchange and/or sharing of
information and intelligence as well as development and implementation of
a joint cross border communications network, which is focussed on the
areas located on both sides of the international boundary.
5. To minimize the risk due to the movement of people in the GLTP, the
government of Mozambique is also engaged in a process of relocating
villages out of the Limpopo National Park. Two of the 7 villages have
already been removed and the 3rd is in the process of being moved. This
process is targeted to be completed by 2016.
6. In addition to the above, the Government of Mozambique through the
Limpopo National Park has embarked on the following processes to ensure
the safety of tourists visiting the Park:
⢠Implementation of an Intensive Protection Zone (IPZ) located along the
international boundary (i.e. on the eastern side of the Kruger
National Park Fence);
⢠Training and deployment of a new elite field ranger unit in the newly
formed âZona de Vigilância Especial (Intensive Protection Zone)â along
the Parkâs western boundary with KNP. Activities of the rangers in
the IPZ will focus mainly on addressing the rhino poaching and
wildlife crime. The main focus of this unit is to address rhino and
elephant poaching challenges facing the GLTP.
⢠The new Conservation Areas Act was enacted by the Parliament of the
Government of Mozambique on 9 April 2014. The new Act further commits
Mozambique to its international biodiversity conservation obligations
and recognizes transfrontier conservation areas as one of its national
conservation area categories. It further provides for significant
sentences for wildlife crime related activities, which includes rhino
poaching. Training of judges and magistrates in the implementation of
the New Conservation Act, will commence later this year.
7. The two countries also submit joint reports to the Convention on
International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES)
as obligated in decision 16 of the 2013 Convention on Rhino.
8. South Africa has also made significant progress in securing external
funding jointly with Mozambique to support the implementation of the MOU.
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