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SPEECH BY HELEN ZILLE
MAYOR OF CAPE TOWN
LOCAL ACTION FOR BIODIVERSITY MEDIA EVENT – KIRSTENBOSCH
12 March 2008, 09h00, Kirstenbosch Gardens
[Slide 1: Title Slide]
Local Action For Biodiversity (LAB)
12 March 2008 Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens
Mayor of Cape Town Helen Zille
[Slide 2: Cape Town a Global Biodiversity Hotspot]
One minute from DVD Section 2 Global Biodiversity Hotspot: Conserving Urban Nature
Text on Images:
Of the world's six floral kingdoms, the Cape Floral Kingdom is the smallest and richest per unit area.
Over 9000 species of plants, 6200 of which are endemic and do not occur anywhere else on earth.
Of the Ericas, 660 occur in the fynbos kingdom, while only 200 are found in the rest of the world.
Table Mountain supports 1500 species, more than the entire United Kingdom.
Although the Fynbos comprises only 4% of the area of South Africa, it represents 38% of all South African plant species.
The Cape Floral Region is recognised globally as one of the world's 35 biodiversity hotspots
Distressingly, the City of Cape Town has the highest density and number of threatened plants for any metropolitan area in the
world.
This number has increased dramatically in the last decade according to the latest Red Data List (November 2007 draft): 13
extinct and 318 threatened with extinction. This presents the City with an enormous challenge, in how we balance our obligation
to safeguard our biodiversity assets with housing and resource needs.
[Slide 3: Cape Town’s Role in Local Action for Biodiversity]
Good morning everyone and welcome to Kirstenbosch for the
launch of Local Action for Biodiversity and ICLEI Africa.
The 1st March 2006 was a memorable day for me. That was the
day on which the people of Cape Town went to the polls to elect
a new government to run their City and my presence here today
is the consequence of that election. It was also the “Cape Town
Day” at the ICLEI World Congress – the day on which over 600
delegates from all over the world, left the lecture halls of the
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Cape Town International Convention Centre and visited some of
our important sites and engaged in debate on several challenges
relating to our environmental programmes.
Two popular site visits on that day demonstrated our
committment to protecting important biodiversity within an
urban context. The discussion during the site visits echoed some
of the themes of the congress and raised the possibility of
developing a global network of local authorities focused on
enhancing the planning and management of biodiversity in
cities.
I understand that this was the first time that ICLEI had included
biodiversity as a major theme at its world congress and I am
proud to say that a motion by the City of Cape Town (and
seconded by the City of eThekwini) to ICLEI’s Council at the
end of the congress, motivating that ICLEI support a project
called Local Action for Biodiversity (or LAB as it has become
known), was unanimously approved.
The motion asked that ICLEI adopt “Local Action for
Biodiversity” (LAB) as a pilot project for three years. The
project would identify appropriate partners with whom to
engage and test its value to local governments.
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I am delighted that several of LAB’s founding partners are
represented here today including ICLEI – Local Governments
for Sustainability, the IUCN project Countdown 2010 and the
South African National Biodiversity Institute. Significantly, the
Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism and UNEP,
who have forged strong links with LAB and from whom you
heard earlier, are also present here today.
Immediately prior to the world congress, an important event Urban Nature 2006 - was hosted by SANBI and took place in
this very room. This event, which was attended by international
and local delegates from local, regional and national
government, UN Agencies, financial institutions, parastatals and
NGOs, supported the City of Cape Town’s motion to the ICLEI
World Congress and provided some of the early inspiration for
the project.
[Slide 4: The ICLEI World Congress]
It is informative to refer back to the formal motion put to the
ICLEI Council two years ago. One of the stated aims of this
pilot project is to evaluate the viability of launching Local
Action for Biodiversity as a full ICLEI campaign at the 2009
World Congress in Edmonton, Canada. According to the
motion, LAB will develop a local government network for
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biodiversity action, broadly representative of regions and
continents, to promote a greater understanding of local
government biodiversity issues and the implementation of
appropriate measures. In addition, LAB will explore the best
ways for local governments to engage in urban
biodiversity management and conservation, focusing on
the key roles that local authorities currently play, as
well as the increasingly critical role that they will play
into the future, in conserving the world’s biodiversity
and retaining the relationship between people and
nature.
The motion also committed to the appointment of a full time
coordinator and that the City of Cape Town would host the
project in conjunction with SANBI.
