Latest news with #NomfundoTshabalala
News24
29-05-2025
- Business
- News24
Development must happen — but not at the cost of irreplaceable biodiversity
Biodiversity offsets can support the expansion of protected areas, improve habitat connectivity, and secure ecosystem services essential for human survival, write s Nomfundo Tshabalala. South Africa is globally recognised as one of the world's megadiverse countries. Our landscapes, ecosystems, and species are a treasure trove of life and a cornerstone of our economy, health, and cultural identity. Yet, this natural wealth is under siege. As highlighted in the National Development Plan 2030, we are living in an era of ecological deficit. The path to sustainable development is fraught with difficult choices, and unchecked development often comes at the expense of our environment. But there is hope - and action. In June 2023, South Africa took a decisive step forward with the publication of the National Biodiversity Offset Guideline under the National Environmental Management Act. This guideline is not just a policy document; it is a vital tool in the arsenal of biodiversity conservation. It compels us to assess and mitigate the ecological cost of development projects. If damage to biodiversity cannot be avoided or fully restored, it must be offset — and the guideline ensures that this is done in a structured, transparent, and scientifically rigorous way. The philosophy behind biodiversity offsets is clear: Development can and must happen, but not at the cost of irreplaceable biodiversity! Following the mitigation hierarchy — avoid, minimise, rehabilitate, and only then offset — ensures that offsets are a last resort, not a shortcut. When implemented correctly, biodiversity offsets can halt, and even reverse, the loss of biodiversity. They can support the expansion of protected areas, improve habitat connectivity, and secure ecosystem services essential for human survival. Moreover, they are essential for South Africa to meet its obligations under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and contribute meaningfully to the Sustainable Development Goals. International Biodiversity Day On 22 May 2025, the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) and the South African National Parks (SANParks) gathered in Midrand at the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA), Gauteng, to mark not only the National Biodiversity Offset Conference, but also the International Day for Biological Diversity. It was a powerful convergence of minds — from government (national, provincial and local), academia, private sector, NGOs, and communities — united by one cause – to safeguard South Africa's extraordinary biodiversity. The DFFE, together with SANParks, SANBI, and the UNDP, is championing the Biodiversity Finance Initiative. This ambitious programme is to provide sustainable finance solution mechanisms to protect and finance biodiversity projects. Moreover, this partnership has developed a national offset register and web-based portal to track and monitor biodiversity offset projects. Transparency and accountability will be key to building public trust and ensuring offsets deliver real, measurable conservation outcomes. The theme for this year's International Day for Biological Diversity is 'Harmony with Nature and Sustainable Development.' This theme is a reminder that protecting nature is not an obstacle to progress — it is a prerequisite! Biodiversity is not a luxury — it is the foundation of our well-being, economy, and resilience against climate change. As we move forward, it is crucial that all sectors of society — government, business, academia, civil society, and communities — embrace the shared responsibility of biodiversity stewardship. We must champion ecological sustainability in every development decision, and we must hold each other accountable for actions that impact our natural heritage. The National Biodiversity Offset Guideline is not an end, but a beginning. It is a call to action, a blueprint for reconciling development with conservation, and a bold step toward a future where people and nature thrive together. Let us heed that call, not just today, but every day. The future of our biodiversity — and our planet — depends on it. Nomfundo Tshabalala is the director-general of the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment.
