Phini likaSomlomo, Phini likaMongameli, oNgqongqoshe, malungu ahloniphekile, ngizoqala nje ngisho ukuthi, njengoba eseshilo uSihlalo, ukuthi kunezinye izigatshana ezizobuya zingene kulo Mthetho we-National Environmental Management: Protected Areas, kodwa-ke ngizoqhubeka ngikhulume ngawo lo Mthethosisivinywa. (Translation of isiZulu paragraph follows.) [Ms P BHENGU: Deputy Speaker, Deputy President, Ministers and hon members, I'll start by saying, as the chairperson has said, that there are subsections that will be added to the National Environmental Management: Protected Areas Amendment Bill. However, I'll continue to talk about the Bill.]
The ANC believes that all citizens of South Africa at present and in the future have the right to a life of wellbeing. Accordingly, the broad objectives of our environmental policy are aimed at fulfilling this right. The ANC's policy objective is, therefore, to develop a framework aimed at creating conditions conducive to sustainable development. This requires that a growth strategy is compatible with ecological and human rights principles, and that growth is geared towards the provision of basic needs to benefit the whole community.
The work being facilitated under the biodiversity and conservation programme is underpinned by the desire to ensure that South Africa's rich biodiversity and natural resources are sustainably used and conserved. The other key priority is to facilitate and promote fair access to and equitable sharing of socioeconomic benefits from biological resources.
The ANC-led government has facilitated the process of adding a further 1,9 million ha of land surface under formal protection to the Register of Protected Areas by adding the declared privately owned protected areas, bringing the total coverage of South Africa's protected areas to 7,7% of the country. This constitutes a total of 9,5 million ha of South Africa's 121,9 million ha of land surface. This is part of the continuing work of increasing the country's protected area to above 10%, and towards the internationally agreed figure of at least 17% of terrestrial and inland water areas, and 10% of coastal and marine areas, especially areas of particular importance for biodiversity and ecosystem services which are conserved.
These efforts are a contribution to a global effort towards conserving ecosystems, endangered species, habitats and valued cultural landscapes by creating an effectively and equitably managed, ecologically representative and well-connected system of protected areas and other effective area-based conservation measures, and integrating this system into the wider landscape and seascape.
In terms of the National Environmental Management: Protected Areas Act, No 57 of 2003, the system of protected areas in South Africa consists of special nature reserves, national parks and protected environments, as well as World Heritage Sites, especially protected forest areas, forest nature reserves and forest wilderness areas, mountain catchment areas and marine protected areas.
The amending Bill under discussion today, however, specifically refers to amendments to authorise the declaration of marine protected areas and to provide for the management of marine protected areas.
The amending Bill focuses on the incorporation of marine protected areas in to the National Environmental Management Act: Protected Areas regime. The Marine protected areas are currently regulated under the marine Living Resources Act of 1998, with the exception of certain provisions which are regulated in terms of the Protected Areas Act.
Fisheries and marine environmental management were previously administered by the then Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism. In 2009, via a presidential proclamation, the fisheries function was transferred from the Minister responsible for environmental affairs to the Minister responsible for agriculture, forestry and fisheries. It is necessary to provide for legislation to give proper effect to the restructuring of the two departments and Ministries.
The following parts are, therefore, inserted in chapter 3 of the principal Act, and provide that the Minister may declare an area as a marine protected area" or "as part of an existing marine protected area" and "assign a name to the marine protected area". It is, however, stated that such a declaration may only be issued inter alia to: conserve and "protect marine and coastal ecosystems;" conserve and "protect marine coastal biodiversity;" conserve and "protect a particular marine or coastal species, or specific population and its habitat;" and, "if the area contains scenic areas", to conserve them and "protect cultural heritage".
It is also stated that, despite any other legislation, no person may, in a marine protected area, amongst others: "fish or attempt to fish", "take or destroy any fauna or flora", undertake any dredging or extraction of sand, rock, gravel or minerals, "discharge or deposit waste or any other polluting matter", "in any manner which results in an adverse effect on the marine environment, disturb, alter or destroy the natural environment or disturb or alter the water quality or abstract sea water".
The resource usage restrictions that a marine protected area implies are very likely to affect different groups of people and stakeholders in different ways. When planning a marine protected area, it is important to ensure that it will not deprive particular groups of their livelihood, without providing alternatives. This is particularly important for coastal marine protected areas in the context of poverty or in areas with limited livelihood options. The designation of marine protected areas needs to be based on a combination of bioecological and socioeconomic criteria, ensuring long-term sustainability, but also considering and mitigating short-term costs.
Hon Speaker, I would like to conclude by saying that the use of marine protected areas has taken on a greater importance lately in discussions on how to protect marine ecosystems and reverse the degradation of aquatic habitats. We have to do our bit to preserve our marine resources for future generations, and accept the establishment of marine protected areas as one of the tools to be used towards the overall goal of achieving the sustainable use of oceans.
Therefore, the ANC supports the National Environmental Management: Protected Areas Amendment Bill. Thank you. [Applause.]