Ezemvelo ‘agent’ for new project

THE Ezemvelo provincial conservation agency is embroiled in yet another controversy for its involvement in a new 15 000ha farm irrigation scheme in KwaZulu-Natal.

A background information document that came to light last week shows Ezemvelo has been appointed as “implementing agent” for the proposed Makhathini Irrigation Project near Jozini, on behalf of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.

The project involves chopping away large strips of indigenous vegetation on the banks of the Phongola River flood plain, digging roads and building irrigation channels from Jozini Dam to feed crops in a low-rainfall area.

Prof Ian Mcdonald, former chief executive of the World Wildlife Fund in South Africa and former regional scientist of the Natal Parks Board, said: “This is absolutely bizarre. You would think Ezemvelo has enough problems without getting involved in farming projects. They are doing a shocking job looking after the province’s biodiversity and have an atrocious record protecting threatened rhino and vulture populations. This is a statutory conservation body with a clearly defined scope of activities and it should not be getting involved in agriculture.”

Ezemvelo, however, has defended its involvement in the irrigation scheme as a social responsibility project and to influence the environmental impact assessment (EIA) process from the outset.

It remains unclear what crops would be grown in the new scheme, which is about four times bigger than the existing Mjindi irrigation project. However, there are indications it could be linked to previous studies to expand sugar cane production to feed new bioethanol fuel distilleries and cane-burning electricity generators in the region.

The Nzingwe environmental and safety planning consultancy said the Makhathini region had deep, highly arable soils and suggested the scheme could improve food security in an impoverished region.

Consultancy spokesman Lungelo Ncwane said the Agriculture Department and local communities had not identified any specific crops yet.

Farmers

Asked if the project would include sugar cane or biofuel refineries, Ncwane said: “I have been involved with the projects from June 2014 and have never heard of such proposal by the Agriculture Department. In our understanding the department wants to develop these for small-scale farmers for various farming activities. I do know from my own readings that Tongaat Hullet did, at some stage, look into the idea of biofuel production, but one thing for sure is that (it) is not part of our project.”

The Wildlife and Environment Society was reluctant to comment without knowing full details, but questioned whether clearing crop land next to sensitive wetland areas contributed to Ezemvelo’s primary mandate.

Society spokesman Chris Galliers said Ezemvelo’s stated vision was “to be a world renowned leader in the field of biodiversity conservation”.

“We don’t know how this project is contributing to that vision – or whether this project fits into their core business.”

Responding to questions on whether Ezemvelo’s involvement was in conflict with its primary conservation mandate, spokesman Musa Mntambo said: “It is important to view Ezemvelo as an organisation that is built on three pillars. These pillars are conservation, partnerships and eco-tourism.

“It appears you are familiar with the importance of the conservation and eco-tourism pillars, but still a little bit confused with the partnerships pillar.

“The third pillar, partnerships, talks to sourcing of funding from various private and public institutions for the purpose of implementing social responsibility projects within the province. This pillar also forges partnerships with private and public organisations to implement projects for the benefit of local communities.

“We view our involvement in such projects as an opportunity, and a blessing in disguise. It affords us a chance to be involved from the onset, thus allowing us an opportunity to address EIA issues from the start.

“Our planning division is heavily involved in the work of a consultant that will deal with environmental issues within the Makhathini Irrigation Scheme. They would not be as involved as they are if we did not have agreements with the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.”

Mntambo confirmed that Ezemvelo would help to assess and oversee the project, but said it was “premature” to say whether Ezemvelo staff or vehicles would help to clear indigenous vegetation or build roads and canals.

“By the way, Ezemvelo does not have bulldozers and earthmoving equipment,” he added.