Following, the inaugural LAB planning meeting in Rome 4
months after the World Congress, again co-ordinated by the City
of Cape Town, LAB has grown from strength to strength. I am
delighted to report significant success in the initial
implementation of LAB – which has surpassed expectations and
has certainly made its presence felt on the world stage. A team
of no fewer than four full-time professionals coordinate the
project from ICLEI Africa Secretariat office which is hosted by
the City of Cape Town.
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Incidentally, let me also add that I am encouraged by the strong
partnership between the City and ICLEI, and in particular the
fact that ICLEI’s Africa Secretariat is now hosted here in Cape
Town. Congratulations are due to Kobie Brand for her recent
appointment as ICLEI Africa Secretariat’s Regional Manager.
[Slide 5: The LAB Global Network - Twenty Cities United
in Biodiversity Conservation]
Twenty cities with a track record of involvement and
interest in biodiversity initiatives have accepted
invitations to participate in LAB. There has been a
strong response from these cities, and several are now
in the process of completing their Biodiversity Reports
- the first of five steps in the LAB Project, of which
you have learnt from our honourable Master of
Ceremonies.
All cities participating in LAB have committed to
completing the key steps within the three-year
programme, as outlined in the LAB Framework
Document, and sharing that information with the global
community.
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Looking at this LAB map of the world, one gets a feel for the
reach and influence of LAB.
I wish to greet my fellow LAB Mayors who are now a part of
our global network and challenge them to give biodiversity the
priority that it deserves in planning a sustainable future for your
cities.
[Slide 6: Sao Paolo, Brazil]
Sao Paolo – the largest city in South America and our largest
LAB City, and one with enviable natural resources;
[Slide 7:King County, including Seattle, USA]
King County, home to Seattle – a charismatic city from North
America, known for its prolific salmon population
[Slide 8: Edmonton, Canada]
Edmonton – important Canadian industrial city, chosen to host
the next ICLEI World Congress in 2009
[Slide 9: Barcelona, Spain]
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Barcelona – a city known for hosting major world events and for
its commitment to the environment
[Slide 10: Ile de France, France]
Ile de France – the administrative region surrounding Paris –
home of artists, romantics and the rugby world cup final!
[Slide 11: Leicester, England]
Leicester – perhaps the British city with closest links to Cape
Town, strongly committed to equity and sustainability
[Slide 12: Bonn, Germany]
Bonn – home of no fewer than 26 UN Agency offices and also
the host of the important Biodiversity Conference of the Parties
in May this year, where the City of Cape Town will be
supporting the LAB project’s involvement.
[Slide 13: Amsterdam, Netherlands]
Amsterdam – Historic city of Canals and Van Gogh
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[Slide 14: Tilburg, Netherlands]
Tilburg - a Dutch city with small population but large
commitment to biodiversity, and the first city to sign the
Countdown 2010 Declaration.
[Slide 15: Zagreb, Croatia]
Zagreb – host to the first, and successful, LAB workshop in
October last year, attended by all 20 LAB cities
[Slide 16: Seoul, South Korea]
Seoul – another soccer world cup city, recently demolished their
largest overhead concrete highway to restore a 5km river
wetland through the city centre (does this suggest a future for
our foreshore freeway?!)
[Slide 17: Nagoya, Japan]
Nagoya – Japanese city of seven urban parks and host of COP
10 - the 2010 Biodiversity Conference of the Parties
[Slide 18: Waitakere, New Zealand]
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Waitakere - a Council of Auckland and one of New Zealand’s
most important urban centres for biodiversity. We share the
same latitude.
[Slide 19: Liverpool, Australia]
Liverpool – not home of the Beatles, but one of Sydney’s largest
Councils including many of its waterways and Coastal
intrusions. Another City linked to Cape Town through its 33-34
south latitude.
[Slide 20: Joondalup, Australia]
Joondalup – Local Council of Perth, Australia, and like Cape
Town, rich in “Mediterranean” summer drought adapted
vegetation
And then of course those cities closer to home and I send Cape
Town’s greetings to:
[Slide 21: Walvis Bay, Namibia]
Walvis Bay - known for its Ramsar Site lagoon, large sand
dunes and sensitive dessert ecology
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[Slide 22: Johannesburg South Africa]
Johannesburg – also boasting a wealth of urban biodiversity, on
its ridges and within its river systems
[Slide 23: Ekurhuleni, South Africa]
Ekurhuleni, also supports a range of faunal and floral species
[Slide 24: Durban, South Africa]
Durban – important coastal ecosystems within an urban context
and the host of the second LAB workshop scheduled later this
year
[Slide 25: Cape Town, South Africa]
And of course the place we call home - From Iconic Table
Mountain 60 million years in the making, the Mother City is the
brightest light in the rainbow nation.
