Agenda 21 - South Africa

The National Department of Agriculture and Land Affairs and the nine Ministries of the Provinces are responsible for sustainable agriculture and rural development.

The Agricultural Credit Act forms the basis for action by the Agricultural Credit Board. The Board's assistance makes provisions available to communal farmers, subsistence and beginner farmers, small farms, part time and commercial farmers. In addition, the Board provides assistance to farmers for purchasing land under certain conditions. State assistance is also available to facilitate production loans to small farmers. Farmers can apply for various subsidies concerning drought assistance, sustainable agriculture and the conservation of natural agricultural resources.

The restriction of the transfer of productive arable land to other uses was until presently handled under national legislation, Subdivision of Agricultural Land, Act 70 of 1970. This act has been repealed though by Parliament. After the publication of the date of repeal the issue will be handled by the provinces in terms of provincial land-use planning legislation and ordinances. The present national legislation does require national ministerial approval to transfer productive agricultural land to other uses as outlined in the question.

The prevention of water logging and salinisation of irrigated land is a control measure forming part of regulations issued in terms of national legislation. A national inspectorate stationed countrywide enforces these control measures. The Agricultural Research Council and Water Research Commission undertake and fund respectively research on the remedying of water logging and salinisation of irrigated land.

National legislation (the Conservation of Agricultural Resources Act, 43 of 1983, and the National Water Act, 36 of 1998) is in place to deal with adverse effects of agriculture on water quality. Specific control measures have been drafted giving detail on how intensive-farming systems should handle the problem of water pollution. The Agricultural Research Councils undertake research around this problem and are able to provide practical information and technical guidelines to farmers.

The only measure for the promotion of crop diversification at the farm level applied in South Africa to date has been the removal of agricultural subsidies. For example, the Marketing of Agricultural Products Act 47 of 1996 came into effect in January 1997 and is based on the view that state intervention in agricultural markets should be the exception rather than the rule. Another example is that with the termination of the General Export Incentive Scheme in July 1997, export subsidies in respect of agricultural products are now zero. These radical reforms have had two aims, namely, increasing efficiency and productivity, and increasing opportunities for access to markets for small and medium-scale farmers. It is believed that in the medium and long-term this will lead to crop diversification at farm level.

The radical reforming of the domestic marketing system and the opening up of international trade for agricultural products, set out in paragraph 30 above, will lead to increasing efficiency and productivity. This should also result in the sustainable intensification of productive lands.

To oversee the development of policy in this area, a ministerial policy unit was established, focusing on food security, trade, drought and disaster management, co-operatives, credit and finance, sustainable resource utilisation, farmer support services and rural tenure systems.

A National Environmental Policy for South Africa that includes all the aspects of South Africa's environment including agriculture is being drawn up. A White Paper for Agriculture was developed during 1995, addressing production, marketing, sustainable utilisation of natural resources, agricultural financing, institutional infrastructure, information and agricultural technology, research, extension and training.

Besides this, agricultural goals and strategies to support the government's growth and development plan, at national and provincial levels were developed. Provincial Governments are also in the process of formulating Integrated Rural Development Policies aimed at implementing above-mentioned issues in sustainable agricultural and rural development.

In order to achieve sustainable, equitable and efficient agricultural development, the Government is reforming its agricultural policy with three strategic aims:

South Africa does not have a separate national strategy or policy on sustainable agriculture and rural development (SARD). In November 1998, the Ministry for Agriculture and Land Affairs brought out a Discussion Document on Agricultural Policy in South Africa. This document does address many of the issues pertaining to a SARD national policy.

The policy document states that 'Agriculture in South Africa has a central role to play in building a strong economy, and in the process reducing inequalities by increasing incomes and employment opportunities for the poor, while nurturing our inheritance of natural resources'.

South Africa's Agricultural Policy addresses the continuation of the process of market deregulation, while assisting the farmers to address some of the challenges of a deregulated environment. It involves negotiating reductions in protectionist measures in trade policies as well as taking steps to encourage export competitiveness; and reviewing the regulatory structure to ensure that it promotes efficiency and competition while retaining its essential functions of protecting producers and consumers from hazards and abuse. Further that South Africa's development needs can be accommodated and enhanced within the ambit of the WTO provisions. Regional economic integration is taking place through the Trade Protocol for the SADC, which was approved by the member states and signed during the summit meeting held in Lesotho on 24 August 1996. Implementation of the trade protocol is under negotiation to establish how tariffs and non-tariff measures will be phased out over an eight-year period. It is envisaged that the protocol will be implemented as from 1 January 2000.

The South African Government has not carried out a specific national policy related to food security following the World Food Summit held in 1996. Aspects of food security are addressed in the Discussion Document of the Ministry for Agriculture and Land Affairs, Agricultural Policy in South Africa, November 1998. No specific programmes have been put in place.

Concerning the Rome Declaration on World Food Security (1996), the Government is guided by implementing policies that lead to an improvement of food production and economic development. The Government is committed to:

Please refer to the Programmes and Projects and Capacity-building, Education, Training and Awareness-raising sections for information on the implementation of projects related to this issue.

A Food Security Policy for South Africa has been formulated with full consultation processes with various stakeholders.

The national Department of Agriculture is in the process of implementing risk management strategies to reduce vulnerability of farmers to natural disaster with the aim to alleviate poverty.

The Discussion Document of the Ministry for Agriculture and Land Affairs, Agricultural Policy in South Africa, November 1998, addresses policy issues around land degradation and rehabilitation (also addressed in legislation, Conservation of Agricultural Resources Act 43 of 1983), as well as plant and genetic resources.

Concerning the integration of environmental concerns into agriculture development projects, guidelines have been developed for the planning of agricultural resettlement projects under the Land Reform Programme (see also the chapter on Land Management). No general guidelines exist yet at national level.

At this stage, policies for promoting integrated pest management have as yet not been integrated into national development policies.

The National Water Policy for South Africa and the National Water Act 36 of 1998 make provision for water to be protected, used, developed, conserved, managed and controlled in a sustainable and equitable manner to the benefit of all people. This provision has implications for the development of irrigation works and the application of water in agricultural production.

The document entitled 'Agriculture Policy in South Africa', a Discussion Document, published in November 1998, also contains a section dealing with the Irrigation Policy.

A water conservation and water demand strategy is in the process of being developed. A water pricing strategy is being implemented, and will be progressively extended to include the small-scale farmers.

Concerning the promotion of an environmentally sound energy transition in rural communities, the Department of Minerals and Energy published its White Paper on Energy Policy during December 1998. This policy document (www.gov.za) addresses energy demand sectors, and makes particular reference to poor households. The Government namely supports the concept of energisation, i.e. the widening of access to a safe and effective energy package within grasp of low-income households and will promote its implementation where appropriate.

Concerning the increase of non-farm employment opportunities in the rural areas, it is to be noted that both job creation and rural development and infrastructure investment are national priorities of the Government for the five-year period starting from 1999. A programme of action is being developed which includes an Integrated Rural Development Strategy. One of the strategic objectives set by Government for the next five years is to facilitate agricultural entrepreneurship development in order to create jobs, increase incomes, make the sector more competitive and achieve black economic empowerment. It is envisaged that these very recent initiatives will lead to an increase in non-farm employment opportunities in our rural areas.

