ATC210215: Report of the Select Committee on Land Reform, Environment, Mineral Resources and Energy on legislation relating to the draft Norms and Standards for the Trophy Hunting of Leopards in South Africa, developed in terms of Section 8(3) of the NEMBA Act, 2004 (Act No. 10 of 2004) dated 9 March 2020.

NCOP Land Reform, Environment, Mineral Resources and Energy

Report of the Select Committee on Land Reform, Environment, Mineral Resources and Energy on legislation relating to the draft Norms and Standards for the Trophy Hunting of Leopards in South Africa, developed in terms of Section 8(3) of the National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act, 2004 (Act No. 10 of 2004) (NEMBA), read with Section 146(6) of the Constitution which requires that all subordinate legislation issued under the Act, which affects provinces, to be submitted to the National Council of Provinces for approval, dated 9 March 2020.

 

   The committee invited all nine legislatures to attend its briefing session on 3 November 2020 where the Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries (DEFF) briefed the committee and legislatures present on the draft norms and standards. The DEFF explained that the draft norms and standards was being drafted to assist scientific authorities in determining and prevent excessive hunting by local and international concerns, as well as to determine whether current hunting pressure has any detrimental impact on the survival of the species in the wild. The Committee thereafter requested provincial legislatures to consult with the respective provinces in order to ascertain whether the proposed amendments to the above-mentioned norms and standards as presented by the DEFF were in conflict with any provincial legislation. Provincial Legislatures held further engagements with the department on the matter as well as called for public comments. 

 

    During provincial public engagements the following recommendations were made:

 

• The need for effective and efficient public education before publication of the norms and standards; 
• The affected communities must be briefed about challenges and opportunities of the Act and the simplification of technical information;
• The lack of compliance by hunters must be addressed;
• Establish an incentive-based system to phase out Damage Control Animals. Landowners shall be incentives to conserve and not to destroy leopard. Sport Hunting is the best scheme to incentivize landowners. The zero quota has incentivized illegal activities to the detriment of legal regulated hunting.
• Promote serious law enforcement actions to neutralize illegal trade in leopard skins, taking into account the cultural and religious traditions of South Africa;
• The maintenance of a register to keep track of the number of hunting licenses granted / issued for any specific Leopard Hunting Zone;

 

The Select Committee on Land Reform, Environment, Mineral Resources and Energy, having considered the matter of the subordinate legislation submitted by the Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries (DEFF) in terms of Section 8(3) of the National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act, 2004 (Act No. 10 of 2004), referred to it on 07 September 2020,reports that the Committee has concluded its deliberations on the matter and recommends the approval of the subordinate legislation.

 

Report to be considered.