Chairperson, hon Minister Ms Molewa, hon members of the portfolio committee, and hon members who are here, chief executives of public entities, distinguished guests who have come to join us today, environment is central to economic and social development, hence the emphasis of environmental sustainability and equitable transition to low-carbon economy in the National Development Plan. Our policies promote community-based environmental management, which is an enabler towards sustainability. I am proud to report about the community-based environmental programmes we have implemented last year.
South Africa is the 12th country in the world to ratify the Nagoya Protocol on access benefit-sharing. This ratification is a major step towards the sustainable development of the country's green economy. It is also an indication of our commitment to the green economy, sustainable development and the use of our country's natural resources for economic growth.
In terms of this protocol, locals benefit through capacity-building, the creation of community-based enterprise development and the awarding of bursaries to young people to further their education in the biodiversity conservation field. To date, 10 bioprospecting permits have been issued.
During the 7th Pan-African Access and Benefit-Sharing Workshop held in Limpopo, we showcased a community-based project, which produces mosquito repellent candles from the fever tree. This is our partnership project between our department, the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, the CSIR, National Traditional Healers, and the Maswanganyi and Mabunda communities in Giyani. A licensing agreement has been concluded with Zollhaus International (Pty) Ltd to market the mosquito repellent candles both nationally and internationally. I am sure we will also buy them. [Applause.]
The SA San Council and the Nama communities at Paulshoek and Nourivier in the Northern Cape benefited through partnership with HGH Pharmaceuticals in the local and international research on the Kanna plant, which is a mood enhancer product branded Elv8 in South Africa and Zembrin in the United States of America.
We will continue to explore partnerships with the private sector.
The People and Parks programme continues to benefit local communities through access and benefit sharing such as harvesting of natural resources, access to graves, free access to protected areas for educational purposes and monetary pay-outs to claimants, which result in poverty eradication.
I know that we all have been talking about rhino poaching - we are fighting this matter, including the use of instruments like the satellite equipment. We are using measures that range from the strengthening of legislation to the use of information and communications technology tools and law enforcement, which has been launched.
Through this programme, we launched the national co-management framework, which enables innovative governance by conservation authorities and local communities; enabled active participation and decision-making in the management of protected areas; facilitated co-management agreements with the Nwanedi land claimants in Limpopo, and the Songimvelo community in Mpumalanga; and established business linkages to support community initiatives adjacent to protected areas. And we also encouraged communities to establish co-operatives, small businesses to enable them to tender for jobs within protected areas and other places; and procured goods and services amounting to R30 million from the small, medium and micro-sized enterprises, the SMMEs, within the 30 protected areas. Also, 5 852 jobs were created and 241 SMMEs were developed by provinces and management authorities through funding obtained from the environmental protection and infrastructure programme. There were 509 people from 15 protected areas who benefited in capacity-building on the use of natural resources.
The fifth People and Parks conference held in September underscored the importance of community involvement, frameworks and co-ordination structures in ensuring the sustainability of the programme and enhancing rural development and green economy efforts. The conference deliberated on the issues of resolving the land claims backlog and outlining the areas of co-operation between government and communities. The Department of Rural Development and Land Reform has developed a programme of action with specific timeframes on the settlement of land claims. The Chief Land Claims Commission has committed to finalising five claims settlements in each province for the 2013-14 financial year.
During this financial year, we will capacitate 400 beneficiaries in the use of natural resources and youth, women and people with disabilities. We will also continue promoting access for learners, especially those from a disadvantaged background and 5 000 learners will be offered opportunities to access our national parks this time.
According to the National Biodiversity Assessment 2012, wetlands are the most threatened ecosystems in South Africa, as 48% of wetlands are critically endangered and only 18% are protected. This is bad! This means that we need to put more effort into the conservation of our wetlands. However, we are making remarkable progress.
The Umgeni Vlei Nature Reserve is the twenty-first wetland of international importance as it has been designated a Ramsar site. It protects a significant portion of the Umgeni River catchment area in KwaZulu-Natal. A total of R530 million has been invested in the rehabilitation of 906 wetlands. To date, the programme has provided 12 848 employment opportunities. [Applause.]