Concerning a policy for reducing poverty through agriculture and food security, it is to be noted that South Africa's national priorities set in June 1999 for the next five years are job creation and rural development and infrastructure investment. The national policy goals set by the Government for agriculture are as follows:

The agricultural priorities the Government has agreed to for the next five years are:

The implementation of these goals and priorities will contribute greatly to reducing poverty through agriculture and food security.

The Government's policy spells out support for production and stimulating an increase in the number of new small and medium-scale farmers. This will be done by:

The major groups involved in decision-making on sustainable agriculture and rural development are: Organised Agriculture, Universities, the Agricultural Research Council, NAOS and CBOs.

In South Africa, draft national policies and legislation need to have undergone a proven process of public participation before being accepted and recommended by the Cabinet. For example, in developing the Discussion Document on Agricultural Policy in South Africa, the Ministry for Agriculture and Land Affairs held workshops at the provincial level where local community leaders, small-scale farmers, women and the youth were involved and made their comments and inputs. Also, at the national level, representative farmer groups, including small-scale farmers, and NGOs are consulted in regard to issues around sustainable agriculture development.

As agriculture is mainly a provincial function, many activities aimed at sustainable agriculture were launched by the nine Provinces dealing, for example, with:

The government is focusing on providing food security for everybody. All people at all times should therefore have access to enough safe and nutritious food to lead a healthy and productive life. In three provinces pilot projects were initiated to alleviate poverty, namely Mpumalanga, KwaZulu/ Natal and the Northern Province.

The South African government and the FAO established the National Food Security Special Programme in South Africa to improve household food security in rural and peri-urban areas of resource poor communities.

The National Landcare Programme for South Africa has an element that addresses the conservation and rehabilitation of degraded land, namely, the major works programme for resource conservation. For each province the major concerns about sustainable resource use have or are being identified and specific projects developed to address these needs. In addition, a soil conservation scheme, in terms of national legislation provides some limited support to farmers in dealing with conservation and rehabilitation, and the Government undertakes 'Key Soil Conservation Works' in identified critical areas on state and communal land. The criteria for investing in Key Soil Conservation Works are policy considerations (targeting historically disadvantaged areas), the rotation of work regions, the adding of capacity where it is lacking, the extent of the degradation and the feasibility (including a cost benefit analysis.

Since UNCED in 1992, the following specific rural energy projects have been initiated in South Africa:

Concerning the conservation and promotion of the sustainable use of plant genetic resources (PGR), the following major steps and initiatives have taken place since UNCED:

Concerning the conservation and sustainable use of animal genetic resources (AGR), the following activities have taken place since UNCED:

Concerning the problem of the detrimental influence of undesirable or problem plants on South Africa's natural resources (see the 'Challenges' section in this chapter), the country has had an active biological control programme for a number of years. The control of certain alien plants using biological agents has been very successful. Research in this field is ongoing and there is international co-operation with scientists in Australia, South America and the Caribbean.

The contribution of Agriculture to South Africa's GDP was 4.2%, 4.7% and 4.5% in 1995, 1996 and 1997 respectively.

The maize production totalled 8.488 million tons (mt) in 1997, compared to 9.69 mt in 1996. In 1996, human consumption was approximately 3.1 mt, representing per capita consumption of 62 kg/person/year. Industrial processing of maize for animal feed comprised 1.2 mt. Concerning wheat production, the 1997/98 season yielded 2.3 mt, of which 1.8 mt are designated for human consumption. This represents a per capita consumption of 57 kg/person/year. Average annual production of wool totals 55.1 million kg of greasy wool, 5.7 million kg from white wool breeds, other than Merino.

During 1996, South African consumers spent a total amount of R 77,694 million on food commodities.

Concerning the fishery sector, it is to be noted that in terms of South African Total Allowable Catches (TAC), quotas are adapted annually to allow for more sustainable consumption. For example, TAC of hake in 1995, 1996 and 1997 varied from 148,000; 151,000; and 151,700 tons of nominal mass respectively. Pilchard TAC quotas have decreased over the 3-year period and were fixed at 117,000: 105,000; and 98,000 tons nominal mass respectively. South Africa has a bilateral agreement with Mozambique, which covers the harvesting of hake in South African waters in exchange for a comparable amount of Mozambique prawns.

South Africa covers an area of 122,3 million ha, and has a total population of 40 million people. About 13% of South Africa's surface area can be used for crop production. High potential arable land comprises only 22% of the total arable land. Slightly more than 1,2 million ha are under irrigation. The most important factor limiting agricultural production is the availability of water. Rainfall is distributed unevenly cross the country, with humid subtropical conditions occurring in the east and dry, desert conditions in the west. Almost 50% of South Africa's water is used for agriculture.

An estimated 16 million South Africans are living in poverty, with its incidence highest in rural areas and among female-headed households. It is estimated that 72% of poor people live in rural areas, and that 70% of rural people are poor. Food security, defined as a lack of access to adequate, safe and nutritious food, is closely associated with poverty. While there is adequate food at national level, some 30% to 50% of the population have in sufficient food, or are exposed to an imbalanced diet, as a result of low incomes.

No real quantitative data are available regarding the actual extent of land degradation in South Africa. At times empirical estimations have been made from available information and data about the extent of degradation. The most recent study is Land Degradation in South Africa, which was conducted by the National Botanical Institute, January 1999. This report forms part of the first stage in the development of South Africa's National Action Programme as required by the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification.

More than 50% of water in South Africa is already used for irrigation. The area under irrigation is 1.3 million ha and limited water availability suggests that at most an additional 200 000 ha could be brought under irrigation. This would represent 8% of the area suitable for arable farming. Present irrigation schemes vary from small schemes such as vegetable gardens on communal land to very large schemes fed from large reservoirs built on the major rivers of South Africa.

Since 1992, an additional 400 000 ha (estimated) of agriculture area have been brought under irrigation. This represents 2.5% of total land cultivated today. In the same time, an estimated 25 000 ha of degraded land (waterlogged and saline areas) have been rehabilitated, which is 13% of total degraded land. The area of eroded land that has been protected, stabilised or rehabilitated is approximately 560 000 ha. This includes work on both arable and rangeland.

Concerning the availability of energy for household use in the rural areas, the years since UNCED have brought an increase of access to national electrical grids from 10% in 1992 to 42% in 1998. The availability of energy for rural-based agro-industries has also increased in the past eight years: about 28 000 windmills for water pumping, and circa 4 000 photovoltaic driven water pumps are in operation today.

Concerning action taken towards mobilising the potential of agriculture as a major producer of biomass energy, it can be noted that:

Concerning the implementation of energy-substitution strategies to reduce CO2 emissions, it is to be noted, that:

Sufficient funding from the national budget is a major problem for the implementation of the National Landcare Programme, in view of the tremendous need to fund priority areas such as education and health. Sufficient technically trained capacity is another major problem as there is a drain of experienced persons from the public to the private sector.

