Question NW344 to the Minister of Environmental Affairs
12 August 2019 - NW344
Singh, Mr N to ask the Minister of Environmental Affairs
Whether, In respect of the Republic's listed terrestrial ecosystems, she can advise as to the delay regarding her department's publication of (a) estuarine, (b) freshwater and (c) marine ecosystems that are (i) threatened or (ii) protected; if not, why not; if so, what are the full relevant details?
Reply:
The National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act (Act 10 of 2004) provides for the listing of threatened or protected ecosystems. Listings will be conducted for terrestrial, freshwater, estuarine and marine ecosystems.
In December 2011, the national list of terrestrial ecosystems that were threatened and in need of protection was published in the Government Gazette. The assessment methodology for estuarine , freshwater and marine ecosystems had not been sufficiently robust to provide the basis for the listing of estuarine and freshwater ecosystems.
The National Biodiversity Assessment (2018) due to be released In September 2019, will provide a better basis for listing estuarine, freshwater and marine ecosystems.
Regards
MS BD CREECY. MP
MINISTER OF ENVIRONMENT, FORESTRY AND FISHERIES
DATE; 2019/08/12