UNITED NATIONS CONVENTION TO COMBAT DESERTIFICATION SOUTH AFRICA’S NATIONAL ACTION PLAN (NAP)

1. UNITED NATIONS CONVENTION TO COMBAT DESERTIFICATIONSOUTH AFRICA’S NATIONAL ACTION PLAN (NAP) Portfolio Committee Briefing Presenter: Maria Mbengashe 11 October 2004

2. OVERVIEW • Why National Action Program (NAP)? • Objectives of UNCCD • Desertification/land degradation- issues and implications • Global and National legal frameworks • NAP vision and objectives • How NAP was developed • Existing Programmes • Progress made in the development of the NAP • Plans for the next six months. Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism

3. OBJECTIVES - NATIONAL ACTION PROGRAM (NAP) – UNCCD-Article 10 • Requirement of Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) • NAP- Long term integrated strategies focusing on improved productivity of land aimed at: • Prevention and/or reduction of land degradation • Rehabilitation of degraded ecosystems e.g.. grasslands • Reclamation of desertified land • Integrating strategies for poverty eradication • Promote cooperation among departments, spheres of govts, civil society and other MEAs • Mobilisation of funds and resources Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism

4. OBJECTIVES OF UNCCD • “To combat desertification and mitigate the effects of drought … through effective action at all levels, supported by international cooperation and partnership arrangements, in the framework of an integrated approach which is consistent with Agenda 21, with a view to contributing to the achievement of sustainable development in affected areas.” Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism

5. DESERTIFICATION-ISSUES AND IMPLICATIONS • Desertification is land degradation in arid, semi-arid and dry sub-humid areas resulting from erosion, deforestation, water scarcity, loss of soil fertility overgrazing and climatic variations • Land degradation – is worldwide in geographic extent and global in its environmental and socio economic impacts. 91% of South Africa surface area has arid, semi-arid or dry-subhumid climates • Drylands ecosystem have immense scientific, economic and social value and are source of livelihood to a quarter of earth’s population • Since 1990, 6 million hectares of productive land has been lost every year due to land degradation • 14 African countries are subject to water scarcity • Threatens the livelihoods of one billion people and has already made 135 million people homeless • As a result of declining food security the number of undernourished people in Africa doubled from 100m in 1960 to 200m in 1995 • Prevention and control of land degradation is critical to achieving sustainable development Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism

6. GLOBAL AND NATIONAL LEGAL FRAMEWORKS • RIO CONVENTIONS: CBD,UNCCD AND UNFCCC- • Adopted in1997 United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in those Countries experiencing serious drought and/or desertification, particularly in Africa (the UNCCD). South Africa ratified in 1997 • WSSD 2002 and Millennium Development Goals • NEPAD- commitment of preventing land degradation • NEMA-Biodiversity Act no 10 of 2004 • National Forest Act & National Veld and Forest Fire Act • National Water Act and Conservation of Agricultural Resources Act (CARA) Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism

7. NAP VISION • Prosperous and healthy South Africans living in an environment restored and maintained through universal improvement in land management to its beautiful landscapes and productive ecosystems that sustain livelihoods and ecosystem services, for the benefit of current and future generations. Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism

8. To promote sustainable land management throughout South Africa Establish strategies and priorities to combat desertification Implementation of policies that affect natural resource management and rural development Partnerships between governments departments, private sector, communities, civil society and land owners Strengthen implementation and collaboration among existing program initiatives Poverty alleviation, promotion of the enhancement of sustainable livelihoods and sustainable land management through land reform, community based projects, rural finance human resource development and awareness raising and education NAP- PURPOSE Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism

9. South Africa has established institutional and legal arrangements to meet its commitments in terms of the UNCCD. The Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DEAT) is the Focal Point for the Convention. A multi-stakeholder Steering Committee guides the role as Focal Point for the UNCCD. The SA-UNCCD Steering Committee has been the principal coordinating mechanism since 1995, prior to South Africa’s accession to the Convention. SA has involved relevant national and provincial government departments, communities, NGOs, academic institutions and private sector in the development and implementation of the NAP DEVELOPMENT OF NAP Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism

10. EXISTING PROGRAMS • The National Landcare Programme -DoA • Working for Water -DWAF • Community Based Natural Resource Management Projects (DEAT and others) • Desert Margins Programme (DMP) regional GEF funded research activities involving 9 African countries (Kenya, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Mali, Namibia, Senegal Niger, South Africa and Zimbabwe Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism

11. National Steering Committee established The development of NAP based on intensive consultation with all stakeholders, from community to national levels as well as officials from the UNCCD Secretariat and Global Mechanism in Rome. A national awareness campaigns in 1998,1999 and 2004. Cabinet memorandum and NAP have been drafted. Private Sector Survey Report Towards the Nap Resource Mobilization Strategy has been concluded. ACHIEVEMENTS Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism

12. PLANS FOR THE NEXT SIX MONTHS • Minister to present NAP to Parliament and submission to Cabinet for approval. • National Steering Committee to function as a catalyst in the preparation, implementation and evaluation of the NAP as a required by the Convention. • Private Sector Forum launched by the Deputy Minister and followed by the finalisation of the Resource Mobilisation Strategy. • Presentation of the NAP and Resource Mobilisation Strategy at the UNCCD Inter-sessional meeting in 2005. • NAP becomes a baseline for land management projects. • Projects are monitored, evaluated and records developed into national reports. Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism