“Parks for Life" - The World reviews the 2003 World Parks Congress and its contribution to sustainable development
09 April 2008
Media Statement
ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS AND TOURISM
WEDNESDAY, 09 APRIL 2008: The World Parks Congress (WPC) or Durban +5 review meeting , whose aim is to reflect on progress made and challenges faced by protected areas since the last World Parks Congress in 2003, resumed in Somerset West in Cape Town today.
One of the greatest challenges facing protected continues to be the effective implementation and management of protected areas including the need to ensure that protected areas provide sustained and equitable benefits to local communities and reduce poverty and biodiversity loss and adaptation to climate change. Lack of funding also remains a challenge.
The 3 day meeting will also provide impetus to achieving the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) Programme on protected areas. The adoption of CBD Programme of work adopted in 2004 defines global cooperation on protected areas planning and management.
Addressing the meeting, Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, Marthinus van Schalkwyk says scientific evaluations on climate change have confirmed that climate change is indeed a key driver to biodiversity loss and stress to our water resources. He said through our approach to Business Unusual, we need to address the unmanageable through mitigation and unavoidable through adaptation.
The Minister further said that in South Africa we are currently assessing how the planning, management and expansion of our national parks can build resilience to climate change adding that tools are in place to address the problem in an affordable way that will reduce some impact and avoid extreme ones.
The World’s water resources are under extreme stress and its predicted that in 2030, the population in these areas will increase by 1 billion to 3,9 billion. However a challenge which is also an opportunity to Africa is to use the trans-boundary water resource management to promote regional cooperation and development.
In addressing biodiversity problems globally, the Minister urged delegates to continue to build on 2010 targets set by the World Summit on Sustainable Development.
South Africa has already published the National Spatial Biodiversity Assessment publication, to guide the conservation and management of biodiversity to ensure sustainable and equitable benefits for all.
The meeting is attended by local and foreign delegates including the IUCN President and former DEAT Minister, Valli Moosa and Chairperson of the Convention of Nik Lipoukhine.
The World Parks Congress takes place every ten years.
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Enquiries to:
Mava Scott (Acting Chief Director: Communications) 082-411-9821 or e-mail: mscott@deat.gov.za
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
SA and UK to Celebrate
SA and UK to Celebrate Successful Environmental Protection Partnership
31 March 2008
Media Alert
Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism
MONDAY, 31 MARCH 2008: The Department of Environmental Affairs & Tourism, the Environment Agency of England and Wales as well as the British High Commission in SA will on Wednesday, 02 April 2008 celebrate their successful partnership to protect the environment.
The UK and Wales Environment Agency has played a pivotal role towards the establishment of South Africa’s Environmental Management Inspectorate popularly referred to as the “Green Scorpions.”
The Honourable Deputy Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, Ms Rejoice Mabudafhasi and his Excellency the British High Commissioner for South Africa, Sir Paul Boateng will speak at the event.
All media are invited:
DATE: Wednesday, 02 April 2008
TIME: 17:00
VENUE: Old Mutual Conference Centre, Kirstenbosch, Cape Town
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RSVP with:
Moses Rannditsheni (Media Liaison Officer for the Deputy Minister) Telephone: 012 310-3898/9 Mobile: 082-448-2450 E-mail: mrannditsheni@deat.gov.za@deat.gov.za
31 March 2008
Media Alert
Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism
MONDAY, 31 MARCH 2008: The Department of Environmental Affairs & Tourism, the Environment Agency of England and Wales as well as the British High Commission in SA will on Wednesday, 02 April 2008 celebrate their successful partnership to protect the environment.
The UK and Wales Environment Agency has played a pivotal role towards the establishment of South Africa’s Environmental Management Inspectorate popularly referred to as the “Green Scorpions.”
The Honourable Deputy Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, Ms Rejoice Mabudafhasi and his Excellency the British High Commissioner for South Africa, Sir Paul Boateng will speak at the event.
All media are invited:
DATE: Wednesday, 02 April 2008
TIME: 17:00
VENUE: Old Mutual Conference Centre, Kirstenbosch, Cape Town
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
RSVP with:
Moses Rannditsheni (Media Liaison Officer for the Deputy Minister) Telephone: 012 310-3898/9 Mobile: 082-448-2450 E-mail: mrannditsheni@deat.gov.za@deat.gov.za
SA and UK to Celebrate
SA and UK to Celebrate Successful Environmental Protection Partnership
31 March 2008
Media Alert
Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism
MONDAY, 31 MARCH 2008: The Department of Environmental Affairs & Tourism, the Environment Agency of England and Wales as well as the British High Commission in SA will on Wednesday, 02 April 2008 celebrate their successful partnership to protect the environment.
The UK and Wales Environment Agency has played a pivotal role towards the establishment of South Africa’s Environmental Management Inspectorate popularly referred to as the “Green Scorpions.”
The Honourable Deputy Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, Ms Rejoice Mabudafhasi and his Excellency the British High Commissioner for South Africa, Sir Paul Boateng will speak at the event.
All media are invited:
DATE: Wednesday, 02 April 2008
TIME: 17:00
VENUE: Old Mutual Conference Centre, Kirstenbosch, Cape Town
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
RSVP with:
Moses Rannditsheni (Media Liaison Officer for the Deputy Minister) Telephone: 012 310-3898/9 Mobile: 082-448-2450 E-mail: mrannditsheni@deat.gov.za@deat.gov.za
31 March 2008
Media Alert
Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism
MONDAY, 31 MARCH 2008: The Department of Environmental Affairs & Tourism, the Environment Agency of England and Wales as well as the British High Commission in SA will on Wednesday, 02 April 2008 celebrate their successful partnership to protect the environment.
The UK and Wales Environment Agency has played a pivotal role towards the establishment of South Africa’s Environmental Management Inspectorate popularly referred to as the “Green Scorpions.”
The Honourable Deputy Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, Ms Rejoice Mabudafhasi and his Excellency the British High Commissioner for South Africa, Sir Paul Boateng will speak at the event.
All media are invited:
DATE: Wednesday, 02 April 2008
TIME: 17:00
VENUE: Old Mutual Conference Centre, Kirstenbosch, Cape Town
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
RSVP with:
Moses Rannditsheni (Media Liaison Officer for the Deputy Minister) Telephone: 012 310-3898/9 Mobile: 082-448-2450 E-mail: mrannditsheni@deat.gov.za@deat.gov.za
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