the richtersveld cultural and botanical landscape - SAHRA

Richtersveld Cultural and Botanical Landscape World Heritage Site Nomination 110
• Natural Resource Heritage Act (1999)
• The National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act (2004)
• The National Environmental Management: Protected Areas Amendment Act
(2004)
• Local Government: Municipal Structures Act (1998)
Constitution of the Republic of South Africa (1996)
First and foremost as governing law in South Africa is the Constitution of the
Republic of South Africa, specifically its Bill of Rights which includes specific
environmental and cultural rights (Section 24 of Chapter 2). These rights have
formed the cornerstone of the Conservancy in specific regards to sustainable
development, ecological conservation and economic and social development.
The Environmental Right:
“Everyone has the right to have the environment protected, for the benefit of
present and future generations, through reasonable legislative and other
measures that prevent pollution and ecological degradation; promote
conservation; and secure ecologically sustainable development and use of
natural resources while promoting justifiable economic and social
development.”
The Constitution also specifies that:
“Persons belonging to a cultural, religious or linguistic community may not
be denied the right, with other members of that community to enjoy their
culture, practice their religion, and use their language; and to form, join and
maintain cultural, religious and linguistic associations and other organs of
civil society.”
The history of dispossession lies deep in the Richtersveld, extending back to the
1920s with the discovery of diamonds in the Alexander Bay area. The local people
of the Richtersveld became people without any rights on their traditional land who