PRESIDENT CYRIL RAMAPHOSA COMMITS R1.8bn TO GROWING THE BIODIVERSITY ECONOMY
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa in August 2018 committed the government to spending around R1.8 billion over the next five years to supply the underlying infrastructure required to grow the biodiversity economy.
This will ensure that this sector contributes meaningfully to the South African economy, he said.
Speaking at the Biodiversity Economy Innovation and People & Parks conferences in Thohoyandou, the President said much of government’s support is centred on market development locally, regionally and internationally.
This funding includes a package of support incentives for emerging farmers and producers in the primary and secondary value chains. It will be complimented by comprehensive rural development, industrialisation, advancement of South Africa’s regional and global integration, and the promotion of exports.
The Biodiversity Economy Innovation conference was held under the theme: “Innovating and Accelerating – with the people, for the people” and brought together stakeholders from the wildlife industry, academia, traditional leadership and government. The conference had deliberated on innovative ideas that promote sustainable utilisation and conservation of the country’s biological resources.
In 2015, government adopted a Biodiversity Economy Strategy (BES) which seeks to increase the biodiversity contribution to the Gross Domestic Product while conserving the country’s ecosystems. It focuses on enhancing growth in various sectors including wildlife and tourism.
The Strategy was designed to sustainably advance the wildlife and bioprospecting sectors of the economy and secure sustainable livelihoods specifically for rural communities as part of meeting the targets of the National Development Plan. It is presently being considered by Cabinet.
The 8th People and Parks conference was held under the theme “Communities Realising Tangible Economic Benefits from Protected Areas”.
Delegates had taken stock of the progress made since its establishment in 2002 in addressing land claims around protected areas, and in facilitating the contribution of protected areas to the improvement of rural livelihoods. It has also discussed means of unlocking the socioeconomic potential of protected areas.
During his visit to Thohoyandou, the President had visited an exhibition of community projects that employed more than 300 people and which are being funded by the Departments of Environmental Affairs and Small Business Development.
President Ramaphosa said the destruction of the country’s biodiversity – the loss of plant and animal species – held grave implications for the survival and well-being all people. It affected livelihoods, health, food and water security.
However, the sustainable maintenance of biodiversity could contribute to the government’s efforts to eradicate poverty and create economic opportunities for all South Africa.
“Biodiversity needs to feature in all areas of economic development, across areas such as agriculture, fisheries, forestry, mining, energy, tourism and transport,” he said.
“The opportunities in the biodiversity economy that the Operation Phakisa initiative identified hold great potential to reshape our rural economy and lift many rural people out of poverty.”
If properly developed, the biodiversity economy would assist in accelerating transformation by providing not only employment, but also business opportunities, for black South Africans.
It is also an opportunity for innovation.
“Drawing on traditional knowledge about the use of indigenous plants, there is great scope for the country’s scientists and researchers to develop products that can be manufactured in rural areas and sold across the world,” he said.
Besides the use of plants to produce cosmetics and pharmaceutical products, the biodiversity economy also involves the development of the wildlife economy through game farming, hunting, hospitality and the supply of game meat.
An additional component is eco-tourism, an area of economic development that holds vast potential.
He stated that the biodiversity economy provided an opportunity to address the exclusion of the majority of South Africans from such sectors of the economy.
“It is a way of ensuring that the custodians of our genetic resources and the holders of our traditional knowledge are able to fully benefit from the tangible and intangible heritage they possess.”
Through the development of the biodiversity economy, it is anticipated that 162 000 jobs can be created and R47 billion generated by 2030.
“We aim to increase business and land ownership by previously disadvantaged individuals, boosting participation by communities, expanding cultivation of key indigenous plants by 500 hectares a year, and having 100 Blue Flag beaches designated across South Africa by 2030,” the President said.
The biotrade sector has demonstrated a huge potential in promoting local economic growth. The global demand for natural ingredients and products made from natural ingredients has been influenced by the shift towards products that have minimal impact on the environment and on people’s health.
The wildlife sector of South Africa has experienced noticeable growth over the years and employs around 100 000 people across the value chain.
This sector has been growing consistently faster than the general economy, contributing R3 billion to GDP in 2014, which is almost double the contribution it made in 2008.
President Ramaphosa said the development of the biodiversity economy could only succeed with the support of communities.
Referring to the People and Parks Programme, he said while local communities played a pivotal role in the governance of protected areas in the country, it was important to ensure youth participation in these initiatives.
“Without the commitment of our youth to a sustainable economy and protection of the environment through the preservation of our cultural and natural heritage, our economy cannot grow,” he said, adding that it was the responsibility of all to “treasure and preserve” South Africa’s great natural abundance and to fully realise its potential to provide a better life for all.