GREEN PAPER ON THE CONSERVATION OF BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY

Issued by: Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism

GREEN PAPER ON THE CONSERVATION AND SUSTAINABLE USE OF BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY: "THE VERY FABRIC OF OUR EXISTENCE", DR Z PALLO JORDAN.

"We have moved considerably, from a topic on which public debate has thus far been "expert" dominated, toward a policy discussion which embraces biodiversity as an asset to be conserved and sustainably used by all South Africans and for all South Africans", says Dr Jordan in the foreword to the Green Paper.

South Africa ratified the Convention on Biological Diversity in November 1995. In doing so the country joined 135 other countries already party to the convention in a global drive towards conservation of biological diversity. The Green Paper is a policy for the implementation of the convention.

Senator Stefan Grove will present the Paper at the launch on 28 October to Dr Jordan, Senator Grove chairs the Steering Committee for the biodiversity process.

A biodiversity policy and strategy for South Africa as described in the Green Paper has six goals, namely to:

• conserve the diversity of landscapes, ecosystems, habitats, populations, species, and genes in South Africa.
• use biological resources sustainably and minimise adverse impacts on biological diversity.
• ensure that benefits derived from the use and development of South Africa's genetic resources serve national interests.
• expand the human capacity to conserve biodiversity, to manage its use, and to address factors threatening it.
• create conditions and incentives that support the conservation and sustainable uses of biodiversity.
• promote the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity at the International level.

Through the implementation of the biodiversity policy it is envisioned to create: A prosperous, environmentally conscious nation, whose people are in harmonious coexistence with the natural environment, and which derives lasting benefits from the conservation and sustainable use of its rich biological diversity.

Comments on the Green Paper should be addressed before 13 December 1996 to: A prosperous, environmentally conscious nation, whose people are in harmonious coexistence with the natural environment, and which derives lasting benefits from the conservation and sustainable use of its rich biological diversity.

Comments on the Green Paper should be addressed before 13 December 1996 to: The Biodiversity Editorial Committee, Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, Private Bag X447, Pretoria 0001, tel, (012) 310-3836, fax: (012) 322-6287. E-mail: nat-gw@ozone.pwv.gov.za

Those with access to internet can find the document at the following address: http://www.polity.org.za/govdocs/green_papers/biodiversity.html

ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS AND TOURISM, PRETORIA, 28 OCTOBER 1996

ENQUIRIES: ELIZABETH MNISI TEL (012) 310 3434