The Swaziland Environment Action Plan (SEAP)Contents | Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4 | Chapter 5 | Chapter 6 | Chapter 7 | Chapter 8 5.0 INTERNATIONAL TREATIES, CONVENTIONS AND AGREEMENTS5.1 The Convention on Biodiversity5.1.1 BackgroundThe extent and trends of biodiversity loss is still little known in Swaziland due to the fact that there is little data on species diversity. However, the country's physical attributes predict high biological diversity (See Chapter 2). The physical attributes of Swaziland include diversified geology and soils, considerable altitudinal variation, a wide range of climate and vegetation types, and the country's location in the biodiversity rich region of south-eastern Africa. Except for a few areas (e.g. nature reserves) where naturalists' surveys have been undertaken much of the biological diversity in the country is yet to be studied. The degradation of biological diversity in Swaziland is being compounded by frequent droughts, the lack of trained personnel, historically poor legal provisions for biological resources conservation and sustainable use and failure to enforce them, conflicting traditional land use practices, traditional cattle farming and erosion, lack of public awareness for conservation and lack of environmental assessment of development plans. Strategic planning for conservation began in Swaziland in the aftermath of the Rio Earth Summit. Conservation measures have included:
5.1.2 The Project and its ObjectivesWithin the context of the SEAP process, the Government of Swaziland, as party to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), has formally requested assistance from Global Environment Facility (GEF) for the formulation of a National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (BSAP) to be integrated with and complement the SEAP and for the preparation of the first country report to the Biodiversity Conference of Parties (COP). The project will help SEA, relevant line ministries, NGOs, local communities and research institutions to provide information for the first country report to the COP. The BSAP will determine the current status of pressures on, options and priority actions to ensure conservation and sustainable use of the country's biodiversity. The enabling activity will be conducted to allow the BSAP to complement and to be integrated within existing frameworks, namely the SEAP, the Memorandum of Understanding on the implementation of the Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), and the National Development Strategy. Because of the extreme pressures on the land, the biodiversity enabling activity will be used as an opportunity to reinforce awareness of the importance of policy reforms and associated poverty alleviation programmes as a complement of biodiversity conservation and sustainable activities. 5.1.3 The Proposed Work ProgrammeActivities will begin in February 1997 and proceed for 12 months ending in January 1998. An interim country report will be prepared for submission to the COP by 30 June 1997.
5.1.4 MethodologyThe project will follow methodology recommended in the "Guide to the Convention on Biological Diversity" (IUCN), 1994) and the WRI/IUCN/UNEP (Miller and Lanou 1995) "Guidelines for Preparing National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans". The BSAP will prepare the ground and identify needs for activities to be undertaken by a proposed full GEF biodiversity conservation project. Guidance and lessons will be drawn from the NEAP process and recommendations. 5.2 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)5.2.1 BackgroundSwaziland signed the UNFCCC in Rio in June 1992, and submitted its instrument of ratification of the Convention in September 1996. The government has now initiated action to implement its commitments within the Convention. The country has not so far participated in any enabling activities initiated by any donor countries or UN agencies towards the implementation of the UNFCCC. Public awareness on climate change issues is still lacking in the country and is therefore considered as one of the most important activities in relation to the UNFCCC. So far, no inventory on the source and sinks of Green House Gases (GHG) has been undertaken in Swaziland and there is virtually no capacity to undertake this activity. 5.2.2 Major Sources of Green House Gases (GHG)The major sources of GHG emissions in Swaziland are those related to traditional (fuelwood, shrubs, cowdung and crop residues) and non-traditional fuels (petroleum and coal) consumption in households, transportation, industries, etc. Estimates reflected in the Department of Energy Report indicate that more than 50% of energy sources are wood and bagasse. Petroleum contributes about 24%, above 13% from coal and 8% from electricity. Agricultural sectors are likely to contribute a significant amount of GHG emissions. These include methane emissions from livestock. The large number of livestock in the country also contributes to soil erosion and land degradation which, in turn, could reduce the GHG sinks. GHG emissions from the burning of agricultural residues and wild fires could be significant. By ratifying the Convention, the Government of Swaziland undertakes to abide by the provisions of the relevant articles of the Convention. The Swaziland Environment Authority (SEA) has the responsibility for coordinating the country's programme to fulfill its obligations under the UNFCCC. In this regard, the SEA has negotiated a two year project on Enabling Activities for the Implementation of the UNFCCC. 5.2.3 Project Objectives and ActivitiesThe objectives of the Project are as follows:
The main activities within the project are as follows:
