The Democratic Alliance in North West today approved the North West Biodiversity Management Bill, but again shared our concerns about the proposed Bill in the Provincial Legislature.

The Biodiversity bill was drafted to assist in the management of the game breeding industry in line with National legislation.

The main focus of the bill is to change the current permit system and to simplify it.  Attention was given to protected areas, intensive, semi-intensive and extensive game farm systems.

During our reply we called on the North West Provincial Government not to underestimate the role of game farmers in the province, to think twice about the strict permit regulations and that stakeholder inputs from the industry were not taken into consideration.

We are also worried about the practicality of the implementation of the Bill and the nearly R165 million it will cost.

The game and game breeding industry has become a multi-million rand industry and is often combined with the hospitality industry.

This creates interesting places for tourist to visit and therefore create numerous jobs. It stimulates investor interest and creating an enabling environment for development and the empowerment of people who can now put food on their tables.

This industry plays an integral role in conservation and can we proof where game breeders are assisting to breed the rare Sable who are on the top of the red list of endangered species.

We also proposed that the permit applications be done electronically to make the process more efficient and faster.

It is imperative that we are vigilant in ensuring that while we protect the environment for our children and their children. However we must, not lose sight of economic growth and social development in our province. The protection of the environment cannot happen in isolation of the needs of our people.

Issued by DA North West