Speech By Marthinus Van
Schalkwyk, Minister Of Environmental Affairs
And Tourism, On International Biodiversity
Day, Dinokeng, 22 May 2007
Indalo Yethu - Save Tomorrow Today
Speech
Department of Environmental Affairs and
Tourism
Chairperson,
Mayor Seerane
Pam Yako, Director General of DEAT
Members of the Indalo Yethu Board and
Honoured guests
We are here today to give life and power
to Indalo Yethu which has the task of mobilising
our nation in environmental awareness.
In a sense, Indalo Yethu’s mission was
set many ages ago right here in the Cradle
of Humankind. It dates all the way back
to when humans began to differentiate themselves
from the rest of the animal kingdom and
embarked on a unique course of development
which involved extensive - often ruthless
- exploitation of the earth’s natural resources.
The consequences of this for the survival
of life on our planet are now widely known
- and are beginning to be appreciated at
a profound level.
Indalo Yethu, together with many similar
initiatives around the world, carries a
heavy responsibility and it would be easy
to become paralysed by the sheer weight
of this duty. But the possibilities of success
are also great and we need to keep our strengths
firmly in focus as we set out to correct
and redefine our relationship with the environment.
The first of these strengths is strong
leadership and clear direction. Over the
past two or three years powerful leadership
on the environmental debate has asserted
itself across the globe. We have world political
leaders, communities, top scientists and
even captains of multinational industries
speaking out loudly and with one voice.
The second strength is that we know what
corrective steps to take and many of these
actions are within our reach. It lies very
largely in changing our patterns of energy
consumption and shifting to advanced energy
technologies for cleaner and renewable energy
production in order to reduce greenhouse
gas emissions and put the brakes on climate
change.
The third strength is that the threat of
environmental degradation affects everyone.
Yes, it is true that the poorest populations
are likely to be worst affected by the natural
disasters of climate change because they
do not have the means to defend themselves.
But the rich and the powerful also have
much to lose. So it really is a case of
sink or swim together! And this may be the
factor that cements political will and builds
mass pressure for change.
It is often said that South Africa is a
microcosm of the world, with its diversity
of people, its dual economy and its extremes
of wealth and poverty. And this generalisation
is largely true when it comes to environmental
impact.
Fortunately, we do not have to make a choice
between economic development and good environmental
practices. We can have both - but we can’t
follow the same road to growth that earlier
generations followed.
Now, you may be wondering: if South Africans
face such different environmental challenges,
how can we have a single national campaign
like Indalo Yethu? I believe a powerful
united response through a partnership between
government, the private sector and communities
is not only possible, but is the best path
to follow.
In the first place, we all have the same
basic goal even if we need to take different
actions to achieve that goal. We all want
to protect our environment better and therefore
give our children the chance to live in
a land that is safe and beautiful and provide
them with the necessities of life. We want
that, no matter whether we are rich or poor,
employers or workers. And every single one
of us can help achieve this goal - whether
we build new housing schemes with solar
electricity panels, or reduce the gases
pouring from our factories, or collect paper
and cans for recycling.
The second reason we believe one united
campaign is right for South Africa is because
it offers us another opportunity to strengthen
the historic process of forging a single
nation. I believe that the people of this
country will stand together when they fully
understand the threat to our land because
we share a deep love of this land.
Indalo Yethu aims to get the nation to
its feet by the call to action - Save Tomorrow
Today. By using the word “save” we will
make people aware that we need to do more
and that the consequences of inaction will
be fatal. By choosing the word “tomorrow”
we want to make it clear that results may
not be immediate but that the benefits will
be enjoyed by our children and our children’s
children. And by using the word “today”
we want to drive home the point that we
cannot delay - we have already waited too
long and some damage will be unavoidable.
It is clear that the success of this campaign
will reside in achieving behaviour change.
Today, as you know, is International Biodiversity
Day. And I can think of nothing better to
do on this day than introduce a new species
to the world: the Indalo Yethu butterfly.
Its colours, you will notice, match the
South African flag. We believe that it will
become a symbol of the enlightened patriotism
of our people - of our determination to
express our love for our land and for our
children through action to save their future.
We can save tomorrow if we start today.
Together we can do it!
+ More
Department of Environmental Affairs and
Tourism
Introduction
Our National Parks lie at the center of
our South African character. They reflect
and strengthen our sense of place; they
protect and support our unmatched biodiversity;
and increasingly they anchor growth, job
creation, and hope through tourism for our
communities.
South African National Parks (SANParks)
boasts 22 national parks with a combined
terrestrial and aquatic estate of 4 million
hectares. This estate encompasses at least
four transfrontier parks - all of which
involve international treaties with no less
than five neighbouring countries.
This estate also includes the iconic Kruger
National Park and two World Heritage Sites:
viz Mapungubwe National Park and the Table
Mountain National Park (included under the
Cape Floristic Kingdom). National parks
under SANParks’ jurisdiction receive more
than 3,4 million visitors annually.
Tourism
The 2007 SANParks Kudu Awards takes place
hot on the heels of the 2007 SA Tourism
Indaba which ended in Durban just last week.
This year’s Indaba was attended by a record
number of visitors and exhibitors and surpassed
the anticipated 12 000 visitor-mark.
South Africa’s tourism statistics tell
a very impressive story that speaks to the
success of our country in capturing the
interest of the world and capitalising on
that interest by attracting ever increasing
numbers of international tourists. Nearly
8.4 million international tourists visited
South Africa in 2006. We attracted over
a million more tourists in 2006 than in
2005. Looking back over a longer time period,
you can clearly see how much we have achieved.
In 1993, just 13 years ago, we had just
over 3 million visitors.
In order to keep tourists coming to SA
our undertaking to the world must be one
of exceptional quality, unrivalled experiences,
and world-beating value-for-money. Our shared
responsibility is to ensure and to demand
tourism products that sustain and support
our communities, our environment and our
future.
2010
SANParks is going to be among major role
players in the provision of a total ‘African
World Cup’ experience to the thousands of
visitors expected to attend the 2010 World
Cup.
SANParks has already signed up with FIFA’s
MATCH to provide accommodation units for
utilisation during the World Cup. Furthermore,
the organisation is also exploring the option
to sell packages, through MATCH which will
ensure that the visitors not only go to
soccer matches, but also take time off to
visit and experience the splendour and beauty
of our national parks.
In the event that SANParks is called on
to provide more accommodation units than
are currently available in its inventory,
the organisation has made provisions to
erect, at short notice, tented accommodation
to meet any demands that may be placed on
the facilities.
Provision of services in national parks
throughout the 2010 World Cup tournament
will occur with very minimal disruption
to domestic visitors - who remain the organisation’s
backbone.
Have Awards
The Kudu Awards is an excellent way of
emphasising the importance of the value
of our human capital and recognising men,
women and institutions who have been contributing
of their time, ideas, resources and many
other useful and creative ways to ensure
the success of conservation in our country.
Countries the world over are facing challenges
in terms of managing their natural heritage
because of scarcity of resources. Conservation
is a worthwhile business though a very expensive
one. This is the business of forever and
you do not get into such a business expecting
to derive profits, because profits are by
their nature exhaustive.
South African National Parks is probably
one of very few organisations in the world
who are able to generate a sizeable income
from their tourism operations, to subsidise
conservation. This is not always enough
and to have yourselves assisting us in such
a commendable way is something that should
be welcomed.
Thank you to one and all of you. Enjoy
the evening!
