K O B I O
Nonprofit Organisation/Organisasie sonder winsoogmerk: 006-257 NPO
26 August 2003
SUBMISSION TO THE PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEE
RE THE PROTECTED AREAS BILL AND BIODIVERSITY BILL
by Mr Louis van Heerden, Chairman of KOBIO
AT PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS, CAPE TOWN
COMMENTS ON NATIONAL PROTECTED AREAS BILL
The following is a copy of our comments submitted on 28 January 2003:
"KOBIO, an NGO representing the public support for the Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve, wishes to comment as follows:
It is of utmost importance that Biosphere Reserves form a chapter on its own in the abovementioned Bill. We realize that the whole concept of Biosphere Reserves is a relative new concept in our country, but there are already three Biosphere Reserves in South Africa registered at UNESCO. For your quick perusal please find attached to this letter some information on Biosphere Reserves from the web site of UNESCO dealing with these protected areas.
Although some aspects on Biosphere Reserves are dealt with in this Bill, inter alia the Core Zone (statuary protected areas, wilderness areas and declared Nature Reserves of national importance) and partially the Buffer Zone (conservancies and public open space zone 3, also called private nature reserves), it is the Transition Zone (also called the Zone of Cooperation) that need urgent attention. Villages and rural towns (Biosphere Reserve Villages; Conservation Villages) within the Transition Zone need to be described in this Bill
It is also important to realize that Biosphere Reserves serve as an important model to attain sustainable development and that rural communities living in such a reserve stand to gain most in terms of social upliftment and access to natural resources from especially the Buffer Zone
Thank you for the opportunity to comment. We really feel very strongly that the concept of Biosphere Reserves must be included in this Bill since an application to UNESCO to register any specific area as a Biosphere Reserve must be supported and sign by the National Minister for the Environment as well as the State President of South Africa."
The response to this submission was as follows:
Category Comment Page Decision Reasons
|
GENERAL |
A chapter should be added that provides for biosphere reserves. |
45, |
No |
These reserves are established in terms of international agreements, as such are considered "soft legislation" |
The following is an extract from the application for the establishment of the Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve, drawn up by the Cape Provincial Administration (Department: Cape Nature Conservation), and submitted to UNESCO by the South African Government (Department: Environmental Affairs & Tourism). The emphasis (bold, underlined) is by us:
"A buffer zone surrounding the core areas which must be strictly delineated and very often corresponds, together with the core areas, to a single and autonomous administrative unit. This buffer zone must have a clearly established legal and administrative status even when several administrative authorities are involved in its management. Only activities compatible with the protection of the core may take place. This includes particularly research, environmental education and training, as well as tourism and recreation or other uses carried out in accordance with the management requirements."
By applying to UNESCO for registration of a biosphere reserve, the authorities are obliged to comply with the guidelines and criteria for biosphere reserves as set out in the relevant UNESCO documents. Thus the SA government and the Western Cape Provincial government are obliged to ensure the protection of the buffer zone by statutory means.
The buffer zone of the Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve is being threatened by local, national and international developers, simply because the authorities have not yet instituted the necessary "legal and administrative status" to this zone as promised in their application to UNESCO. The bill under consideration provides an opportunity to the government to make appropriate special provision for biosphere reserves and thereby also to honour their undertaking to UNESCO.
Complying with international agreements and undertakings is, in our view, a matter of national pride and integrity and that the oversight to properly legislate for biosphere reserves will be rectified.
Thank you for this opportunity to comment again.
Approved by UNESCO, December 1998 / Goedgekeur deur UNESCO, Desember 1998