The South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) was established on 1 September 2004 in terms of the National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act 2004. The act expands the mandate of the national botanical institute to include responsibilities relating to the full diversity of South Africa’s fauna and flora, and builds on the internationally respected programmes in conservation, research, and education and visitor services developed over the past century by the National Botanical Institute

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The institute has during the past year, improved facilities of National Botanical Gardens (NBG). It has completed new education, visitor and conservation facilities in the Lowveld NBG in Nelspruit; a new restaurant and shop at Walter Sisulu NBG in Roodeport; a new education center, restaurant and, shop in the Free State NBG in Bloemfontein and a new restaurant, wetland and parking facilities in the Pretoria NBG.

In its new role as SANBI, the institute has launched several biodiversity databases, including those on reptile, butterflies, and marine and freshwater fishes. The transfer to the institute over the MTEF period are R84, 9 million in 2005/06, R89, 0 million in 2006/07 and R92, 7 million in 2007/08.

2. THE STUDY TOUR

As part of conducting oversight function and monitoring the status of National Botanical Gardens, the delegation of the Portfolio Committee on Environmental Affairs and Tourism undertook a study tour to Walter Sisulu Botanical Garden, Roodeport in Johannesburg on 16 August 2005. The main objectives of the study tour were to interact with the official of the South African National Biodiversity Institute in order to examine management of Walter Sisulu Botanical Garden and nature conservation, and to receive input on progress made in respect of global warming and greening of the nation project.

During the study tour, the delegation held meeting with Chief Executive Officer of the South African National Biodiversity Institute, watched five minutes video on the activities of the institute and, received briefing on the outcome of the strategic planning workshop held by the board members of the institute in July 2005. The main focus of the briefing was on challenges and opportunities related to new mandate, client and customers, products and services, priorities, knowledge base, legislative review, financing strategy and human resource management.

In addition, the members of the delegation were taken on a tour to Walter Sisulu Botanical Garden. The delegation had an opportunity to discover the breath- taking Witpoortjie Waterfall, beautiful landscape of indigenous gardens such as cycads, succulent rockery plant, a water garden, fern walk, black eagle, concert facility, new restaurant and a tuck shop built from the extended public works program funds from the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism.

3.OBSERVATIONS AND CONCLUSION

Noting that due to time constrains, the delegation could not have an opportunity to visit Pretoria Botanical Garden and did not get briefing on the climate change and greening of the nation project, it is concluded that an appropriate time should be allocated by the committee to undertake visit to Pretoria Botanical Garden, and ensure that members get input on the climate change and greening of the nation project.

4.RECOMMENDATION

Based on the findings of the study tour, the following recommendations are made:

The Portfolio Committee should call SANBI to brief members on the status report on greening of the nation project.

The Portfolio Committee should call SANBI to brief members on recruitment and retention plan for young disadvantaged scientists.

The Portfolio Committee should call SANBI to brief members on its draft financial strategy and on expansion strategy on botanical gardens

The Portfolio Committee should undertake study tour to Pretoria Botanical Garden to monitor the management of the garden and how indigenous plants and birds species are conserved.

The Portfolio Committee must assist and have discussion with Mayor of Johannesburg Metropolitan Council to request the improvement of signage in the Botanical Garden.

Noting that Walter Sisulu Botanical Garden is currently unknown to previously disadvantage individuals, it is recommended that more marketing should be done to provide exposure and access especially to black people.

1. BACKGROUND

As part of conducting oversight function and monitoring the status of National Botanical Gardens (NBG) in South African which are in the jurisdiction of South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) that accounts directly to the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism and Parliament through the tabling of annual reports in terms of Public Finance Management Act, a delegation of the Portfolio Committee on Environmental Affairs and Tourism undertook an oversight visit to Walter Sisulu Botanical Gardens, in Roodeport, Johannesburg on 16 August 2005.

1.1. OBJECTIVE

The main objective of this oversight visit were to:

1.2. DELEGATION

A multi- party delegation of the Committee under the leadership of Acting Chairperson, Mr DAA Olifant (ANC) consisted of Mr. JJ Combrinck, (ANC), Ms R A Ndzanga (ANC), Mr. A D Mokoena (ANC) Ms. M M Ntuli (ANC) Ms C Zikalala (IFP) and Mr TM Manele, Committee Secretary.

