Durban - The Departments of Rural Development and Environmental Affairs have signed an agreement which is expected to assist in transforming the biodiversity and conservation sector.
The National Co-Management Framework was signed on Monday at the People and Parks Conference at the University of Zululand.
Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs Buyelwa Sonjica said that strides have been made in certain sectors already. She was referring to the hunting industry which is transforming without much pressure from government.
"It is clear that the industry is aware of the need for transformation and they are willing to make it happen," said Sonjica.
It is also an industry which has been identified as a potential platform for the involvement of local communities in economic activities.
Government will publish hunting norms and standards to ensure there is sustainable usage of resources.
Sonjica said transformation efforts must be expanded beyond male domination and training and include previously disadvantage individuals.
Another reason for the importance of the framework, is the continuation of the People and Parks programme.
"There is evidence of local economic development which is rooted in the communities with dividends accrued shared with the affected communities," said Sonjica.
But government is still not satisfied with the number of communities benefiting from such programmes given that fact that the country's biodiversity is ranked fifth in the world.
"I am disappointed that we have such a small number of beneficiaries... We need to double our efforts to ensure that in 2012 the number of benefiting communities should have increased, at least ten times," the minister said.
The absence of women is an issue which the departments want to address with urgency.
"We need them to play a vital role in the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity and their involvement in all decision-making processes," said Sonjica.
In addition, biodiversity and conservation transformation will play a crucial role in the development of a green economy.
Sonjica said government has committed to a new growth path in the form of green economy and realise that new and innovative financial instruments need to be developed.
"Gone are the days when the environmentalists were viewed as obstructing development. We believe that the environment portfolio has a substantial role to play in economic development and ensuring that as we grow our economy, we do so in a manner that is sustainable and pro-green," said Sonjica.
