The main objectives of environmental conservation is South Africa are the judicial management and sustainable utilisation of natural resources and environmental assets. Conservation policy is formulated and coordinated by the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DEAT), advised by the Council for the Environment and involving the departments of Agriculture, Water Affairs and Forestry, Health, and provincial authorities. Independent statutory organisations such as the National Parks Board and National Botanical Gardens, South African communities, and the private sector are valuable partners in the total conservation effort.
As a responsible member of the world community, South Africa has become a signatory to a variety of international agreements.
South Africa is a founder member of the Worl Conservation Union (IUCN) which issues the Red Data books that contain scientific information on endangered species. It is also a signatory to the Ramsar Convention, aimed at the conservation of wetlands of international importance, and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (Cites). In terms of the 1994 Lusaka Agreement signed by South Africa, Swaziland, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia, an international wildlife task force will be instituted to combat smuggling of rhino horn and ivory.
Delegates from about 30 Africa countries attended the IUCN's African Heritage 2000 conference in 1994 in the Kruger National Park to discuss the future of Africa's protected areas and national parks. The subsequently released Skukuza Declaration states that national parks, nature reserves and other protected areas could be the key to sustainable development, providing economic benefits to the people of the continent.
As a developing country, South Africa faces problems which threaten the quality of the environment and consequently the quality of life of its people. At an annual growth rate of 2,08 percent the current population could double within 30 years.
Every year the country loses an estimated 500 million t of invaluable topsoil through water and wind erosion, while overgrazing claims thousands of hectares of land and vast areas are subject to desertification.
Air pollution is caused by harmful emissions from industrial plants and coal-fired power generation, smog from unelectrified residential areas, and noxious vehicle-exhaust gases. The National Air Pollution Advisory Committee advises the Minister of Health on control measures. Unleaded petrol will become available in South Africa in 1996.
Precious surface and ground water are polluted bu mining activities, agricultural practices, and uncontrolled urbanisation and informal settlement. An integrated water quality management strategy of the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry is aimed at the recycling and detoxification of this scarce commodity, and stricter control measures based on environmental impact assessment.
Marine pollution is caused by sewage and industrial pipelines, storm-water run-off and oil discharge at sea. The South African coastline is highly vulnerable to oil-spills from Middle East tankers on their way to Europe and the Americas.
Rapid urbanisation and the more than seven million people living in informal settlements sprawling all over the country, pose serious challenges to South African planners and environmentalists. High priority is given to the upgrading of living conditions and services in these communities.
In addition to the Government's role in environmental conservation, numerous private bodies have added their weight. There are more than 400 organisations concentrating on conservation, wildlife and the general environment, and 37 botanical and horticultural organisations in the country.
The Habitat Council acts as national coordinating body for the more than 400 private organisations concerned with wildlife and environmental conservation in South Africa. The Wildlife Society, which is a member of the IUCN, is the country's oldest non-governmental organisations (NGO).
Other organisations are the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) in Southern Africa which has collected more than R100 million for local and other projects in African countries; the Endangered Wildlife Trust which is concerned with the conservation of biodiversity; the National Heritage Programme which guards privately owned sites such as the habitats endangered species; Trees for Africa which strives to improve the quality of life of all communities through its countrywide greening projects, and the Industrial Environmental Forum of South Africa which was established by prominent business people to improve environmental standards.
South Africa's commitment to the preservation of biodiversity is reflected in its stable elephant and white rhinoceros populations, survival accesses with cheetah, mountain zebra and leatherback turtle, and marked increases in the numbers of southern right and humpback whale in its territorial waters.
South Africa was one of the first countries to publish its own regional Red Dta books on threatened and endangered species - a joint venture by the CSIR, Endangered Wildlife Trust and the DEAT.
The national Environment Potential Atlas (Enpat-National) released by the DEAT in 1994, is a computerised system for the evaluation of resources for different land-uses and the assessment of potential environmental impact before development is initiated.
On 5 June 1995 World Environment Day was, for the first time, hosted by South Africa. The event was presented by the DEAT, in conjunction with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), UNEP's Global 500 Awards were presented at the proceedings and 6 South African groups or individuals were among the 27 recipients of the environmental awards. The awards honour individuals and organisations who have contributed towards solving global environmental problems. Part of the programme was an international environment film and video festival which gave local filmmakers the opportunity to present their work to the international community. Out of eight categories, South Africa took the prize in the category ' Women and the Environment', with its film Fareida Kahn.
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