1.3. REPORTING

The Portfolio Committee on Environmental Affairs and Tourism, having conducted its oversight visits to Walter Sisulu Botanical Garden on 16 August 2005, reports to Parliament as follows:

2. MEETING WITH OFFICIALS OF SOUTH AFRCIAN NATIONAL BIODIVERSITY INSTITUTE

The Chief Executive Officer of the South African National Biodiversity Institute, Prof, Brian Huntley, welcomed the delegation of the committee. After brief introduction of the delegation, institute officials and an outline of the oversight visit by the delegation leader, Mr DAA Olifant, the delegation of the committee had an opportunity to firstly watch a video of the and briefing on the outcome of the strategic planning workshop held by the Board of the South African National Botanical Institute on July 2005 in National Botanical Garden’s Biodiversity Center in Pretoria. The briefing made by the Chief Executive Officer focused on the institute’s new broad mandate, client and customers, products and services, priorities, knowledge base, legislative review, financing strategy and human resource management. The sections that follow provide a brief discussion on the main issues presented during the briefing session.

2.1. BROAD NEW MANDATE AND OVERLAPPS WITH OTHER ACTORS

As a comprehensive biodiversity information system is note in place in south Africa to provide adequate and appropriate decision support for all stakeholders and that the nature and content of collaboration between partners and a strategy to achieve synergies are not yet defined in a measurable system, the board of the institute has realize that a comprehensive financing strategy is needed for the new mandate, including transfers of functions and funding from entities that currently have overlapping roles.

2.2. CLIENTS AND CUSTOMERS

Currently, the institute provides services to the society directly or via national government organizations (NGOs) community based organization (CBOs) research institutions, and three tiers of the government such as national government, provincial government and local government.

2.3. PRODUCTS AND SERVICES

The key products and services to be provided by South African National Botanical Institute, for which indicators need to be developed and monitored are; knowledge, decision support, conservation and sustainable use and awareness.

2.4. PRIORITIES

The priorities of the institute for 2005 –2007 include the establishment of knowledge base related to structure, functions, dynamics and biodiversity. The second priority, relates to the promotion of the exploitation of opportunities in biodiversity such as ecosystem services, eco-tourism and, bio- products. The third priority, relates to the promotion of the management of threads to biodiversity such as climate change and invasive species. The final priority, relates to the promotion of the transformation of the biodiversity sector such as training awareness and, mainstreaming.

2.5. KNOWLEDGE BASE

The institute has on June 2005 developed a knowledge base, gaps and priorities. A five- year action plan with business case to the treasury has also been prepared on August 2005. A framework of comprehensive knowledge management system for SANBI will be developed by April 2006 and a roll out of action plan by April 2007

2.6. LEGISLATIVE REVIEW

The institute has discussed legislative review process with the Minister of Department of Environmental Affairs and tourism on 1 August 2005. The Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism will complete the process legislative review by November 2005.

2.7.FINANCING STRATEGY

On the 1 August 2005, the management of SANB developed a draft a financing strategy and policy for the Board’s consideration on donor funding, public funds, reporting and investment to be finalised on November 2005.

2.8. HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

The management of SANBI will develop on October 2005 an efficient system of Human resource management reporting to the board based on a scorecard system to be monitored and reviewed at each board meeting from November 2005.

3. SITE VISIT

Members of the delegation were taken on a tour of the Walter Sisulu Botanical Garden so that they could gain firsthand impression of the types of species that are conserved in the garden. The delegation had an opportunity to discover the breathtaking Witpooortjie Waterfall, landscaped indigenous gardens and a nature reserve along the Roodekrans ridge.

4. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION

Having visited Walter Sisulu Botanical Garden on 16 August 2005, the Portfolio Committee on Environmental Affairs and Tourism and recommends as follows:

4.1. Noting that during the visit the delegation of the committee could not get progress report on climate change, greening of the nation project, it is concluded and recommended that the Portfolio Committee should call SANBI to brief members on greening of the nation project, climate change, expansion strategy on botanical gardens and, recruitment and retention strategy for young disadvantaged scientists.

4.2. Noting that Walter Sisulu Botanical Garden is currently unknown to previously disadvantage individuals; it is recommended that more marketing should be done to provide exposure and access especially to black people.

4.3. Noting the problem related to signage, it is further recommended that the portfolio committee must assist and have discussion with Mayor of Johannesburg Metropolitan Council to request the improvement of signage in the Botanical Garden.

The South African Biodiversity Institute must be recommended for the work done in training highly competent Botanist from the previously disadvantage communities.

Report to be considered.