the richtersveld cultural and botanical landscape - SAHRA

Richtersveld Cultural and Botanical Landscape World Heritage Site Nomination 114
“that the disturbance of landscapes and sites that constitute the nation’s cultural
heritage is avoided, or where it cannot be altogether avoided, is minimised and
remedied.”
Environment Conservation Act 73 (1989)
Many of the provisions in the Environmental Conservation Act 73 (ECA) have been
replaced by NEMA. However, some significant aspects are still determined by ECA.
It specifies the process for environmental management tools, including
environmental impact assessments (EIAs) and under what circumstances they are
required. Both NEMA and ECA are important in regards to World Heritage Sites
because they determine what development will be permitted in a World Heritage
Site and how damage to the environment or the cultural fabric of the place will be
avoided. These decisions are made largely at the provincial level in Northern Cape
Environmental Affairs and Tourism Department.
A main purpose of ECA is to stipulate exactly what activities will trigger the need for
an EIA and the Act lists these. The ECA Regulations have also been amended and
updated to fully clarify issues that were previously vague or weak. It better defines
the list and demands better decision making and accountability from governmental
authorities and EIA practitioners. It also better outlines the details of the processes
of environmental management and the needs for each phase of an EIA.
The new EIA regulations also specify specific geographical areas which would
demand environmental authorization. Relevant to this nomination, these include:
• areas or sites identified by any legislation or in any government policy or
plan that has been adopted for the purpose of protecting or conserving
biological, water, landscape, geological, archaeological, palaeontological,
architectural or cultural resources;
• the core areas of biosphere reserves; and