Ratification of the SADC Protocol on Forestry

This minute was provided through the kind courtesy of the Committee Secretary, Mr Keith Williams.

LAND AND ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS SELECT COMMITTE
12 August 2003
RATIFICATION OF THE SADC PROTOCOL ON FORESTRY

Chairperson: Rev P Moatshe

MINUTES
Staff from the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry (DWAF) who attended the meeting included Mr M Nkosi - Deputy Director: Forest Policy; Mr Z Mvemve - Legal Officer: DWAF; Ms Y Witbooi - PA to DG: Water Affairs and Forestry, and Mr A Brutus - Parliamentary Liaison Officer: DWAF.

Briefing by Mr Mvemve
Mr Mvemve made some brief introductory remarks in which he sketched the background to the protocol from a legal perspective (see Presentation I: 12/08/03).

Briefing by Mr Nkosi
Mr Nkosi briefed the Committee on the process followed in drafting the protocol, the objectives of the protocol, and why it was advisable for SA to ratify the protocol (see Presentation II: 12/08/03).

Responses to questions:
In response to questions posed by members of the Committee, the Department made the following points:

South Africa's Chief State Law Adviser raised the review of Article 17(3). The article might be returned to the protocol after negotiation with other countries of the region. The matter will only be dealt with when all parties ratified the protocol.

Ratification of the protocol had no financial implications as the principles in it were already contained in existing legislation.

Stakeholders consulted included Forestry SA, the National Forest Advisory Council (this included stakeholders from industry and previously disadvantaged communities), traditional leaders, traditional healers, communities engaged in participatory management forums; the Departments of Trade and Industry, Agriculture, Land Affairs, Foreign Affairs and Justice; Trade Unions and environmental groups.

Article 7(2) was merely included to guard against corruption. The detail couldn't be finalised because of difficulty with the Portuguese translation. All that was being referred to, however, was donor funding.

Women participate very actively in the National Forest Advisory Council. Women from here and from communities in general were included in the steering committee that piloted the protocol. There is even a clause in the protocol to ensure women's participation.

The new afforestation project in the Eastern Cape is an example of a project that has been set up for poverty alleviation. Similar projects will be set up elsewhere.

South Africa will be the first country to ratify the protocol. The five countries that had not signed by the Luanda Summit have all, except for Mozambique, signed since.

All forests, both state and private, are governed by the protocol.

Adoption of the Report:
The Committee adopted a report recommending that the NCOP approve the Protocol.

General:
The Committee resolved to look into the non-attendance of committee meetings by some members, especially from the opposition.

The Chairperson reported that his trip to Norway had been for fact finding on Aquaculture, and the pursuit of funds and technology for developing this important field in South Africa. A report will be compiled for the committee before the end of the term.

Dr Conroy undertook to arrange a trip to an abalone farm.

The Chairperson adjourned the meeting.

MEMBERS PRESENT
Eastern Cape
Ms B N Dlulane
Mr R Z Nogumla

Free State
Rev M Chabaku

Gauteng
Dr E A Conroy

Mpumalanga
Mr V V Z Windvoël

Northern Cape
Mr M A Sulliman
Mr A E van Niekerk

North-West
Rev P Moatshe

APOLOGIES
Ms B Thompson