|
‘Die Burger’ a Cape Town based newspaper recently reported that the new regulations concerning the use of 4x4 vehicles and quad bikes throughout Southern Africa could soon become law. Many believe that it is high time that such laws come into effect as South African off road vehicle owners have not only been causing damage to ecologically sensitive areas in South Africa but also in its neighbouring countries which experience the spill over effects of this type of tourism. The countries of Namibia and Mozambique are particularly affected.
The South African minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism met in Gauteng with his counterparts from neighbouring countries to discuss these and other matters.
Article
4x4s to come under the whip
12/02/2008 22:44 (SA)
Theuns van der Westhuizen, Die Burger
Cape Town - New regulations governing the use of 4x4 vehicles and quad bikes throughout southern Africa could soon become law.
This comes after complaints that South African 4x4 owners have been causing large-scale damage to ecologically-sensitive areas in some neighbouring states.
Namibia and Mozambique were reportedly most upset by what they termed "the damage done by quad bikes and four-wheel-drive vehicles from South Africa to the ecology of beaches and other environmentally sensitive areas", according to the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism.
Ministers and senior officials from the two countries, as well as Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Swaziland, Zambia and Zimbabwe met earlier this week to discuss the matter with Environmental Affairs and Tourism Minister Marthinus van Schalkwyk at a conference in Gauteng.
The main topics of the conference were the development of cross-border conservation zones (CBCZs), as well as premier tourism destinations for the 2010 World Cup soccer tournament, and beyond.
Harmful practices
But, the four-wheel-drive question was also added to the agenda.
The ministers expressed their concern at the damage being done to ecologically sensitive areas by 4x4 vehicles and quad bikes from South Africa and asked Minister van Schalkwyk to put a stop to harmful practices.
They said the regulations governing 4x4s in South Africa had resulted in greater pressure on sensitive areas in neighbouring states.
Van Schalkwyk said a protocol was being considered for the entire region, to curb or manage these activities.
|
WOW, a blessing from heaven. At last the governments of Southern Africa are
holding hands to clamp down on the most destructive tourism related activity
known to man - namely quadbikes.
Congratulations to the governments of Southern Africa for taken the steps in
trying to solve this disaster.
The scars in Namibia left by quads and MX bikes (4x4 included) will take
decades to heal but we have to start somewhere.
I add that there is a place in tourism for guided controlled quadbiking
tours.
Regards
Chris
----- Original Message -----
From: "Kashiefa Parker" <Kashiefa@ecoafrica.co.za>
To: "General Discussion" <discuss@dlist-benguela.org>
Sent: Wednesday, February 13, 2008 2:40 PM
Subject: [DLIST Discuss] 4x4s to come under the whip
>
> 'Die Burger' a Cape Town based newspaper recently reported that the new
> regulations concerning the use of 4x4 vehicles and quad bikes throughout
> Southern Africa could soon become law. Many believe that it is high time
> that such laws come into effect as South African off road vehicle owners
> have not only been causing damage to ecologically sensitive areas in South
> Africa but also in its neighbouring countries which experience the spill
> over effects of this type of tourism. The countries of Namibia and
> Mozambique are particularly affected.
>
> The South African minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism met in
> Gauteng with his counterparts from neighbouring countries to discuss these
> and other matters.
>
>
> Article
> 4x4s to come under the whip
> 12/02/2008 22:44 (SA)
> Theuns van der Westhuizen, Die Burger
>
> Cape Town - New regulations governing the use of 4x4 vehicles and quad
> bikes throughout southern Africa could soon become law.
>
> This comes after complaints that South African 4x4 owners have been
> causing large-scale damage to ecologically-sensitive areas in some
> neighbouring states.
>
> Namibia and Mozambique were reportedly most upset by what they termed "the
> damage done by quad bikes and four-wheel-drive vehicles from South Africa
> to the ecology of beaches and other environmentally sensitive areas",
> according to the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism.
>
> Ministers and senior officials from the two countries, as well as Angola,
> Botswana, Lesotho, Swaziland, Zambia and Zimbabwe met earlier this week to
> discuss the matter with Environmental Affairs and Tourism Minister
> Marthinus van Schalkwyk at a conference in Gauteng.
>
> The main topics of the conference were the development of cross-border
> conservation zones (CBCZs), as well as premier tourism destinations for
> the 2010 World Cup soccer tournament, and beyond.
>
> Harmful practices
> But, the four-wheel-drive question was also added to the agenda.
