Question no

QUESTION NO. 920

INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO. 16 of 2008

DATE OF PUBLICATION: 6 June 2008

Mr G R Morgan (DA) to ask the Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism:

(1) Whether the laws governing the prevention of poaching and the prosecution of poachers in our protected areas are sufficient to discourage (a) poaching for subsistence, (b) casual poaching and (c) poaching by organised crime operations; if not, what will be done to rectify the situation; if so, what are the relevant details;

(2) whether steps are being taken to ensure that our neighbouring countries are enforcing all relevant environmental law with regard to the transfrontier park initiatives; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details;

(3) whether all relevant protocols signed with neighbouring countries to set up transfrontier parks are being honoured; if not, why not; if so, how was this conclusion reached?

NW1610E

MR G R MORGAN (DA)

SECRETARY TO PARLIAMENT

HANSARD

PAPERS OFFICE

PRESS

920. THE MINISTER OF ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS AND TOURISM ANSWERS:

1. 
   Yes. The National Environmental Management: Protected Areas Act, 2003 supported by the Regulations for the proper administration of special nature reserves, national parks and world heritage sites issued on 28 October 2005 in terms of the Act in which regulation 4(1)(b) prohibits engagement of any restricted activity as defined in regulation 45 which includes the hunting, killing, conveying, luring or baiting any specimen of a protected species, (defined in the regulations as “any indigenous species found in a protected area and includes any indigenous species listed under section 56 of the Biodiversity Act” are relevant. In provincial nature reserves, provincial legislation remains in effect.
   

2. 
   Yes. This Department together with the Transfrontier Conservation Areas (TFCA) partner countries have, in terms of the signed agreements, established joint management structures which are responsible for among other things, the development and implementation of joint management plans. The SADC protocol on wildlife conservation and law enforcement also promotes the harmonization of legal instruments governing wildlife use and conservation
   

3. 
   Yes. The continued attendance of meetings at Ministerial and official levels and the implementation of the decisions such as the establishment of cross border tourism access facilities within the TFCA’s and the development of the TFCA brand bear testimony to the commitment of the partner countries. The decisions are in line with treaties, protocols, memoranda of understanding and bilateral agreements
   

QUESTION 921
DATE OF PUBLICATION OF INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 6/06/2008

(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER 16-2008)
Mr G G Boinamo (DA) to ask the Minister of Education:
(1) Whether her department has conducted an energy audit to determine its (a) use of energy and (b) opportunities for reduction of energy use; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details;

(2) whether her department has any plans to reduce energy consumption; if not, why not; if so, what plans;

(3) whether her department has made any material reduction in energy use since 1 January 2008; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?

NW1611E

REPLY
(1) (a and b) No, the DoE has not conducted an energy audit, but the Department of Public Works is in the process of conducting an energy audit at the Department of Education. Details will be made available as soon as the report is available.
(2) Yes, Eskom, Government and other stakeholders have joined forces to conserve energy. The DoE is implementing the following actions:

• 
  Lights should be switched on only when necessary and must be switched off when leaving the office;
  

• 
  Optimal use of natural light, such as the opening of curtains, must be encouraged;
  

• 
  Office equipment, such as PCs, printers and copiers, should be switched off when not in use and prior to leaving the office;
  

• 
  The use of hot water should be limited to essential services and only the required amount of water should be boiled;
  

• 
  Officials are encouraged to use the stairs as often as possible, especially if they are located on the 1st or 2nd floors;
  

• 
  Air conditioners and heaters should be used only when necessary.
  

(3) The DoE is waiting for an energy audit report from the Department of Public Works.

QUESTION NO. 922

INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO. 16 of 2008

DATE OF PUBLICATION: 6 June 2008

Mr G R Morgan (DA) to ask the Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism:

(1) Whether South Africa recently registered 51 tonnes of ivory with the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES); if not, how many tonnes were registered; if so, what are the relevant details;

(2) (a) how many tusks are included in the tonnes that were registered, (b) how many of the tonnes registered (i) are from elephants that (aa) were culled, (bb) were killed by poachers, (cc) died naturally or (dd) were destroyed as problem animals or (ii) were recovered in another way? NW1612E

MR G R MORGAN (DA)

SECRETARY TO PARLIAMENT

HANSARD

PAPERS OFFICE

PRESS

922. THE MINISTER OF ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS AND TOURISM ANSWERS:

(1) No. SA recently registered only 21 tonnes with Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITIES). This was done on top of the 30 tonnes approved at COP12 in 2002.

(2) (a) Tusks were not counted as the ivory consists of tusks and pieces.

(b) (i)(aa), (bb), (cc) and (dd) Records on each tusk which are eligible for sale is available but my department does not keep record of how many of the tusks registered are from culled, natural deaths or elephants killed for management purposes. No tusks which have been poached or tusks of unknown origin were eligible for sale and none of these are thus part of the registered stock.

(ii) No tusks were recovered in another way.

QUESTION NO.: 923