[Slide 26: 20 Cities Sharing Biodiversity Experiences]
LAB has revealed differences in respect to managing
biodiversity in different corners of the planet. What is relevant
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to a transformed, developed northern city, such as Amsterdam,
where little original natural habitat remains within municipal
limits, may be less so for cities of the Global South, such as Sao
Paolo and Cape Town, where protecting critically endangered
species within their natural habitat remains a priority.
LAB recognises the unique challenges of conserving
biodiversity in an urban context, given conflicting
demands of housing, recreation, education and
conservation.
We can learn lessons from one another, and also recognise the
package of goods and services we enjoy from nature, so we can
manage our biodiversity in an optimal manner.
[Slide 27: What is Cape Town doing to halt biodiversity
loss?]
The spectacular Ixia bulb shown on this slide is considered
critically endangered and is found only within the urban sprawl
of the Strand. The photo was taken in a tiny open space next to
Boundary Rd, one of only two populations of this species on the
planet.
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Many Cities in the world contain valuable biodiversity, as we
have just seen in the previous slides. However it is only within
the City of Cape Town that irreplaceable biodiversity of
international significance is crammed into almost every open
space and road verge. As such, the City recognises that the
golden thread of biodiversity is an integral component of our
City and is the responsibility of every City employee and
Capetonian.
Cape Town as a destination is defined internationally by
spectacular landforms such as Table Mountain, our coastline
and our fynbos. The international recognition of the value of the
Fynbos Biome has resulted in World Heritage Status for the
Cape Floristic Region.
If the rate of species loss is not halted, it is not only
irreplaceable biodiversity lost, but also our cultural heritage.
[SLIDE 28- HALTING BIODIVERSITY LOSS?]
In order to halt this Biodiversity Loss the City has:Accepted the Biodiversity Strategy
Developed a Biodiversity Network as the underlying layer
for the Spatial and District Development Framework’s
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Created the Biodiversity Management Branch, managing
23 nature reserves in the City and who are assigned the
massive task of ensuring that the Biodiversity Network
and Strategy, which includes an Alien Invasive Species
Strategy, is implemented.
[SLIDE 29-DEVELOPING A BIODIVERSITY ACTION
PLAN]
The City is further:
Developing a detailed action plan for conserving
biodiversity
Developing a biodiversity communications strategy
Developing existing and new partners under the banner of
CAPE (Cape Action Plan for People and the
Environment).
A fundamental component of the City’s Biodiversity Action
Plan will be to promote biodiversity locally and internationally.
LAB is an excellent vehicle for this and also allows us to share
lessons learnt with other municipalities around the world.
One of the most tangible benefits of LAB to the City will be
from Step Five - the identification and implementation of five
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new projects to be managed for biodiversity. Although the
identification of these projects has still to be finalised, I can
divulge today that one of these projects is very likely to be the
restoration of a biodiversity corridor link between the Diep
River Fynbos Corridor and the Blaauwberg Conservation Area
along the west coast of the City.
[Slide 30: Working together to save Cape Town’s
Biodiversity]
The City currently works with external conservation partners
under the umbrella of CAPE (Cape Action for People and the
Environment), including CapeNature (Provincial Conservation
agency), Table Mountain National Park and the South African
National Biodiversity Institute, all of who are represented here
today, to secure and manage Cape Town’s biodiversity.
Given the wealth of our biodiversity, I am not surprised at the
number of organisations in government, the academic sector,
and in civil society who are working towards its conservation
and sustainable management. Apart from those organisations
who I mentioned earlier, I’d also like to welcome here today the
Botanical Society, Working on Water, Working on Fire, the
Table Mountain Fund, The Wildlife and Environment Society of
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South Africa (WESSA), Cape Flats Nature and the Cape West
Coast Biosphere Reserve.
Slide 31: The Future of Biodiversity
Our City’s biodiversity is not only unique to Cape Town – it is
unique to South Africa and the world. We have an international
and national responsibility to conserve it.
What is for sure is that South Africa is at a crossroads - we are a
people with a certain past and an elusive future. In my opinion,
the identity we seek will be discovered through visionary people
for they are the prophets, going where others cannot. Leaders.
Visionaries. Adventurers.
Conservationists, environmental educators, those that manage
water catchments and natural draining systems, those that
provide our people with access to clean water and air, the
protectors of natural areas and beautiful spaces, they sense the
future before it happens.
And Cape Town needs visionary people and projects because
the future of our city will be made not by committees, cabinets
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and cliques, but by individuals such as those pioneering the
LAB initiative.
The City of Cape Town is proud of you.
Thank You.
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