An additional major issue for South Africa is the detrimental influence of undesirable or problem plants on our natural resources. Most of these plants are of alien origin and have either been accidentally or deliberately introduced. Away from their natural habitats, they have tended to spread, invade ecosystems and become problem plants. Revised regulations are being promulgated for public comment and include an updated list of plants classified either as weeds or invaders. For programmes in operation in this issue, please refer to the Programmes and Projects section in this chapter.

The National Department of Agriculture, supported by the nine provincial Members of the Executive Council responsible for agriculture, established a national design team for broadening access to agriculture for those who previously lacked access. Their report, tabled during April 1995, dealt with financial services, human resource development, technology development and delivery systems.

South Africa participates in a regional Southern African Development Community (SADC) Food Security Training project. The purpose of the project is to strengthen food security related organisations by providing in-service training in key areas of food security, with emphasis in all activities placed on supporting and strengthening national training programmes and other capacity building activities. There are four main activities and outputs:

To date representatives from the Government, the private and the NGO sector have participated in the Food Security Training Project. Two regional workshops related to the institutional capacity building process were hosted.

Concerning the Rome Declaration on World Food Security (1996), workshops were organised by government departments with the participation of relevant stakeholders on factors affecting food security and possible solutions.

The Government has initiated a National Landcare Programme for South Africa. This is a community-based programme supported by both the public and private sector through a series of partnerships. It is a process focussed on the conservation of the natural resources (soil, water and vegetation) through sustainable utilisation and the creation of a conservation ethic through education and awareness. The programme has five elements including an awareness element that is a communication and information strategy geared primarily for the farmers and secondarily for the broader land-user communities and young people. The purpose of this element is to promote a better understanding of factors that can lead to unsustainable use of resources in agriculture and of policies and institutions which can address this.

From 1972 to the present, more than 90% of South Africa was covered by a Land Type survey, at 1:250,000 scale, such that each Land Type displays a marked degree of uniformity with regard to terrain, soil and climate parameters. It is foreseen that this process will be completed within the next five years. Through the integration of the Land Type information and crop modeling, within a geographical information system, high potential land for rain fed annual crop production in South Africa was demarcated on a 1:2 500 000 scale during 1996. The full potential of the Land Type database will only become a reality after completion of the second, or ecotope, phase that will lead to the establishment of an electronic database indicating areas that are homogeneous with respect to land suitability or land sensitivity. Research proposals for a pilot ecotope project are being considered at present.

The Food Insecurity and Vulnerability Information and Mapping System (FIVIMS), which is being developed, will produce better information on food security in South Africa.

No information is readily available to identify whether research or remedial measures on the effect of ultraviolet radiation on plants and animal life, as well as on agricultural activities, have received attention in South Africa.

Basic natural resource information such as climate, soils, vegetation and land cover plus cadastral information is available nationally. Certain information can be assessed via the Internet AGIS system. The address is www.nda.agric.za/agismaps/index.htm. Information gaps at this stage on the electronic system relate to, for example, information on sustainable management issues such as integrated pest management and integrated farm management technologies and practices.

The World Overview of Conservation Approaches and Technologies (WOCAT) collects and analyses information on various production systems and technologies.

There is no information on Government support for early warning systems for monitoring food supply and those factors affecting household demand. Government has established a national early warning system making use of the NOAA satellite images. Information is made available on a weekly basis by portraying it as NDVI (Normalised Drought Vegetation Index) Drought Deciles. This is also available on the web site given above.

South Africa is in the process of developing indicators for monitoring and evaluating sustainable agriculture practices and rural development.

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) control combines biological control, host plan resistance and appropriate farming practices, and minimises the use of pesticides. It takes place on farms in many of the commodity industries. Industries of the Agricultural Research Council and the private sector are involved in promoting IPM. The production of cotton and citrus is an example of where IPM is actively promoted and implemented by both large commercial and small-scale farmers. The Agricultural Research Council is actively involved in IPM to control invader plants by the introduction of biological control agents and methods. At present, the South African Government has not yet used the Global Integrated Pest Management Facility for the development of IPM programmes.

South Africa has not yet developed and implemented an integrated plant nutrition approach. Research Institutes of the Agricultural Research Council as well as government researchers have been actively involved in plant nutrition research over many years. Thus, a depth of knowledge on the issues involved does exist. At this stage, there are no major policy instruments in place to promote sustainable plant nutrition management in South Africa. However, plant nutrition research, both generally and commodity focused does contribute significantly in promoting sustainable plant nutrition management.

Groundwater development is very extensive for both household and stock watering purposes. Irrigation farming takes place where strong sources are found, normally involving extensive aquifers. Research and demonstration of water harvesting techniques is increasing. For example, in the summer rainfall area, moisture conservation techniques are used for the production of dryland winter wheat.

Also, commercial farmers practice conservation tillage to a limited extent. Attempts to extend research to the small-scale farming sector have foundered due to a lack of funding.

Research to increase water use efficiency in agriculture is carried out by the Agricultural Research Council and also funded by the Water Research Commission (both parastatals). Under the new water legislation a system of licensing will, in time, be introduced to regulate the access of all users to water resources. As competing uses for water resources increase, the cost of water to the end users, including farmers will inevitably increase. This means that agriculture must change to more rational, economic and sustainable cropping and water-use patterns.

Research on and the development of integrated farm management technologies and practices is mainly within the Agricultural Research Council. Specialist research institutes are focused on the following:

Technology transfer to the commercial farming sector is mainly through private sector extension services provided by the commodity industries and large co-operatives. Each provincial government service has an extension service responsible for technology transfer to farmers, especially the small-scale and subsistence farmers on communal land.

At this stage, there are no Government plans or programmes in place on the sequestration of CO2 into soils (humus) through improved crop and soil management practices. Government officials and parastatal researchers have attended international workshops on sequestration of CO2 into soils. Workshops, some through international funding, are now planned to be held in South Africa during the next year. South African farmers are increasingly applying improved crop and soil management practices. Research is also being undertaken so as to give farmers practical advice and information. The National Landcare Programme for South Africa has projects in the communal areas involving many small farmers where improved crop and soil management practices are being demonstrated.

The funds for South Africa's Agricultural Policy review come from the national budget.

The figure of total investments made on the rehabilitation of degraded lands since 1992 is unknown at this stage. During 1998, R 25 million was made available for the National Landcare Programme for South Africa. An additional R 20 million has been made available for 1999.

With reference to soil conservation measures, R 56 million was made available for support on individual farms. This programme has however been curtailed and even discontinued in some provinces. An amount of R 140 million was made available in terms of Key Soil Conservation Works, which was primarily used for gully control and regional water runoff control.

The national Department of Agriculture is represented in Brussels, Rome and Geneva. The Department of Agriculture is responsible for matters concerning agricultural relations with other countries, for example bilateral agreements with Zimbabwe, Malawi and Mozambique.