>
> The ministers expressed their concern at the damage being done to
> ecologically sensitive areas by 4x4 vehicles and quad bikes from South
> Africa and asked Minister van Schalkwyk to put a stop to harmful
> practices.
>
> They said the regulations governing 4x4s in South Africa had resulted in
> greater pressure on sensitive areas in neighbouring states.
>
> Van Schalkwyk said a protocol was being considered for the entire region,
> to curb or manage these activities.
|
The clampdown, or coming clampdown on destructive practises that damage our
coastal areas is indeed good news. Governments act when enough people shout
about wrongdoing, and when enough people show concern for the environment.
Protest should come from all quarters, including DLIST which is read by all
levels in society, the e-mails loops that we send around, even private
lobbying which we do when one gets the opportunity. So congratulations to
those voices in the wilderness, your voices are being heard. Now, we must
not forget that one of the most powerful mechanisms is in our hands, namely
the formulation of OFFICIAL policy for the coastal areas of Namibia. In this
policy the wishes, needs, directives from the people will be solidly and
unambiguously recorded and endorsed by Government. We also need to figure
out how the policy will be implemented, AND WRITE THAT IN THE POLICY itself.
One can even write in the policy clauses on accountability, and take that as
far as court of law, when implementation does not occur. There is only one
thing that can disspate power from the process, and that is if people do not
provide input. You can provide input during the official visioning
workshops, you can send written submissions to NACOMA, or you can give input
through DLIST. Eveyone's ideas are equally valuable, and once you put it in
a public forum or submit it to the NACOMA office, those ideas must be
considred. The more people pushing a controversial issue the better of
course, in terms of making sure it makes it into the White Paper which is
the forerunner to the policy that will be promulgated by parliament.
-----Original Message-----
From: Christopher Nel [mailto:nature@iafrica.com.na]
Sent: Thursday, February 14, 2008 9:40 AM
To: General Discussion
Subject: Re: [DLIST Discuss] 4x4s to come under the whip
WOW, a blessing from heaven. At last the governments of Southern Africa are
holding hands to clamp down on the most destructive tourism related activity
known to man - namely quadbikes.
Congratulations to the governments of Southern Africa for taken the steps in
trying to solve this disaster.
The scars in Namibia left by quads and MX bikes (4x4 included) will take
decades to heal but we have to start somewhere.
I add that there is a place in tourism for guided controlled quadbiking
tours.
Regards
Chris
|
I am overjoyed about this. Untold damage is visible in Namibia - to dunes,
lichen fields, beaches - wherever four wheel drives can go, and whether for
fishing, camping, just for fun or for construction and maintenance of
roads, power and pipelines, etc. A precious and unique resource, of global
importance, and a potential supporter of sustainable livelihoods, is being
degraded, and it will take decades and longer to recover. Some of it never
will. Although many of the drivers just don't care, many of them don't
really have any knowledge of or insight into the rarity and value of
Namibia's environment, nor are they aware of its extreme fragility. More
public awareness raising is needed, especially with visitors and holiday
makers. For a start, if pamphlets can be issued to warn people of the
dangers of mugging, walking alone at night, etc., then the same can be done
to raise concern about the environment.
Recovery will take decades and longer, and -----Original Message-----
From: Francois Odendaal [mailto:francois@ecoafrica.co.za]
Sent: 14 February 2008 11:20 AM
To: General Discussion
Subject: Re: [DLIST Discuss] 4x4s to come under the whip
The clampdown, or coming clampdown on destructive practises that damage our
coastal areas is indeed good news. Governments act when enough people shout
about wrongdoing, and when enough people show concern for the environment.
Protest should come from all quarters, including DLIST which is read by all
levels in society, the e-mails loops that we send around, even private
lobbying which we do when one gets the opportunity. So congratulations to
those voices in the wilderness, your voices are being heard. Now, we must
not forget that one of the most powerful mechanisms is in our hands, namely
the formulation of OFFICIAL policy for the coastal areas of Namibia. In this
policy the wishes, needs, directives from the people will be solidly and
unambiguously recorded and endorsed by Government. We also need to figure
out how the policy will be implemented, AND WRITE THAT IN THE POLICY itself.
One can even write in the policy clauses on accountability, and take that as
far as court of law, when implementation does not occur. There is only one
thing that can disspate power from the process, and that is if people do not
provide input. You can provide input during the official visioning
workshops, you can send written submissions to NACOMA, or you can give input
through DLIST. Eveyone's ideas are equally valuable, and once you put it in
a public forum or submit it to the NACOMA office, those ideas must be
considred. The more people pushing a controversial issue the better of
course, in terms of making sure it makes it into the White Paper which is
the forerunner to the policy that will be promulgated by parliament.
