Mbeki joins assault on green laws
Tailpiece
Hi again,
Herewith, some snippets from various sources.
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THE Animal Reserve of Lomako Yokokala: a newly-protected area of the DRC
by Noel Katiete
On Friday, 14th July 2006 the DRC officially inaugurated the animal reserve of Lomako Yokokala. The ceremony was organised by the Ministry of Environment, Nature Conservation, Water and Forestry under the supervision of the General Secretary of that Ministry. It is the result of great work done during two years by the international African Wildlife Foundation (AWF) with the support of ICCN (Congolese Institute of Nature Conservation).
This reserve is situated in the province of Equator and covers the basin of two rivers, the Lopori and the Maringa, with a total area of 3 625 km2. The main goal of this reserve is to reduce the intense degradation of the forest and the loss of biodiversity and “of many” endemic species. At present 8% of DRC National territory is covered by protected areas. The objective is to reach 15% in order to protect the immense and rich national biodiversity.
Note that this reserve, like others, contributes to the wellbeing of the local communities.
Mbeki joins assault on green laws
8 August, Fiona Macleod
President Thabo Mbeki attacked green laws recently, saying they were causing development delays that had contributed to "a quite considerable slowing down of economic activity".
Mbeki's statement, made after last weekend's Cabinet lekgotla, came amid growing resistance among national and provincial politicians to environmental impact assessments (EIAs).
Minister of Housing Lindiwe Sisulu sparked outrage in the environmental world recently when she told the construction industry housing delivery would no longer be "held hostage by butterfly eggs".
And environmentalists reacted furiously to a report from the economic cluster of national ministries that the controversial De Hoop Dam on the Olifants River in Limpopo "would be completed by 2010". Minister of Public Enterprises Alec Erwin said "there has been progress on environmental authorisation to the satisfaction of relevant parties" - despite the fact that the EIA process has not been completed.
Fumed Nick King, CEO of environmental NGO, the Endangered Wildlife Trust: "Are our politicians remotely aware of our national legislation? How are they 'above the law' in circumventing it? Where is required ‘due process’ in the legislated EIA process?"
Under pressure to speed up the EIA process, the Department of Environmental Affairs introduced revised regulations in early July. The department said these would streamline EIA processes, but critics worry they will weaken environmental protection in favour of unfettered development.
Mbeki said on Sunday that because of lack of capacity there was a "frightening" backlog of EIAs at provincial level. EIAs were necessary because development had to take into account the impact on the environment, but they had resulted in delays.
He could not say how many EIA applications were outstanding, but said consultants would have to be appointed to help process urgently outstanding applications.
Writing in the Mail & Guardian in April, Minister of Environment Marthinus van Schalkwyk said 50% of EIA applications had been finalised within six months, though about 6,5% had taken more than two years.
Politicians who had a problem with EIAs were aiming at the wrong target, King said. "EIAs are just a tool. The point is that the environmental concerns are real. This is not about delaying development, but getting the right development".
Late last year a range of organisations, including South African National Parks, lodged appeals against the 21-storey-high De Hoop Dam, mainly because of evidence it could cut off essential water supplies to the Kruger National Park and neighbouring Mozambique.
Van Schalkwyk has sent the appeals for independent review and was unable to say this week when the outcome would be known.
If the appeals are successful, the dam could be halted - as were the N2 tollroad along the Wild Coast and the expanded container terminal planned for Cape Town harbour.
But several politicians, including former minister of water affairs Buyelwa Sonjica and Limpopo Premier Sello Moloto, have gone on record in recent months as saying construction of the dam would start this year. It is needed to supply water to platinum mines planned for Sekhukhuneland.
Officials from the water affairs department, accompanied by members of the national portfolio committee and the Limpopo provincial government, visited the site on Monday. They discussed plans to build a specially designed outlet to allow downstream releases of water, said communications director Thandi Mapukata.
But Rupert Lorimer of the National Parks Support Group Trust, one of the groups opposing the dam, told the M&G there was no guarantee this would work. For the first time on record, the Olifants River stopped flowing last year for 78 days - mainly because of drought and other dams.
"President Mbeki is known to support the De Hoop Dam, but have the politicians been properly informed of the real consequences?" Lorimer asked.
"Unless they take serious action about the downstream releases, there will be permanent irreversible damage to the environment".
Tailpiece-
The Vermont Duck Hunt
A big city lawyer went duck hunting in rural Vermont. He shot and dropped a bird, but it fell into a farmer's field on the other side of a fence.
As the lawyer climbed over the fence, an elderly farmer drove up on his tractor and asked him what he was doing. The litigator responded,"I shot a duck and it fell in this field, and now I'm going to retrieve it."
The old farmer replied, "This is my property, and you are not coming over here."
The indignant lawyer said, "I am one of the best trial attorneys in the United States and, if you don't let me get that duck, I'll sue you and take everything you own.
The old farmer smiled and said," Apparently, you don't know how we settle disputes in Vermont. We settle small disagreements like this with the "Three Kick Rule."
The lawyer asked, "What is the Three Kick Rule?"
The Farmer replied, "Well, because the dispute occurs on my land, first I kick you three times and then you kick me three times and so on back and forth until someone gives up."
The attorney quickly thought about the proposed contest and decided that he could easily take the old codger. He agreed to abide by the local custom.
The old farmer slowly climbed down from the tractor and walked up to the attorney.
His first kick planted the toe of his heavy steel toed work boot into the lawyer's groin and! dropped him to his knees.
His second kick to the midriff sent the lawyer's last meal gushing from his mouth.
The lawyer was on all fours when the farmer's third kick to his rear end sent him face-first into a fresh cow pie.
The lawyer summoned every bit of his will and managed to get to his feet.
Wiping his face with the arm of his jacket, he said, "Okay, Now it's my turn.."
The old farmer smiled and said, "Naw, I give up. You can have the duck."
Matter of Fact
This is an electronic newsletter of the Game Rangers' Association of Africa. The opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the Association, nor of the Editor. This is intended to be an exchange of news snips, ideas and communication between members. Newsletter content may be copied and re-distributed without authorisation. Correspondence should be addressed to the Editor at dyunnie@xsinet.co.za