Daily Maverick
23-04-2025
- Business
- Daily Maverick
DFFE's efforts to implement Climate Change Act hit by funding shortfall
The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment asked for R704m to implement South Africa's new Climate Change Act, yet received just R10m (earmarked solely for hosting G20 meetings). The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) requested R704-million from the National Treasury for the implementation of the Climate Change Act, in addition to other funding requests for its 2025 three-year spending plan. However, only R10-million was granted — for hosting G20 environment meetings in 2025. The DFFE revealed this during an oversight meeting of the Portfolio Committee on Environment, Forestry and Fisheries on Tuesday, as officials presented their 2025/26 annual performance plans. The Climate Change Act, promulgated in March, sets out how South Africa will tackle climate change and transition towards a more sustainable, low-carbon economy. On Tuesday, DFFE Director-General Nomfundo Tshabalala told Parliament, 'Whatever we had last year, this year, we have even less, and there's more responsibility that is expected of the department, but we are engaging the National Treasury. Unfortunately, due to constraints, they could not allocate those resources.' That was the harsh reality the department faced after officials from its nine programmes outlined their plans for environmental reform, job creation and coastal economic transformation. On the funding required and what had been received, Tshabalala said, 'I would want to believe that the National Treasury is yet to respond comprehensively. It may not be in the 25/26 year, but for the future, we believe that they can. 'Currently, we are implementing whatever is possible and plans on the table using our existing budget. But we also try to tap into available donor funding, which then can enhance the existing programmes.' Maesela Kekana, the deputy director-general of climate change and air quality management at the DFFE, said, 'We are continuing the discussions with the Treasury. They've guided us on what to do around the business case. Once that is concluded, the Treasury will be able to look at that and either provide the amount or part of the amount. But we are not there yet.' Coastal provinces prioritised On the sidelines of the briefing, Tshabalala told Daily Maverick, 'The major funding that will be required for the Climate Act is ensuring that municipalities on the ground respond and are able to put together their responsive plans. That is quite critical. For us, that's a priority, and those responsive plans must be funded.' The department needed to work closely with municipalities and prioritise the provinces hard-hit by the impacts of climate change: KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape and Western Cape. 'It's mainly the coastal [provinces] that are affected by climate change as far as issues of weather go. We do have, to a certain extent, fires, but the fires are also mainly in the Western Cape,' said Tshabalala. She said the other provinces would not be left behind. 'We need to ensure that we are taking every province along in ensuring that they have responsive plans in place in order to adapt, firstly. Adaptation is critical.' Tshabalala said the department was working on sectoral emission targets for seven high-emitting sectors to align with SA's greenhouse gas reduction commitments. Kekana, in his presentation, said that these had been submitted to the minister for consultation, given that the Act had been promulgated. 'It's no longer voluntary. It's mandatory. We need to monitor that, working very closely with the National Treasury,' said Tshabalala. Some work still needs to be done on the deferred sections of the Act. 'We are doing all that work so that we are ready to promulgate the remaining parts,' said Tshabalala. With a spate of extreme weather events and natural disasters hitting SA in recent years, Tshabalala said: 'Around disasters, we don't have funding to assist the communities. Disaster funding is centralised out of Cogta [Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs], working together with the Treasury, and those provinces and entities affected by disasters can then have access to that funding.' The DFFE's funding requests to the National Treasury The department's deputy directors-general had to provide costs for all the programmes they highlighted on Tuesday, and align the resources to indicate their priorities. The department submitted several additional funding requests to the National Treasury during the 2025 Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF), after which it received a revised preliminary allocation letter on 24 March, in line with the Budget that is now going through parliamentary processes. The DFFE requested R45-million from the National Treasury to carry out its G20 duties and mandate. The DFFE estimated the cost of implementing the Climate Change Act at R704-million over the 2025 MTEF, but Tshabalala said, 'No resources have been allocated for this, so we have to fund it from existing resources.' In terms of the Presidential Employment Stimulus, a letter to the National Treasury and the Presidency was submitted requesting funding of R1.129-billion over the 2025 MTEF. The DFFE's Waste Bureau had asked for R3.2-billion over the MTEF, but was allocated only R1.5-billion — a shortfall of R1.7-billion. Tshabalala said the National Treasury had allocated additional funding of just R10-million, solely for the hosting of the G20 meetings. This shouldn't have been surprising, as when he opened the briefing on Tuesday, Forestry, Fisheries and Environment Minister Dion George said that in addition to the annual performance objectives, 'delivering a successful G20 is top priority.' The department has hosted one virtual meeting for the Environment and Climate Sustainability Working Group under South Africa's G20 presidency. The next two meetings, according to the department and minister, will be at Kruger National Park in July and Cape Town in October. DM