The Department of Agriculture, DTI and the Department of Foreign Affairs co-operate with respect to trade negotiations, for example between South Africa and the EU, the Indian Ocean Rim Initiative and the Cairns Group. Negotiations regarding the implementation of the Convention on Biodiversity are also covered. South Africa obtained qualified membership of the Lom� Convention, which will allow South African companies to tender for contracts funded by the European Development Fund and to make use of the rules of accumulation. The ARC is represented in Paris and Washington at the relevant South African missions.

Regional co-operation with the rest of Africa takes place in a Southern African context through the Southern African Regional Commission for the Conservation and Utilisation of the Soil (SARCCUS) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC). International co-operation with multilateral organisations such as the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO), the World Bank, the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), and the SA/US Binational Committee has also taken place.

This information is based on South Africa's submissions to the fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth Sessions of the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development. Last update: October 2000.

ATMOSPHERE

The Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DEA&T) is in charge of protection of the atmosphere. In August 1966, the Government decided to establish a coordinating office to facilitate and improve communication among the several national and international stakeholders. Implementation of The Montreal Protocol is undertaken through working groups from industry and government, including Working Groups for Solvents, Foams, Aerosols, Automotive Air Conditioning, Refrigeration, Mining, and Methyl Bromide. An "environmental levy" of R5, 00 per kilogram is imposed on ODS's. Imports and production of ODS's are regulated by import - or production permits.

Also central to decision-making in this area are the Department of Transport, which is concerned with providing cost effective, efficient and safe transport systems which are economically and environmentally sustainable, and which minimise negative side effects; and the Department of Minerals and Energy (DME), which gives guidance on coal emissions at power stations.

South Africa sent delegates to INC-9, -10 and -11 and also to COP-1 and COP-2. A National Committee for Climate Change (NCCC) was established in 1994, to coordinate government steps towards forming a climate change policy with the other stakeholders, including the 9 newly formed provincial governments.

One of the strategies that will be used will be closer cooperation between transportation planning and land-use planning. Inventories of requirements and indicators will be compiled to allow progress to be monitored on a regular basis, in accordance with government policy. The South African Navy has initiated a programme to upgrade naval ships to make provision for the phasing out of CFCs in accordance with the Montreal Protocol. The Army and Air Force are also in the process of investigating the implications thereof in order to plan and implement the necessary amendments to equipment and procedures.

A low smoke coal project has a specific objective pertaining to protection of the atmosphere. MINTEK, a parastatal body, is involved in monitoring air quality in certain key areas. The process has specific requirements on air quality, including dust pollution. The rehabilitation of asbestos mines and goldmine slimes dams is aimed at addressing dust pollution. The DME assists DEA&T in drawing up an inventory of greenhouse gasses and promotes the concept of best practicable means and the use of clean technology.

Gauteng Province initiated the Clean Air Programme which will contribute towards air quality improvements. The programme will be run on a pilot-project basis in one area once the principles are accepted by the relevant authorities and will promote the use of cleaner production technology and incentives. Another area of involvement is in the Vaal Triangle Atmospheric Protection Action Committee, which addresses the air pollution problem in the most impacted area of Gauteng.

In February 1995, the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DEA&T) issued a preliminary document, for information at INC-11, entitled: South African Policy - Management of Global Climate Change. Also in 1995, the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), contracted by the DEA&T, published two reports: "South African Greenhouse Gas Inventory," and "Greenhouse Gas Adaptation Strategy for South Africa". The DEA&T and FCCC have held workshops and seminars to inform all stakeholders, including NGOs about the implications of the FCCC and also to stimulate an advance towards ratification of the Convention

The Montreal Protocol (1987) was signed in 1990. The London Amendment (1990) was signed in 1992. The Copenhagen Amendment (1992) has not yet been signed. The latest reports to the Montreal Protocol Secretariat were prepared in 1995. The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change was signed in 1993.

This information is based on South Africa's submission to the 5th Session of the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development, April 1997. Last update: 1 April 1997

BIODIVERSITY

The Ministry for Environment and Tourism acts as a national focal point for matters relating to biodiversity and biosafety with national policy making and coordination as its main function. Specific powers rest also with Provincial Authorities, as nature conservation is a concurrent responsibility of national and provincial governments. Executive functions regarding protection and conservation of biological and other resources of the natural environment reside with the National Parks Board and the Provincial Nature Conservation Authorities. An assessment of the natural resources in the area of each of the authorities is presently underway and is to be collated into a national status report towards the end of 1997. A subcommittee on biodiversity has been established under the Committee for Environmental Coordination and began its work in September 1996.

A wetlands conservation bill has been tabled in parliament, and a national act for the protection of endangered species is being prepared.

The conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity is given very high priority by the South African Government. A national policy on the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity is presently being developed and is in the final green paper stage, with submission to Parliament for acceptance envisaged early in 1997. Under the auspices of the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry, a National Forestry Plan is also being developed in collaboration with other relevant sectors.

The Natal Parks Board has initiated a process in the Kwazulu/Natal Province for assessing the degree to which current policies, programmes and actions meet the requirements of the Convention on Biological Diversity, and to reformulate these as a Provincial Biodiversity Conservation Strategy. It is emphasized that most current programmes, which are highly advanced, and under the control of the provincial nature conservation authorities, meet the requirements of the Convention. The current process is a review which may lead to a revised prioritisation of current activities.

Among the Major Groups involved in decision-making for biodiversity are the National Parks Board, the National Botanical Trust, private landowners and game farmers; the Vulture Study Group, the Wildlife Society, the World Wildlife Fund, the Endangered Wildlife Trust, Anglers Societies, Falconry Clubs, SANCCOB, and various commercial organizations.

Conservation bodies work together with various government and non-government organizations with regard to the following projects, e.g. Proteas, Bird and Frog Atlassing Projects, Rhino Management and Zoos.

Unfortunately, funds for biological conservation are decreasing, and many functions have been delegated from the Central Government to Provincial Government without the necessary finances being provided.

A regional capacity-building programme in plant taxonomy has been developed and funding approved. Information contained in Environment Management Programme Reports (EMPRs) on biodiversity enhances the information resource capacity.

For more information on the implementation of the CITES Convention, please refer to the Chapters International Cooperation and Trade.

Less research is being done by government organisations. Universities and other research institutions are contracted for research work.

The Convention on Biological Diversity was signed in 1993 and ratified in 1995. The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora was signed in 1975, and the latest report was submitted in 1995. Other conventions which support the principles of the conservation of biodiversity to which South Africa is a party to, are the Bonn Convention and the Ramsar Convention.

South Africa participates in regional planning with other countries of the Southern African Subregion through the Southern African Development Community (SADC) as well as IUCN-ROSA. South Africa is also active in the broader African Regional context as well as within the Valdivia Group of countries. The Government participates in an Interprovincial Coordinating Body concerned with trade in protected species and translocations.

This information is based on South Africa's submission to the 5th Session of the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development, April 1997. Last update: 1 April 1997

DESERTIFICATION AND DROUGHT

The Department of Water Affairs and Forestry is promoting, via its National Action Plan, the development of community forestry to reduce the pressure on natural woodlands, which are the sole source of energy for a significant part of the population, and which are rapidly being denuded.

