The environment minister has called on concerned parties to contact him directly relating to the recently promulgated bunkering regulations, which have been slammed by conservationists for their likely negative effect on the African penguin.
Speaking to the media after his address at the two-day SANParks 2040 Vision Indaba in Gqeberha, forestry, fisheries and environment minister Dr Dion George said the regulations were premised on extensive consultation with both conservation and bunkering entities.
“The inputs from both these groups were carefully considered with the aim of formulating balanced regulations to manage a contested issue, with protection of a critically endangered species on the one side and the need to allow economic activity on the other.”
He said conservationists had voiced their concerns about the regulations through the media and had not spoken directly to him.
“However, this is not the end of the conversation but the beginning.”
Bunkering, or offshore ship-to-ship refuelling, allows vessels to avoid having to enter a harbour to refuel, and Algoa Bay is the only place in SA where it occurs.
Conservationists say the industry should not be allowed to operate in the Bay because of increased oil spills and underwater noise and their effect on the Addo Marine Protected Area and the resident African penguin in particular.
Addressing the SANParks 2040 Vision Indaba audience at the Running Waters resort earlier on Wednesday, George said the update meeting on the holistic conservation strategy launched in 2023 was a declaration of intent.
“The future of conservation in SA is integrated, inclusive and transformative.
“It is not simply about preserving land or counting species. It is about conservation that links ecological integrity, climate resilience and human wellbeing.
“It is about reimagining landscapes as mega-living landscapes, where protected areas, agricultural land, communal spaces and private holdings come together in a network that supports biodiversity, sustainable livelihoods and cultural heritage.
“These mega-living landscapes remind us that the environment and people are inextricably connected. The wellbeing of one depends on the thriving of the other.”
He said wildlife protection was at the heart of integrated conservation and to this end SANParks and the environment department had confronted wildlife crime with renewed focus.
“We have strengthened ranger protection, training and deployment.
“Our men and women in green uniforms now have the tools, technology and support they need to carry out their duties.”
He said the G20 platform, currently chaired by SA, had allowed SA to elevate critical discussions on climate-smart conservation.
“Protected areas are no longer isolated pockets of greenery. They are strategic assets in climate mitigation, carbon storage and water security.
“Our parks absorb millions of tonnes of carbon annually, protect watersheds that supply millions of South Africans, and safeguard ecosystems that buffer our communities from extreme weather.
“Through nature-based solutions, we are demonstrating that conservation is essential to achieving climate targets and sustainable development goals.”
Eastern Cape premier Oscar Mabuyane noted that the Eastern Grasslands and Greater Addo in the Eastern Cape had been identified as two of the initial focus points of the SANParks 2040 Vision.
“These sites are more than conservation zones. They are spaces where tourism, sustainable agriculture, cultural heritage and community enterprise must thrive alongside biodiversity protection.
“They are living laboratories of sustainable development.”
He said Vision 2040 should translate into tangible empowerment, enabling people in villages and towns across the Eastern Cape to become active custodians and beneficiaries of conservation.
The Herald
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.