-----Original Message-----
From: Christopher Nel [mailto:nature@iafrica.com.na]
Sent: Thursday, February 14, 2008 9:40 AM
To: General Discussion
Subject: Re: [DLIST Discuss] 4x4s to come under the whip
WOW, a blessing from heaven. At last the governments of Southern Africa are
holding hands to clamp down on the most destructive tourism related activity
known to man - namely quadbikes.
Congratulations to the governments of Southern Africa for taken the steps in
trying to solve this disaster.
The scars in Namibia left by quads and MX bikes (4x4 included) will take
decades to heal but we have to start somewhere.
I add that there is a place in tourism for guided controlled quadbiking
tours.
Regards
Chris |
The Namibian Government is now taking the issue very serious in Namibia.
Please see below the press release by the Ministry of Environment and
Tourism that appeared on the local newspapers this morning.
PRESS RELEASE
<<<<< For immediate release >>>>>
TO: All News Outlets/Agencies in Namibia
Subject: New national parks should curb further damage to coastal flora
and fauna
Esteemed Stakeholders,
An urgent halt has to be called to uncontrolled off-road driving in the
dune belt area between Walvis Bay and Swakopmund as well as in the
National West Coast Recreational Area to minimize and eradicate any
further damage to Namibia's ecologically sensitive coastal areas.
The Ministry of Environment and Tourism wishes to express its grave
displeasure and concern about the deterioration of the coastal
environment due to these uncontrolled activities of quad bikes and other
off road driving vehicles. The Ministry condemns in the strongest terms
the behaviour and conduct of the drivers of off-road vehicles during the
past holiday season, despite the various efforts to gain their
cooperation and them observing the relevant laws.
The Ministry of Environment and Tourism through the Namibia Coast
Conservation and Management (NACOMA) Project and its stakeholders
undertook a comprehensive public campaign to inform the public and
especially the drivers of off-road vehicles of where they were allowed
to drive and where not. This included pamphlets handed out at
roadblocks, newspaper articles, radio and television interviews,
workshops and various meetings. This seemed to have fallen in the deaf
ears.
An aerial survey undertaken by the MET staff and the Coastal Contingency
Management Committee along the coast in January 2008 indicated an
increase in off-road vehicle tracks as well as much more damage to the
flora and fauna in conservation and sensitive areas.
The Ministry further expresses itself against those individuals who
intentionally may have damaged the environment or undermined the efforts
of Government to safeguard the sensitive coastal areas against
destruction.
The MET and its stakeholders have now reached the stage where they need
to act accordingly and strongly.
To ensure that proper and effective means for coastal environmental
management are implemented to end the destructive behaviour and to
safeguard the sensitive coastal areas, the MET in consultation with line
Ministries and other stakeholders decided to carry out the following
actions:
* The Ministry of Environment and Tourism will submit a notice to
Cabinet to proclaim the area between Walvis Bay (including the Kuiseb
Delta) and Swakopmund (up to the Swakop river mouth) as a protected
area. This area will either be incorporated into the existing Namib
Naukluft Park, or be proclaimed on its own.
* Proclaiming this area as a national park does not mean that the
different existing land uses will be terminated but it will be managed
better.
* The area will be zoned properly for different uses and relevant
regulations and laws will be developed under the new Environmental
Management Act and the Parks and Wildlife Management Bill.
* Government will apply different means such as concessions and a
permit system to allow people to utilize and manage different land zones
within this area.
* Government through MET will also increase the protection status
of the National West Coast Recreation Area to become a national park and
apply the same measures as intended for the area between Walvis Bay and
Swakopmund.
The lack of the appropriate land tenure has necessitated the
proclamation of the areas to become national parks.
It is hoped that these measures will be finalized by June 2008 and be
implemented fully before the end-of-the-year holiday season.
The Ministry will in the meantime ensure that sufficient staff members
will join the local MET staff at the coast during upcoming peak holiday
periods such as Easter weekend to carry out the necessary law
enforcement.
All these endeavours will be carried out in consultation with all
stakeholders. The MET would also like to assure the public that
appropriate decision would be implemented if they are in the best
interest of conserving our fragile environment and enhancing and
promoting sustainable utilization of our natural resources.
Issued by: The Permanent Secretary
Dr. Kalumbi Shangula
.......................
Dr. K Shangula
PERMANENT SECRETRARY
|
|
|
|