Decision Making: Legislation and Regulations

The Rehabilitation of mining areas through the requirements of the Minerals Act, takes into consideration climatic conditions, land capability and aspects of desertification.

The Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism is currently negotiating with international donors to procure funds for the development of the NAP, the audit, as well as for the awareness raising campaign. In South Africa's approach towards the National Action Programme, the following objectives have been determined to implement the Convention:

NGOs such as the Environmental Justice Networking Forum and Environmental Monitoring Group and CBOs are working on desertification issues in South Africa. National, provincial and local governments and private sector are also involved in combating desertification and drought.

The process leading to ratification of the Desertification and Drought Convention has already commenced and will include, inter alia, a wide consultation process. The Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism is responsible, with the advice of the Environmental Monitoring Group (EMG), a non governmental organisation, for the coordination of the implementation of the Convention in South Africa to develop and implement the National Action Programme (NAP). A reference group, or Steering Committee, has been established to implement the national programme to combat desertification, This Steering Committee is chaired by the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, in collaboration with the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Department of Agriculture, in attendance at INCCD - as well as Valdivia Group meetings.

Reclamation and rehabilitation programmes financed by the Department of Agriculture and donations from overseas institutions are escalating annually. Reconstruction and Development funds are also being incorporated in combating desertification for e.g. the Department of Water Affairs & Forestry's invasive plant control programmes in water catchment areas throughout South Africa, in collaboration with the Department of Agriculture, NGOs and CBOs.

A workshop has already been organized to formulate a strategy on awareness-raising. In developing a National Action Programme for South Africa, the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism organised a meeting during which all the provincial governments and national departments were informed about the Convention, as well as their roles in the implementation phase. Through the process of developing a National Action Programme, capacity will be built on a national, provincial and local level.

The International Convention to Combat Desertification in Countries Experiencing Drought and/or Desertification Particularly in Africa was signed in 1995.

In the sub-regional context, South Africa is a member of the Southern African Developing Community (SADC), which is currently busy formulating a sub-regional action programme to combat desertification. South Africa is the coordinator of desertification issues within the Valdivia Group (member countries of the Group of Temperate Southern Hemisphere Countries on Environment). The Valdivia Group fosters exchange and cooperation on environmental and scientific matters between the participating countries (Argentina, Australia, Chile, New Zealand, South Africa and Uruguay).

The Government has attended Asia-Africa Forum meetings to combat desertification as well as the Southern African Regional Commission for the Conservation and Utilization of the Soil (SARCCUS) and SADC relevant annual committee meetings. The Government has also participated in the initiation and management of Reclamation and Rehabilitation programmes throughout South Africa's nine Provinces in collaboration with the relevant Provincial authorities, NGOs and Community Based Organisations (CBOs).

In forestry initiatives, relationships exist within SADC with respect to training courses, exchange of information and advice, and acquisition of seedstocks.

This information is based on South Africa's submission to the 5th Session of the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development, April 1997. Last update: 1 April 1997

ENERGY

The Atmospheric Pollution Prevention Act (1965) establishes a structure for the control of atmospheric emissions. Four categories are addressed: the control of noxious or offensive gases, where the requirement is that activities stated in the Act may only be executed if a registration certificate authorising the process had been issued by the chief air pollution control officer; the control of smoke which focuses mainly on the control of fuel burning appliances; the control of dust where the offender can be required to avoid dust migration through whatever best practicable means can be used; and the control of fumes emitted by vehicles.

The Draft White Paper on Energy Policy for South Africa (1998) promotes energy efficiency and the use of renewable sources of energy.

Unleaded petrol is made available to motorists cheaper than leaded petrol in order to promote use of unleaded petrol.

An extensive solar power programme, in combination with an accelerated electrification programme, is making a major contribution towards enhancement of the sustainability of rural energy consumption.

The accelerated electrification programme targets formal and informal households in urban as well as rural areas, with the objective of raising the percentage of electrified households from the 1992 level of 32 %, to more than 70 % by 2000. Despite the total number of homes approaching 8.5 million, more than 63 % have already been equipped with electricity.

Escom, South Africa’s electricity supplier, has used solar systems and micro-hydro schemes to bring electricity to more than 1500 schools and 300 clinics in rural areas. In addition, Escom, in a joint venture with Shell International Renewables, commenced with the first phase of a programme entailing electrification of 6000 homes, using solar technology. The second phase targets another 44,000 homes.

Year	Escom	Local Government
1991	30 000
1992	145 000
1993	208 000	70 000
1994	254 000	164 000
1995	313 000	150 000
1996	307 000	137 000
1997	285 000	166 000
1998	300 000(planned)	150 000
1999	290 000 (planned)	150 000
TOTAL	1 750 000	918 000

Escom conducts constant and ongoing research into alternative energy sources: solar, wind, hydro, nuclear, biomass, wave, geothermal.

Through its National Action Plan, the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry is promoting the development of community forestry to reduce the pressure on natural woodlands, which are the sole source of energy for a significant part of the population, and which are rapidly being denuded.

Status

Mining and industry are the largest energy consumers, accounting for nearly half of total energy consumption in South Africa. Households, at 22 % and transport make up most of the other half while agriculture accounts for 3 % of energy consumption. In rural areas most household energy is obtained from fuel wood, with the remainder sourced from coal, illuminating paraffin, and a small amount from liquid petroleum gas.

Electricity and coal provide about three-quarters of energy consumed by the industry and mining sectors. The balance is made up largely of coke and blast furnace gases and small amounts of heating oils. Total primary energy supply for 1996 was 4.552 million TJ, compared to 4.527 million TJ in 1997. This included coal, crude oil, gas, nuclear, hydro and renewable energy.

The mining industry depends on electricity for 87 % of its energy use. Minerals and metal processing use large amounts of both electricity and coal, mostly in large scale minerals beneficiation processes, with base metals the largest single industrial energy consuming sub-sector.

The food sector shows both a high total use and relative high intensity, although, in terms of value-added, its energy requirements are very modest in comparison with the minerals and metals industries. The chemicals and pulp and paper industries consume large amounts of energy at high intensities.

Consumption of energy by sector was as follows (total energy consumption of 2.47 million TJ):

	1997 (%)	1996
Industry	35.9	35.4
Residential	24.4	24.9
Transport	23.6	23.6

Escom produces 98.3 % of the electricity in South Africa, using a low quality coal that would otherwise be discarded. A volume of 90 million tons was used by Escom in 1997 to generate 170,464 GWh of electricity as opposed to 85 million tons of coal to generate 163,541 GWh of electricity in 1996. Escom has reduced its total particulate emissions by 91 % over the last 15 years, despite increased electricity output. Short term total emissions decreased by 25 % and relative emissions by 30 % compared to 1996, despite a 5 % increase in energy production.

