Chairperson, hon members, this Parliament has passed many pieces of legislation that are intended to contribute to the preservation and protection of our environmental and natural resources, including legislation dealing with important issues of pollution, waste management and protected areas, among other things. The proper implementation of these pieces of legislation and the monitoring of their progress is where the greatest challenge lies. One of the major priorities of the department is to ensure a sustainable and healthy environment.
The total amount allocated to the department increased from R2,2 billion in the past financial year to R2,6 billion in the current financial year, reflecting a real growth rate of 8,9%. Most of this allocation goes to the newly introduced climate-change programme, which has increased its budget with 142% to cater for climate-change research. We note that the budget of the Environmental Quality and Protection Programme has increased, but by the insignificant amount of only 2,8%.
Ironically, issues concerning environmental protection have taken on greater importance on a worldwide scale. It's a worldwide trend for environmental departments to give greater attention and priority to the protection and preservation of the environment in order to discharge their mandates. Needless to say, the importance of environmental protection was correctly stressed by the President in the state of the nation address.
Every attempt to protect our environment must be made, and the Department of Water and Environmental Affairs must improve its effectiveness. The pollution and abuse that we have inflicted upon the environment for many years have hastened the pace of climate change.
Similarly, the biodiversity and conservation programme, which includes facilities such as iSimangaliso Wetland Park authority, South African National Parks and SA National Biodiversity Institute, has experienced budget cuts of about R30 million. In our view these cuts are anomalous, especially considering that conservation areas, such as Kruger National Park, attract tourists from all over the world.
When we respond to climate change we must think of vulnerable people and communities. More frequent extreme conditions such as fires, flooding, sea- level rising and longer drought periods have affected poor communities very negatively.
A case in point was the effect of tornado-like conditions in the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal. Many families became homeless and lost property and life, especially over the December period. Minister, you are no doubt aware of these occurrences. Some kind of survey must be done about these areas, to establish what can be done to save these communities from such hardships and the reasons behind the existence of these conditions in those areas.
Although the idea of waste management was introduced a couple of years ago, many people still don't address littering. Worse, they litter in the streets and in forests or parks. The Minister might be in a position to inform the House if progress has been made in the building of recycling centres.
Across the country there are many poor people who are unemployed and solely dependent on waste and scrap collecting for their livelihood. The Department of Water and Environmental Affairs has a responsibility to assist these people to ensure that their work is valued and protected.
I have no doubt that South African cities, especially those that will host World Cup matches, have their greening business plans in place in order to promote an environmentally friendly World Cup. We must make the most of this wonderful opportunity and ensure that the rest of the world realises how beautiful and unique is the country of South Africa. The IFP supports this Budget Vote. Thank you. [Applause.]