the richtersveld cultural and botanical landscape - SAHRA

More documents

Recommendations

Info

Richtersveld Cultural and Botanical Landscape World Heritage Site Nomination 111 were dispossessed for the promotion of racial discrimination and for the state to tap the extensive diamond wealth on the land without returning revenues to the local people. The Richtersveld Community finally acted and in 2000 took steps to reclaim its birthright by applying for return of its land rights to the Commission on Restoration of Land Rights, the Land Claims Court and the Minister of Agriculture and Land Affairs. The community sees the land claim as part of a greater land transformation process in the Richtersveld area which extends beyond ownership and includes full control and benefits through livelihood development. The Communal Property Association aims to do so with the support of government, and by integrating with government-led processes at all levels. While the land claim involved areas outside of the Conservancy (since the Richtersveld Community Conservancy has no mining activities), specifically those areas mined for diamonds, the community’s victory in ensuring their right to land provides necessary context with regards to legislation and the ownership of the Conservancy and demonstrates the Sida !hub Community Property Association’s (CPA) determination to keep its ancestral land. The South African Constitution specifies that: “A person or community dispossessed of property after 19 June, 1913 as a result of past racially discriminatory laws or practices is entitled, to the extent provided by an Act of Parliament, either to restitution of that property or to equitable redress.” World Heritage Convention Act (1999) The World Heritage Convention Act of 1999 incorporates into law the World Heritage Convention and provides for its enforcement and implementation. The Act also provides for the establishment of authorities to safeguard the integrity of the nation’s World Heritage Sites. It acknowledges that the damage, deterioration or disappearance of the nation’s heritage is a loss not only for the citizens of South Africa but for the entire world. The Act emphasizes sustainable development in accordance with the protection of the integrity of the nation’s ecological and cultural assets.
Richtersveld Cultural and Botanical Landscape World Heritage Site Nomination 112 The Act specifies that disturbances to ecosystems, landscapes and sites that constitute the cultural and natural heritage of the nation and the loss of biological diversity must be avoided, and that “highly dynamic, sensitive, vulnerable or stressed ecosystems, such as coastal shores, dolomitic land and ridges, estuaries, wetlands, and similar ecosystems require specific attention in management and planning procedures, especially where they are subjected to significant human usage and development pressure” (the Act, 1999, p.10). These provisions of the Act are supported in law by the National Environmental Management Act of 1998 and the Environmental Conservation Act of 1989. The Act requires the Government to establish authorities to ensure the protection of and responsible development in World Heritage Sites; to ensure the preparation of integrated management plans for inscribed sites; and to ensure necessary financial controls and auditing for management of the sites. An authority will be determined for every World Heritage Site, and such authorities will work hand-in hand in an integrated manner with local, district, provincial and national government and controlling bodies. National Environmental Management Act (1998) The National Environmental Management Act (NEMA) is the most important piece of environmental legislation. It serves to provide for cooperative environmental governance by establishing: • principles for decision making on matters affecting the environment; • institutions that will promote cooperative governance; and • procedures for coordinating environmental functions exercised by organs of state. NEMA focuses on regulating the following main aspects: development, planning, natural and cultural resources and their utilization, the control of pollution, and the management of waste. NEMA is heavily founded in the principles of sustainable
Page 1 and 2:
THE RICHTERSVELD CULTURAL AND BOTAN
Page 3 and 4:
Richtersveld Cultural and Botanical
Page 5 and 6:
Page 7:
Page 10 and 11:
Page 12 and 13:
Page 14 and 15:
Page 16 and 17:
Page 18 and 19:
Page 20 and 21:
Page 22 and 23:
Page 24 and 25:
Page 26 and 27:
Page 28 and 29:
Page 30 and 31:
Page 32 and 33:
Page 34 and 35:
Page 36 and 37:
Page 38 and 39:
Page 40 and 41:
Page 42 and 43:
Page 44 and 45:
Page 46 and 47:
Page 48 and 49:
Page 50 and 51:
Page 52 and 53:
Page 54 and 55:
Page 56 and 57:
Page 58 and 59:
Page 60 and 61:
Page 62 and 63: Richtersveld Cultural and Botanical
Page 162 and 163:
Page 164 and 165:
Page 166 and 167:
show all

the richtersveld cultural and botanical landscape - SAHRA

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?