Total energy supply equalled total energy consumption (176,000 GWh) in 1997. In terms of total primary energy supply, coal contributed most (72.9 % for 1996 compared to 74 % in 1997). This was followed by crude oil (13.6 % in 1996 compared to 12.3 % in 1997).

REFSA (Pty) Ltd (Renewable Energy for South Africa) is a subsidiary of the state-owned Central Energy Fund group of companies which operate in the energy arena. Its main objective is the financing of renewable energy-based systems for those households that cannot readily be connected to the national grid. Its activities are guided by an independent and representative board of directors, to which several key institutions have been approached to nominate members. These are, amongst others, the DME, Escom, the Independent Development Trust, the Development Bank of Southern Africa and the World Bank Group. REFSA commenced its operations by launching a number of pilot projects designed to identify possible financing and delivery models. These include providing loans to potential customers through the retail banking sector operating in the rural areas, and financing interested rural communities on a collective basis and assisting them to manage a tendering process for the procurement and installation of systems.

DANCED, has, over a three year period, set aside 8 million rand for Cleaner Production projects in selected industrial sectors (including the Fishing and Fish Processing, Abattoirs and Dairy, Wood and Furniture, Metal Plating and Textile Industries), with the aim of promoting Cleaner Technology in South Africa. Criteria used for support is the recognition of negative environmental impacts associated with the activities of the specific sector. This donor agency is committed to the transfer of technical skills relating to the environment as spelt out in Agenda 21.

After 20 years of flaring these gases to the atmosphere, Samancor's Manganese Alloy operation in Meyerton found a way to burn carbon monoxide and gases containing hydrogen. In the process, the company generates an average of 30 Megawatts of electricity every hour, about 10 % of the total plant demand. The benefits to both the atmospheric environment and the company are significant: About 275,000 MW hours of electricity are generated each year, with an average availability of 98 %, saving the company R28 million annually in power costs. The electricity saved would have been generated by Escom power stations burning 10 tons of coal each hour, or 87,600 tons per annum. Gases containing hydrogen are no longer released to the atmosphere. The plant made a giant leap in terms towards energy efficiency.

The need for energy efficiency gave rise to an industry strategy to promote Energy Services Companies. Energy efficiency market surveys provide information on consumer energy, behaviour and needs. DME is developing an energy efficiency database. The main aims are to obtain data to inform benchmarks for awareness and educational campaigns.

Capacity-building, Education, Training and Awareness-raising

Energy efficiency is being included in school curricula at primary, secondary and tertiary levels as well as in industrial training. In the domestic sector, the second phase of a communication campaign with the theme Enerwise/Moneywise was launched in March 1997 with the aim of educating, training and informing consumers on improvement of energy efficiency. An energy labeling system for refrigerator equipment has also been introduced. In the commercial sector, voluntary programmes have been initiated in collaboration with the International Institute for Energy Conservation, and if proven to be successful it will be expanded to the domestic and industrial sectors.

In the domestic sector, the second phase of a communication campaign with the theme Enerwise/Moneywise was launched in March 1997 with the aim of educating, training and informing consumers on improvement of energy efficiency. An energy labeling system for refrigerator equipment has also been introduced. In the commercial sector, voluntary programmes have been initiated in collaboration with the International Institute for Energy Conservation, and if proven to be successful, will be expanded to the domestic and industrial sectors.

The Minerals Act legislated Environmental Management Programme Reports (EMPRs) for the mining sector. The DME provides an Aide Memoir to assist mines with compiling environmental impact assessments prior to mining authorisation being granted, and with EMPRs during the mine’s lifetime. The Aide Memoir is presently being revised through a comprehensive and broad-ranging participation process. At the same time, development of a new Minerals and Energy policy, which includes consideration of the principles contained within the draft Environmental Management Bill, has been initiated.

For the end user to be aware of new developments in the DME, an Energy Management Newsletter periodical has been published since June 1997. The newsletter covers all economic sectors including households, commerce, industry, mining, transport and the public service sector.

In order to promote an awareness of fuel efficiency among the South African motoring public the booklet titled ‘A Fuel consumption of passenger vehicles, 1997/98’ was published. The booklet informs decision making of potential buyers of cars, bakkies and mini-buses. Fuel consumption comparisons are also intended to encourage manufacturers to design for fuel efficiency.

The DME hosted national energy efficiency awareness campaigns in the domestic sector in 1997 and 1998. Awareness was promoted regarding energy efficiency measures in households. Consumers were informed and educated regarding the benefits of energy efficiency improvements. The campaign succeeded in sensitising certain target groups to the importance of efficient use of energy, inter alia women’s organisations and municipalities.

A set of campaign objectives were presented to several audiences. The overall aim of the campaign was to promote the concept that national economic development and a decrease in energy intensity can occur simultaneously. Practical guidelines on achieving energy efficiency were provided and an appeal was made to South African households to become part of an energy-wise culture by informing, educating and creating awareness of energy efficiency in the home. The Living Standards Measurement was used as a guide. One outcome of the campaign was that free editorial space and airtime were received for energy efficiency messages.

In order to ensure that builders and building owners make use of the standards incentives thus created, the DME is cooperating with the CSIR and other institutions to run an incentive scheme, titled Green Buildings for Africa, for energy efficiency in buildings. Participation in the programme provides the property owner with a framework that will allow access to an environmental labeling system recognising energy efficiency efforts. This programme seeks to develop the infrastructure and resources to overcome the barriers inhibiting the implementation of cost effective environmental improvements in the commercial property sector. Specific objectives of the initiative are to : build local capacity to promote and deliver energy savings to the property sector; demonstrate the cost savings and emission reduction potential of improved energy efficiency in the property sector; stimulate the creation of Energy Service Companies and other private sector mechanisms to foster and replicate energy efficiency investment; and initiate the development of institutional mechanisms that will establish a sustainable national Green Buildings for Africa programme. The project is in the demonstration phase and a number of building owners have agreed to their buildings being used as showcase buildings. Demonstration buildings include, among others, the buildings of parliament and the Union Buildings, housing the Pretoria offices of the President and the Deputy President.

Escom has initiated an "electro-wise" campaign to promote efficient electricity usage around the home. The programme offers advice about saving energy and reducing electricity bills in and around the home. Escom also administers a system of energy efficiency design awards.

The DME assists DEA&T in drawing up an inventory of greenhouse gasses and promotes the concept of best practicable means and the use of clean technology.

The national approach to energy and material efficiency, waste reduction, recycling, public transport and quality of life comprises a mixture of quantified and quality indicators. There is scope for developing a general paradigm of interlinked quality of life and sustainable consumption and production targets.

In 1993, the Chief Air Pollution Control Officer (CAPCO) published new guidelines for particulate emissions for the petroleum industry, stating that within five years (i.e. by 1998), allowable concentrations have to be diminished from 500 mg/m³ to 120 mg/m³.

In 1994 the CAPCO introduced a new guideline for sulphur present in the fuel used in refinery heaters, to be reduced from 3.5 - 4%, to 2% by weight. Expressed in terms of tons of sulphur dioxide, this translates to a reduction from 60 tons to about 48 tons per day.

