NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
(For written reply)
QUESTION NO. 2296.
INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO. 23 NW2813E
DATE OF PUBLICATION: 20 August 2010
Mrs H N Ndude (Cope) to ask the Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs:
Whether, with reference to the findings of Farming SA of July 2010 that 10% of indigenous birds and frogs,
20% of indigenous mammals and 75% of indigenous plants were threatened by extinction, her department
has introduced policies and programmes to reverse this threat; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant
details?
Mrs H N Ndude (Cope)
SECRETARY TO PARLIAMENT
HANSARD
PAPERS OFFICE
PRESS
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
QUESTION 2296
NW2813E
2296. THE MINISTER OF WATER AND ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS ANSWERS:
Yes.
Legislation, such as:

The National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act (Act No. 10 of 2004) (NEMBA) which
provides for the management and conservation of biological diversity within the Republic and the
components of such biological diversity. NEMBA therefore provides for the protection of species
that are threatened or in need of protection to ensure their survival in the wild, and the utilisation of
biodiversity managed in an ecologically sustainable way; and

The National Environmental Management: Protected Areas Act, which provides for the protection
and conservation of ecologically viable areas representative of the country’s biological diversity, its
natural landscapes and seascapes, thereby further contributing to protect threatened indigenous
species from extinction.
NEMBA introduced the establishment of the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI). SANBI’s
functions in terms of NEMBA, include inter alia:

To monitor and report regularly to the Minister on the status of the Republic’s biodiversity and the
conservation status of all listed threatened or protected species;
 To collect, generate, process, coordinate and disseminate information about biodiversity and the
sustainable use of indigenous biological resources; and
 To provide logistical, administrative and financial support for the proper functioning of the Scientific
Authority (The Scientific Authority assists in regulating and restricting trade in specimens of listed
threatened or protected species).
Furthermore, NEMBA provides for:
 a list of threatened or protected species (TOPS) for which a permit is required to carry out any
restricted activity (e.g. possession, transport, hunting, selling, export);
 the development of norms and standards to, amongst others, restrict activities which impact on
biodiversity and its components;
 the prohibition to carry out a restricted activity that impacts negatively on the survival of a listed
threatened or protected species; and
 the development of Biodiversity Management Plans (BMP) that are aimed to ensure the long-term
survival of species in the wild.
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
QUESTION 2296
NW2813E
Considering the above-mentioned legislative tools, the following have already been implemented by the
Department of Environmental Affairs:
 The TOPS Regulations were promulgated in terms of NEMBA and entered into force on 1 February
2008. The TOPS Regulations provide for certain factors to be considered before a permit may be
issued to allow the carrying out of a restricted activity. The regulations further require a risk
assessment to be undertaken before a permit may be issued to carry out a restricted activity
involving a wild population of a species listed as critically endangered.
 Norms and Standards for the marking of rhinoceros horns and the hunting of white rhinoceros for
trophy hunting purposes, which entered into force on 20 July 2009.
 Norms and Standards for the management of elephants in South Africa, which entered into force on
29 February 2008.
 Moratorium on the trade in rhinoceros horns, or any part or derivative thereof, which entered into
force on 13 February 2009.
 Norms and Standards for Biodiversity Management Plans for Species which were published in
March 2009. Several biodiversity management plans are in the process of being developed
according to these Norms and Standards.
Strategies and programmes contributing to the reversal of threats to species, include:
 The National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (2005) which calls for a monitoring and evaluation
framework (including indicators and thresholds) for threatened ecosystems and species (being
developed).
 The Threatened Species Programme, assessing the status of South Africa’s plants and animal
species.
 The Working for Water Programme, removing alien invasive species.
 The Working for Wetlands Programme, rehabilitating wetlands.
Furthermore, South Africa is a signatory to various international conventions, protocols and agreements
with the aim to inter alia, conserve and protect valuable species and achieve sustainable use of our natural
resources, e.g. the Convention on Biological Diversity, Convention on Migratory Species, African European
Waterbird Agreement, Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species, United Nations
Framework Convention on Climate Change, United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification, World
Heritage Convention, Convention on Wetlands, International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic
Tunas, Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels, and many more.
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NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
QUESTION 2296
NW2813E