This year, we celebrated World Wetlands Day with Kareedouw community in the Koukamma Local Municipality. We chose the Kromme River catchment area, which experienced dramatic floods in 2006 that resulted in heavy loss of life and property. The amount of R10 million has been invested in the rehabilitation of this wetland. A total of 60 local people were employed. The Kromme River catchment area supplies about 40% of Port Elizabeth's water via the Churchill Dam.
Last year, we held the first hunting indaba in October 2012. An action plan was adopted, which included specific actions aimed at addressing four thematic areas, namely ecological impacts and benefits, economic impacts and benefits, community involvement and transformation, and legislative provisions.
The department is planning to host an annual hunting indaba as a way of engaging with key stakeholders in formulating a clear policy for the hunting sector. We will embark on a dedicated programme to provide support to the hunting and bioprospecting industries. The Minister has already mentioned this. We are just emphasising. Don't forget it. South Africa will host the first African Parliamentary dialogue on trade issues in biodiversity resources. Watch this space. [Interjections.]
Invasive alien species are a threat to our water resources. However, we reuse them as raw materials to manufacture eco coffins - they are taking care of our bodies when we are dead - school desks, garden benches, chess tables, bedroom furniture and walking sticks. To date we have established 3 eco factories, which created a total of 493 jobs, of which 52% are for women and 37% for the youth. From these factories 250 desks were handed over to Boitumelo High School in the Free State, and 250 to Maatla Primary School in Hoedspruit, in Limpopo. We will establish 18 eco factories within 3 years, which will each create 160 job opportunities.
Through our greening and open space management, we reverse environmental degradation, prevent illegal dumping and create recreational spaces for our communities, whilst creating job and training opportunities.
Recently, we handed over the R14 million eco parks in Mdantsane and Duncan village to the Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality and created 168 job opportunities during the implementation of this programme.
We funded the domestic waste collection pilot project at the Mahikeng Local Municipality. The objective of this pilot project is to reduce waste. We know that we have the 3Rs - reduction, reuse and recycling. Five waste collection trucks were procured, and five contractors and 70 workers were trained and then capacitated in waste management.
We do know that we have challenges with household waste. However, this project has serviced 31 856 households, not in town, but out there. [Applause.] We are working with others. We know that we have the challenge of hazardous waste, especially mercury. Actually we will be going to Japan, where we want to establish a protocol on mercury - it is terrible. People are no longer eating fish in the developed countries because of the mercury that ends up in the ocean.
During Women's Month, we will host the women mayors dialogue that is aimed at encouraging them to champion waste management in their respective municipalities. In order to protect our vulnerable coastline, we developed the ocean management strategy that will be implemented this year.
South Africa has declared the Prince Edward Islands a marine protected area, which makes the island the first African offshore marine protected area and which contributes significantly to global initiatives towards the protection of offshore and deep ocean areas.
The Prince Edward Islands marine protected area is intended to contribute towards the protection of unique species, habitats and ecosystem processes. It will also be a scientific reference point for future management of the area, including the impact of climate change on the whole southern ocean. It will also contribute to the integrated and ecologically sustainable management of marine resources of the area.
In January 2013, we visited the Vhembe District, the North Western parts of the Limpopo province and parts of Mpumalanga which were mostly affected by floods that swept away bridges, roads and fertile agricultural soil and also caused deaths and injuries in the areas. We are promoting public awareness through road shows.
We have handed over the R28,5 million Environmental Science Education Centre to the University of Limpopo. Please go and see that the state of the nation is there in South Africa, Africa and internationally - go there. [Applause]
Through the Kids in Parks programme, a total of 4 159 learners and 168 educators were enabled to have access to national parks, and this number will be increased this year to 5 000. We are continuing with the School- Based Environmental Education programme, implemented in collaboration with the Department of Basic Education.
In this current financial year, we will develop the sector gender framework. In terms of air quality, we have got the "Basa njengo Magogo" programme - the hon Zikalala, who takes care of ... Let us take care of our environment; all of us. Thank you very much. [Time expired.] [Applause.]