Guidance is given by the Department of Minerals and Energy (DME) on coal emissions at power stations. A low smoke coal project has a specific objective pertaining to protection of the atmosphere. MINTEK, a parastatal body, is involved in monitoring air quality in certain key areas. The EMP process has specific requirements on air quality, including dust pollution. The rehabilitation of asbestos mines and goldmine slimes dams is aimed at addressing dust pollution.

A new type of nuclear technology, the Pebble Bed Nuclear Reactor, is very promising and feasible applications for South Africa are investigated.

Renewable energy sources other than biomass, have not yet been exploited to the full in South Africa. Research projects are, inter alia, investigating solar, wind and hydro energy. Current and envisaged main uses of solar energy include the use of solar power for water-pumping and for heating. Research is presently conducted to evaluate the feasibility of building a solar thermal power plant in the Northern Cape, and a wind farm in the Western Cape.

A bilateral Memorandum of Understanding between the Department of Minerals and Energy and the German Government to collaborate on the promotion of solar cookers in South Africa, was implemented in 1997. During the implementation phase, solar cookers or stoves were distributed, accompanied by training, information workshops and evaluations. See also under Status.

This information is based on South Africa's submission to the Fifth and Seventh Sessions of the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development. Last update: December 1998.

FORESTS

Forestry is an area of national legislative competence, and the principal decision-maker is the Minister of Water Affairs and Forestry, supported by the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry. Partnerships are developed to facilitate holistic decision-making. The Development of the National Forest Action Plan (NFAP) involved other government departments, the forestry industry, forestry industry labour, communities and all stakeholders. The NFAP will ultimately form a part of a National Environmental Plan, co-ordinated by the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DEA&T). The management of some state forests has been delegated to provincial government.

The certification of forests (please, See under Programmes and Projects section in this chapter) will be influenced by the work of the Committee for Sustainable Forest Management. This Committee has been constituted to represent the different parties with an interest in sustainable forest management. Its task is to advise the Minister of Water Affairs and Forestry and the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry on any matters related to sustainable forest management. It will focus on the development of criteria and indicators, based upon the principles contained in the National Forests Act, for national as well as local (forest management unit) assessment of the state of sustainable forest management. Through the representation of the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism on the Committee, its work will be closely linked with South Africa's participation in the testing and development of indicators of sustainable development.

Where necessary, the Committee will identify minimum standards of forest management, which would be enforceable through regulations in terms of the Act. Such measures would be linked with the licensing of plantation forests as stream flow reduction activities under the National Water Act, since these licenses set conditions under which plantation forestry may be practised in each case, and these conditions must conform to the principles contained in the National Forests Act. Similarly, environmental impact assessments that are required for afforestation projects must conform to these principles.

The Department of Water Affairs and Forestry is now actively working with other government agencies, such as the national Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, with private-sector forestry, and other parties in streamlining and consolidating the regulatory requirements that govern plantation forestry. The goal is commonly agreed standards to be met through a workable system while the forest sector achieves sustainability as well as international competitiveness.

The work of the IPF and the IFF (please refer to the Cooperation section in this chapter) has been discussed at national level in the National Forest Advisory Council and its predecessor. To date, the principal areas of national relevance have been in regard to National Forestry Programmes (equivalent to the National Forestry Action Programme in South Africa) as instruments for co-ordinated and purposeful strategies for sustainable management and development of forest resources. Criteria and indicators of sustainable forest management as supportive tools are also considered as being of national relevance. South Africa has the aim of employing the outcomes of the IPF/IFF process as mechanisms for attaining national goals and aspirations, through adapting these mechanisms to meet national requirements and simultaneously contributing to and influencing the development in the international forum.

The principal steps to implement the IPF proposals in South Africa have been through the development and deployment of the NFAP (see earlier) and the work of the Committee on Sustainable Forest Management.

New forest laws, the National Forests Act and the National Veld and Forest Fire Act were passed in 1998 after the development of the National Forestry Action Programme (NFAP, please refer to the 'Main Programmes' section in this chapter). The National Forests Advisory Council and its two permanent Committees, the Committee on Sustainable Forest Management and the Committee for Forest Access, established in terms of the National Forests Act, have all been constituted and have begun their work. The Government has since pursued the strategies set out in the NFAP.

Principles guiding decision-making state that forests must be developed and managed so as to sustain the potential yield of their economic, social and environmental benefits, and to conserve natural resources, especially soil and water. Special measures are included to protect indigenous forests and trees. Regulations may be made to control the collection, removal, transport, and various other activities relating to parts of or products from protected trees.

South Africa adopted a White Paper on sustainable forestry development in South Africa, in March 1996. This policy holistically addresses the sustainable development of the country's 1.5 million hectares of plantation forests, the 420 000 hectares of indigenous closed-forest, and the approximately 32-40 million hectares of woodlands.

In South Africa, there are no provisions to compensate forest owners who provide non-market environmental benefits.

Through the Environment Management Plan (EMP) and mining authorisation processes, sensitive forest areas are either excluded or a specific Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) has to be done prior to approval of an EMP. Rehabilitation of mining areas takes cognizance of the specific vegetation and land capability requirements.

The NFAP is not yet formally part of the country's sustainable development strategy, since this did not exist at the time it was developed. Nevertheless, the National Environmental Management Act that has been passed subsequently provides a framework for such a strategy through its requirements for procedures of co-operative governance. These include the instruments of Environmental Management Plans and Environmental Implementation Plans to be agreed with line Departments, as well as its provisions for environmental management co-operative agreements. The NFAP will provide the basis and the content for such instruments in the forest sector.

The NFAP and the integrated land management strategy are linked through the instruments mentioned above. There is also a special chapter in the NFAP describing a strategy on integrating the forest sector with other natural resources policies.

The White Paper on Sustainable forestry development (1996, please refer to the Decision-Making: Strategies, Policies and Plans section in this chapter) includes commitments inter alia to improve the role of women at all levels of forestry related decision-making and to provide support for small growers and processors.

Where local communities have access to forest resources, e.g. for medicinal purposes, or for fuelwood, arrangements and agreements between the nature conservation agency and local communities have been structured to ensure that the use is sustainable, and that there is no net loss of components, either quantitatively or qualitatively.

South Africa's national forest programme is the National Forestry Action Programme (NFAP). It was developed in 1997, according to the principles of the country's forest policy through the work of a set of representative teams overseen by a steering committee, each addressing a major policy issue. As a result, the process and its outcomes were dictated by our own requirements. Nevertheless, the NFAP was informed by the recommendations of the Intergovernmental Panel on Forests (IPF), and there is substantial coherence between its content and these recommendations (see Table 1).

The NFAP is recognised by FAO and UNBED as the most appropriate planning process for sustainable forest development and implementation of Agenda 21. Forests of all kinds are encompassed by the NFAP. Promotion of community forestry is seen as an important component of the strategy to counter the degradation of natural woodland by those who rely on fuelwood as an energy source.

