Chairperson, hon Ministers and Deputy Minister, hon MECs, hon members and special delegates, section 24 of the Constitution guarantees that everyone has the right to an environment that is not harmful to their health or wellbeing; and also to have the environment protected, for the benefit of present and future generations, through reasonable legislative and other measures that prevent pollution and ecological degradation, promote conservation, and secure ecologically sustainable development and use of natural resources while promoting justifiable economic and social development.
The benefit of environmental conservation of our natural resources, trees being one of them, is invaluable. The value of trees is often underestimated. Apart form the fact that trees supply our timber and fire wood needs, trees enrich our environment, therefore they need to be conserved.
The progress in industrial development is degrading the quality of life, and the productive capacity of the environment will soon run into bankruptcy. Humanity needs a sense of kinship between people and nature, and there is a moral responsibility to protect the environment from abuse. Economically speaking, we need to utilise our tree resources on a sustainable basis on the one hand. On the other hand, there is a social and moral decay that is crippling.
Although preserving trees is important because of their economic value, their ecological value is not always fully appreciated. Trees release an enormous amount of oxygen which is responsible for our human survival. The leaves of trees filter dust from the air, thus creating a healthy environment. The careless neglect and destruction of trees may result in an as yet unknown risk or damage to the quality of human life. Their photosynthesis properties benefit not only humans, but animals, birds and insects. Fruits and nuts borne by the trees provide food for these species, while flowers produce nectar and pollen, from which bees make honey. This preserves animal species by providing not only food but a habitat as well.
Within and enclosed in the crown of a tree, a beneficial microclimate is created where birds and insects are protected from the extremes of weather and climate. These micro-organisms, such as insects, also need to be protected. They are just as important to human welfare as the black rhino, and also play an important role in the ecosystem. The issue is not that we should preserve certain species like the rhino, the issue is that we should preserve life-giving ecosystems and, in this sense, a rhino is not more important than a bird or an insect.
Soil erosion is another problem that threatens our environment. Every year millions of tons of soil are washed or blown away from the farmlands of South Africa. With the world population doubling every 40 years soil will become an even more crucial resource for the provision of food and homes. As pressure on soil resources increases it becomes vitally important that the existing resources are correctly and efficiently used.
The best soil is completely exposed to rain drops and the scouring of running water. Soil cover intercepts this energy and dissipates it before it reaches the ground. Old tree leaves which fall to the ground protect the soil from erosion, and provide cover and food for many small animals and insects. The humus improves the texture and fertility of the soil, stores moisture and makes it easier for water to enter the soil. The roots of trees can help to hold the soil together, thus reducing erosion. Roots penetrate deeply into the soil and the underlying rock, opening channels for air and water and also promoting the formation of new soil.
The effects of erosion are long-lasting and more serious than is often imagined. The removal of topsoil leaves behind the less productive subsoil layers. Soil nutrients are washed away and this results in reduced and low- quality yields. Eroded soil may contain pesticides which can pollute streams and smother estuarine and lake ecosystems. The washed-away sediment settles in dams and lakes, thus reducing their capacity to carry water, resulting in flooding.
Trees also act as windbreaks, thus reducing the effects of wind erosion and damage. We therefore need an increasing awareness of the enormity of the effects of wind and water erosion. We must also become aware that the purpose of conservation is the protection of resources to serve humanity. Although a resource is not always directly measurable in monetary terms, its function does, however, possess a particular value in an ecosystem. A sustainable tourist industry is measured through its conservation of the environment.
In conclusion, we must instil in the minds and hearts of people that conservation is not something that is carried out by the Government in a nature reserve, for example, but can happen in our back yards. [Time expired] [Applause.]