SOUTH AFRICA’S RATIFICATION OF THE AFRICAN CONVENTION ON

THE CONSERVATION OF NATURE AND NATURAL RESOURCES

SELECT COMMITTEE ON WATER AND ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS

18 September 2012

OUTLINE

1. Background2. Main Objectives3. Current Status4. Strategic Focus5. Implementation6. Implications7. Consultation8. Recommendations

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BACKGROUND• African Convention on the Conservation of

Nature and Natural Resources – intended to be a continent-wide instrument for the conservation of Africa’s natural resources.

• Is an AU Convention (formerly known as the Algiers Convention), dating back to 1968.

• The Convention revised and adopted by the AU in Maputo in July 2003, but yet to come into force.

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MAIN OBJECTIVESThe Convention strives to:• Conserve and improve the soil; and to control erosion and

land use; • Conserve, utilise and develop water resources; to prevent

pollution; and to control water use; • Protect flora and ensure its best utilisation; ensure good

management of forests; and control burning, land clearance and overgrazing;

• Conserve fauna resources; manage populations and habitats; control hunting, capture and fishing; and prohibit the use of poisons, explosives and automatic weapons in hunting;

• Control traffic in trophies, in order to prevent trade in illegally killed and illegally obtained trophies; and

• Reconcile customary rights with the Convention.

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CURRENT STATUS• By April 2012 - 35 countries had signed the revised

Convention – only 9 countries had acceded or ratified the Convention.

• Convention enters into force 30 days after the deposit of the 15th instrument of ratification.

• South Africa signed the Convention on 18 April 2012 in Addis Ababa.

• South Africa now proceeding with ratification of the Convention.

• South Africa also intends to encourage other African States to ratify the Convention so that it can come into force.

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STRATEGIC FOCUS

• 12th Session of the African Ministerial Conference on the Environment (AMCEN) encouraged African countries to ratify or accede to the revised Convention.

• South Africa is former President of AMCEN (2008 – 2010), but still to ratify the Convention.

• Signing of the Convention by South Africa may encourage other African countries to do so - potential positive legacy of South Africa’s presidency of AMCEN.

• SA’s ratification of the Convention – signal to strengthen continental drive to conserve Africa’s natural resources and development of viable conservation areas on the continent.

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STRATEGIC FOCUS• Many African countries, including SA, are already

signatories to MEA’s - UNCBD, UNCCD, UNFCCC - intended to protect and manage biological resources, address issues of land degradation and climate change etc.

• Therefore benefit of African Convention covering these issues has been questioned.

• Convention does not have a dedicated Secretariat - South Africa may be called upon to support or host the Secretariat functions when it comes into force.

• South Africa to pay membership contributions on an annual or bi-annual basis (amount still to be determined).

• Financial and capacity constraints likely to make this Convention difficult to implement Continentally.

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IMPLEMENTATION

• An inter-departmental committee will be established and tasked with the development of an implementation plan which will include the involvement of the National Departments, Provinces and relevant government agencies, such as SANParks and SANBI.

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IMPLICATIONS

1. Organisational and Personnel

• No Secretariat for the Convention and the leadership role played by South Africa on the Continent may imply or necessitate that South Africa dedicates human resources to provide secretariat support to the Convention.

• The UNEP Regional Office for Africa and the AMCEN Secretariat can play a facilitating and supportive role for the Convention

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IMPLICATIONS2. Financial • Potential long-term financial implications, including

membership fees as well as travel and subsistence costs for officials to attend and host international meetings associated with the implementation of this Convention.

• Membership fees may be US$40- 50 000 per annum, extrapolated from the UN System of proportion of national GDP.

• Additional financial implications for South Africa if SA hosts the Secretariat of the Convention - depend on the institutional arrangements at the African Union as AU Commission, would be the natural organization to host the secretariat of the Convention.

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IMPLICATIONS

3. Communication • The Government Communication and Information

Services (GCIS) to facilitate raising of awareness nationally of South Africa’s obligations with respect to this Convention and associated international reporting requirements.

• The Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) Communications and Exhibitions section to formulate Media and Communication Strategy to convey the prerequisite national implications of ratifying this Convention.

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IMPLICATIONS

4. Vulnerable Groups• The intention is to support conservation of natural

resources continentally and particularly in rural communities (particularly women) who depend directly utilization the natural e.g. firewood and water for sustaining their households.

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IMPLICATIONS

5. Security • This Convention is expected to strengthen the

regulation, control and enforcement of trade in natural resources and cross-border movement of natural resources.

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DEPARTMENTS AND PARTIES CONSULTED, RESPONSES AND COMMENTS

• Consultations with other organizations include relevant national government agencies with a conservation function such as the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) and the South African National Parks (SANParks) as well as the environmental authorities of all nine provinces.

• Cab Memo presented to the African Renaissance Committee (ARC) on the 27 October 2010 and to the International Cooperation Trade and Security (ICTS) DG’s Cluster of 2 November 2010 and ICTS Cabinet Committee on 1 December 2010.

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RECOMMENDATIONS

It is recommended that SCLEA:• Takes note of the implications of ratifying the

African Convention on the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources for South Africa

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Thank you

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