The principal initiatives for recognising and respecting customary and traditional rights are captured in South Africa's land reform programme. The NFAP recognises this issue, and addresses it in many ways. An example is through strategies related to joint forest management and community-based forest management. The National Forests Act makes special provision to clarify land tenure and forest rights, including access rights, and creates the instrument of Community Forest Agreements.

Table 1. Summary of IPF proposals for action regarding national forest programmes and their coherence with South Africa's National Forestry Action Programme.

For natural forests on private land, a number of programmes have been developed to inform landowners of the value of these resources and the need for their protection, and to enlist the support of landowners in protection. These programmes are:

The "Buyer Must Pay Initiative" of the Department of Minerals and Energy has been completed and the responsibility for wood supply and tree planting is now in the hand of the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry.

The Government has progressed substantially in restructuring its holdings in industrial forests. These consist of the plantations held by SAFCOL, the state forestry company, and those held by the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry, together constituting about 30% of the plantation forests in the country. Final bids for the leases for these forests have been received and are currently under scrutiny with a view to agreements with new forest companies by the end of 1999. The forests are among the best of their kind in the world. This step is the largest single privatisation of plantations in the world, and once completed will result in a fundamental restructuring of the sector. Government will in this way mobilise private sector investment in sustainable forestry, while addressing its objectives of local economic development, employment creation, skill development and equitable redress of past discrimination.

In parallel with this restructuring, government is addressing its own institutions. The national forests authority, the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry, has reorganised and refocused to address its national role on State forests, as well as with regard to forest and woodland resources on communal and private land. It has launched an audit of the natural closed-forests of the country, and will use this as a basis for the programmed delegation or assignment of the management of these forests to provincial authorities wherever appropriate, on the basis of agreed requirements for sustainable forest management. It is actively pursuing formal arrangements for joint forest management with local communities in cases where joint interest is strong, and is pursuing this through several trial cases. Through these means it is also addressing conflict situations arising from land invasions, such as in the Dukuduku forest in KwaZulu-Natal. In addition, it is currently developing province-level strategies for promoting sustainable management of natural forests and woodlands on private and communal land.

Concerning the certification of forests (please refer also to the 'Decision-Making' section in this chapter), it is to be noted that the private forestry sector in South Africa has made substantial progress in sustainable forest management over the past several years. In 1995, the organised industry adopted a set of guidelines, the Guidelines for environmental conservation management in commercial forests in South Africa. These have been progressively deployed through the industry, and their implementation has recently been further formalised through forest certification.

The forests of SAFCOL and the Mondi Paper Company have all been certified according to the requirements of the Forestry Stewardship Council (FSC). Thus, about 494 000 hectares of plantation forests are now certified through FSC. South Africa has the fourth largest number of FSC-certified forest management units in the world. In addition, of the NCT Timber Co-operative has just developed an approach to facilitate certification of its members, who each have relatively small forest holdings. To date, 14 farm forests owned by members have been certified under FSC. Sappi Forest, owner of 500 000 hectares of estates with plantation forests, has chosen certification under ISO 14001, and manages its forest for sustainability through this environmental management system.

Transfer of about 70 000 hectares of plantations from the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry to private operators in the restructuring process will also advance sustainable management of industrial forests. The new operators will be required to achieve certification within five years of signing the lease.

Several of the customers in South Africa for wood from the forests have insisted on certification since they export lumber or manufactured wood products in markets that require SFM certi

IPF guidelines for national forest programmes in the Proposals for Action (paragraph 17 of the report of IPF 4)	Relevant elements of South Africa's National Forestry Action Programme
17 (a)(1): consistency with national, subnational or local policies and strategies	NFAP contains a section and strategies for integrating the forest sector with other natural resources policies
17 (a)(2): partnership and participatory mechanisms to involve interested parties	NFAP was developed under guidance of and through the work of a steering committee and policy issues teams, each of which was representative of interested parties; the NFAP provides the details of these teams
17 (a)(3): recognition and respect for customary and traditional rights of, inter alia, indigenous people and local communities	The issue of such rights is recognised throughout the NFAP and linked to land reform, access issues and community forestry agreements; given force through the National Forests Act
17 (a)(4): secure land tenure arrangements	Recognised through linkage to the national land reform programme and in the provisions of the National Forests Act
17 (a)(5): holistic, intersectoral and iterative approaches	NFAP conforms
17 (a)(6): ecosystem approaches that integrate the conservation of biological diversity and the sustainable use of biological resources	NFAP recognises this e.g. in Section IV on natural forest and woodlands and Chapter 12 on sustainable industrial forestry development; given force through the principles and provisions of the National Forest Act
17 (a)(7): adequate provision and valuation of forest goods and services	Recognised as a deficiency in South Africa and identified for action e.g. in chapters 3 and 8 of the NFAP.
17 (b): improved co-operation in support of the management, conservation and sustainable development of all types of forests; national forest programmes as a basis for international co-operation in the forest sector	Design of the NFAP provides for this.
17 (c): need for international co-operation in the adequate provision of ODA, as well as possible new and additional funding from the GEF and other appropriate innovative sources for the effective development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of national forest programmes	NFAP does not address this directly
17 (d): improved co-operation in support of the management, conservation and sustainable development of all types of forests; national forest programmes as a basis for international co-operation	Design of the NFAP provides for this and was developed with strong ODA from the United Kingdom and from Denmark; subsequent initiatives have also enjoyed support from the Government of Finland [and China, Taipei]
17 (e): develop, test and implement appropriate participatory mechanisms for integrating timely and continuous multidisciplinary research into all stages of the planning cycle	Chapter 23 of the NFAP addresses this requirement.
17 (f): to elaborate systems that identify and involve a broad participation of indigenous people, forest dwellers, forest owners and local communities in meaningful decision-making regarding the management of state forest lands in their proximity, within the context of national laws and legislation	NFAP introduces joint forest management and the National Forests Act provides for it; the NFAP also determines that the course of forest sector development should be guided by representative forums, and the National Forests Act lays the foundation by establishment of the National Forests Advisory Council.
17 (g): include capacity-building as an objective of national forest programmes, paying particular attention to training, extension services and technology transfer and financial assistance from developed countries, taking due account of local traditional forest-related knowledge	Section VI of NFAP addresses this issue, as do Chapters 5, 9 and 10
17 (h): establish sound national co-ordination mechanisms or strategies among all interested parties, based on consensus-building principles, to promote the implementation of national forest programmes	Addressed through the institutional elements of Chapter 24 and through the subsequent provisions of the National Forests Act and the National Veld and Forest Fires Act.
17 (i): to further develop the concept and practice of partnership, which could include partnership agreements, as one of the potential approaches for improved co-ordination and co-operation between all national and international partners	Addressed in part, e.g. through the concept of Community Forestry Agreements, but needs further development in the light of subsequent provisions in the National Environmental Management Act for Environmental Management Co-operative Agreements

NATURAL RESOURCE ASPECTS OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN SOUTH AFRICA

AGRICULTURE

ATMOSPHERE

BIODIVERSITY

DESERTIFICATION AND DROUGHT

ENERGY

FORESTS