Detailed work plans for each activity will be developed by the project Management Team. The project will be implemented by the Swaziland Meteorological Services (SMS) under the guidance of the SEA. The project is rated as enjoying a very high level and a wide range of national support. It is considered as an integral part of the SEAP process. Institutional framework and project implementation details are spelled out in the project document. The following figure shows the project management structure. 5.2.4 Priority Actions
5.3 The Convention to Combat Desertification5.3.1 BackgroundSwaziland signed the international Convention to Combat Desertification (CCD) in July 1995 and completed the ratification process in early 1997. The country has already launched consultations on how to initiate action to implement interim measures called for under the resolution on the "Urgent Action for Africa" which was adopted at the same time as the CCD in Paris 1994. The Convention gives Swaziland a unique opportunity for immediate and practical action at grassroots level where rural communities in drought affected and degradation-prone areas could start on a process aimed at improving their standard of living. The Convention provides a significant focal point for coordination, planning, monitoring, and evaluation of the many, sometimes conflicting and often overlapping projects related to drought mitigation. The Convention would also facilitate sustainability of projects in a number of ways, including individual communities accepting responsibility for their own planning and management of production systems; rational and efficient allocation of resources and tasks between and within rural communities, government agencies, NGOs and external stake-holders. Despite the actions the government has so far taken to implement some of the provisions contained in the Urgent Action for Africa, the country nevertheless still recognises the need to put in place a financial mechanism through which actions, projects and programmes under the convention can effectively utilize internal and external resources. 5.3.2 Summary of Actions taken by Swaziland towards Implementation of the CCD
5.3.3 Planned ActivitiesIn addition to the above actions which have been completed, the government is in the near future planning to accomplish the following:
5.3.4 CCD Activity in ProgressIn addition to the planned activities outlined above, the government has already set in motion a process through which a proposal to set up a National Desertification Fund (NDF) will be prepared. The government requested the assistance of UNDP/UNSO (technical and financial) to initiate the formulation of the proposal and support the activities of the task force that will be responsible for its preparation. As one of the first concrete steps towards the formulation of the NEF/NDF the government of Swaziland has set up a task force composed of eleven (11) representatives from various institutions to address the following principal tasks:
The task force is under the direction of a full time coordinator to facilitate speedy completion of the work. 5.3.5 Priority Actions
5.4 Southern African Development Community (SADC)In Southern Africa, the poverty of the poor majority remains the main cause and consequence of environmental degradation and resource depletion which in turn undermines the possibilities and prospects for future economic growth. The cause of the problem is one related to national and international development policies "which fail to reach, involve and benefit the poor majority". Policy changes to greater unity for sustainable development are needed, for example, in national economic policies, and wildlife and parks policies. Throughout Southern Africa, the largely separate policies and programmes for economic reform, social progress and environmental improvement must be increasingly integrated in a single agenda and strategy for sustainable development. 5.4.1 A New Regional Environment Policy and StrategyThe SADC Environment and Land Management Sector (ELMS) has reaffirmed that a new SADC policy and strategy for environment and resource management is not and must not be separate. It must be developed and implemented as an integral part of a wider SADC agenda for equity-led growth and sustainable development in and among the countries of Southern Africa. The main goals for a regional environment policy and strategy are:
Three complementary but more functional goals are:
ELMS identified key policy areas for moving towards sustainable development in the region as including:
5.4.2 Key Policy SupportKey policy support areas include:
For each of the above key areas, the priority issues, objectives and proposed projects are identified. These goals and policy proposals together constitute an agenda for action in environment and natural resources management in the Southern African region. 5.5 Beijing DeclarationAt the Fourth World Conference on Women, held in Beijing in 1995, the Beijing Declaration was signed, committing the governments of the world to action for equality, development, and peace. Swaziland is a signatory of that Declaration, and significant progress has since been achieved in the country, through the efforts of the Swaziland Committee of Gender and Women's Affairs (SCOGWA), and through the National Development Strategy (NDS) process, in identifying the critical issues and areas of action (including participation in the management of natural resources). The recent gazetting of a gender portfolio under the Ministry of Home Affairs shows the extent to which the pre- and post- Beijing initiatives have made an impact. Government is now expected to show its commitment by establishing an institutional mechanism to support the gender portfolio. SCOGWA is committed to doing its part in maintaining a coordinating, advocacy and monitoring role. Public participation should ensure that it is implemented at all levels. 5.6 OthersSome other conventions and agreements of which Swaziland is a member include the following:
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