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SA: North West Environment and Agricultural Development on illegal wildlife trade awareness

SA: North West Environment and Agricultural Development on illegal wildlife trade awareness
Photo by Reuters

28th June 2016

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/ MEDIA STATEMENT / The content on this page is not written by Polity.org.za, but is supplied by third parties. This content does not constitute news reporting by Polity.org.za.

The provincial 2016 World Environment Day (WED) celebration held on 27 June became a local esteemed affair drawing together the district of Kagisano Molopo community in numbers. The event hosted by the Department of Rural, Environment and Agricultural Development (READ) painted a nation full of hope as the local villagers brought in significant awareness trades as part of the celebration.

Schools, environmental clubs, entertainment groups and ordinary members used their craft to create awareness on the importance of taking care of the environment. The Department of READ hosted the event as part of the annual WED celebration as well as to observe June as Environmental Month.

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The Chief Director: Environmental Services, Mr Mafu Nkosi said WED was initiated in 1974 to raise global awareness among every citizen so that they are able to take positive environmental action to protect nature and the environment in general.

Having adopted a multi-sectoral approach to deal with environmental issues, Mr Nkosi said the department was working with a number of stakeholders in conserving the environment and that includes law enforcement agencies amongst others, to look into border entries so as to ensure compliance to biodiversity laws and regulations.

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The event was attended by amongst others, the Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati Executive Mayor Councillor Tladinyane, Kagiso-Molopo Mayor Kekesi, Local Councilliors, Kgosi Letlhogile and Kgosi Motseoakhumo, management of the department of READ and other government departments.

Speaking on behalf of the MEC for READ, Manketsi Tlhape, the Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati Executive Mayor Councillor Coganyetso Tladinyane said the celebration of WED as a global affair is one of the critical days in the calendar of the South African environmental sector Councillor.

He urged communities to observe WED and further declared that the day situation within various communities reflects a society that views this earth as an inexhaustible resource that will maintain itself for many years to come. "It was unfortunate that we are less likely to mark it as one critical days and it is regrettably how we continue to treat the environment which we find ourselves in," he emphasised.

WED is celebrated to address the challenging national impact issues which result into huge environmental degradation and these include air pollution, deforestation, increasing global warming and so many other negative challenges.

Reflecting on the choice of the Kagisano-Molopo as the host municipality, Councillor Tladinyane said it was because of the area's richness in Biodiversity and the threat which its heritage is facing. "We have noted that some communities here are faced with challenges of Pythons, Vultures and Pangolins which they see as threats to their lives and livestock.

They have developed tendencies of killing these creatures. Unfortunately it is against the law to do so because these animals fall under threatened and protected species category."

He further declared that like many parts of the country, the area is experiencing a significant number of illegal trade to wildlife. "There have been anti-rhino poaching efforts globally and even in our country and these include increased law enforcement. Despite this, statistics show that rhino poaching accelerated in South Africa last year.

This recent upsurge in rhino poaching has been tied to increased demand for rhino horn in Asia, particularly Vietnam, where it carries prestige as a luxury item, as a post-partying cleanser, and also as a purported cancer cure" he alluded.

READ department is in the process of developing a provincial Biodiversity Act which would also upscale intake of honorary environmental officers, whom after training in program we will assist with extra eyes especially during hunting season.

The department will also host a series of workshop to educate communities on how to deal with the challenge they are facing, and most importantly to help them understand the implications of being found having committed rhino poaching crime.

The department launched the 2015 Air Quality Management Plan as well as Biodiversity Sector Plan 2015 as part of the celebration. Ten Armed Field ranger participants were also awarded their course completion certificates in armed field ranger training.

The programme is a partnership of the department and the Dr RS Mompati District Municipality. Ten identified farmers have undergone training for six weeks at one of the renowned South African Wildlife College which is situated at the Kruger National Park. The programme is one of those that the provincial government would like to use to transform game farming.

 

Issued by North West Agriculture, Conservation, Environment and Rural Development

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