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31 January, 2008
TOPS
Amendments
The Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism has announced amendments
to the TOPS regulations, gazetted in February 2007. These amended
regulations have been gazetted today in the Government Gazette (Gazette
number 30568). The implementation of these regulations was delayed due to
the implementation concerns that were raised by the provincial authorities.
-
TOPS regulations - amendments 2008 - Final
- Press Release from DEAT -
Minister van Schalkwyk announces amendments to Threatened and Protected
Species (TOPS) Regulations.
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Amendments Fact sheet
- National Environmental Management:
Biodiversity Act: Critically endangered, endangered, vulnerable and
protected species list: Amendment (Gazette
30568, RG 8801, Notice 1187) 14 December 2007
- National Environmental Management:
Biodiversity Act: Regulations: Threatened or protected species: Amendment (Gazette
30568, RG 8801, Notice 1188) 14 December 2007
- National Biodiversity Management:
Biodiversity Act, 2004 (Act 10 of 2004): Publication of Lists of critically
endangered, endangered, vulnerable and protected species -
Government Gazette 29657, 23 February 2007.
- National Biodiversity Management:
Biodiversity Act, 2004 (Act 10 of 2004): Threatened or Protected Species
Regulations -
Goverment Gazette 29657, 23 February 2007
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16 November, 2007
TOPS feedback
During middle September the Minister’s office
informed Advocate (senior legal representative) Francois van Zyl that senior
officials of the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DEAT) will be
appointed to meet with him. This meeting took place on 14.11.2007. Ian
Bassingthwaighte, Mark Crooks, Martin Bruwer and I joined Francois. Mr.
Fundisile Mketeni of DEAT summarized the meeting as follows.
That they will engage with the Society for
Guidelines for the Norms and Standard for ex situ cycads. To explore
transitional guidelines, with a clear sunset clause of 12 months. The
establishment of a consultation process between DEAT and the Cycad Society
Finalizing TOPS regulations in regard with section 25 and a transition period
clause.
Although the Threatened and Protected Species
Regulations (TOPS) will still be implemented on 1.2.2008, point 25 will only be
implemented once we have completed the Biodiversity Management Plan for ex situ
cycads. This should be done within 12 months. The important matter is that they
are going to differentiate between wild and ex situ cycads. DEAT also requested
us to ask all members to apply for the necessary permit, as required by TOPS as
soon as possible and not to leave it till end of January 2007. We still have a
lot of work to do and I would like to thank all the persons actively involved in
this process.
Greetings
Xander |
16 November, 2007
TOPS terugvoering
Die vergadering met verskeie senior amptenare van
DEAT het op 14.11.2007 plaasgevind . EK, Ian, Mark en Martin Bruwer het saam met
Francois die vergadering bygewoon. Die volgende ondernemings is deur DEAT gemaak:
Dat hulle met die Vereniging sal onderhandel vir
‘n riglyn dokument vir die Norme en Standaarde van ex situ broodbome. Ondersoek
oorgangs riglyne met ‘n verval datum van 1jaar. Om met die Vereniging te
konsulteer. Om BOBS te finaliseer, veral t.o.v. punt 25 met ‘n oorgangsklousule.
Die implikasies hiervan is dat alhoewel BOBS nog
steeds op 1.2.2008 geïmplementeer gaan word, punt 25 se implementering uit
gestel word totdat ons die Biodiversiteitsplan vir ex situ broodbome
gefinaliseer het en ons moet dit binne ‘n jaar regkry. Daar gaan dus onderskeid
getref word tussen wilde broodbome en wettige plante in tuine(ex situ broodbome).
Punt 25 gaan dus heeltemal anders lyk. DOT het ons verder versoek om al ons lede
te vra om vroegtydig aansoek te doen vir die nodige permitte soos deur BOBS
regulasies bepaal en dit nie te los tot einde Januarie 2008 nie.
Groete
Xander |
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1 October, 2007
TOPS feedback
The mini conference of the Gauteng regional
branch took place over the long week end and was a success. I encourage the
other Regions to do the same. At the end of the conference and at the request of
Mark Crooks, a TOPS (Threatened or Protected Species) regulations committee was
formed. John Kloppers proposed that Mark and I form the committee. The four
members will consist of the two of us, Ian Bassingthwaighte and Vaughn Botha
(chairman of the Cycad Growers Association). All are members of the Cycad
Society. Mark represents the non-members interests and Vaughn the grower's
interests.
The meeting with DEAT (Dept of Environmental
Affairs and Tourism) on 28.09.07 took place in a good spirit and I think a lot
was achieved. The most important was that we indicated to them that the BMP-S
(Biodiversity Management Plans for Species) which they, until now, put forward
to us as a solution, will not work until such time as the N&S (Norms and
Standards) document is finalised. The problem is that both the NEMBA (National
Environmental Management Biodiversity Act) and the N&S documents focus mainly on
plants in the wild. The N&S document is presently open for comment and we have
already indicated that we wish to be considered as role-players and that we hope
to formulate a N&S document which covers legally held cycads in private
possession.
There must be a clear distinction between plants
found in nature and in gardens. Amendments to TOPS will be limited to four
additions under section 25 (c) viz. BMP-S will be added, DEAT will either remove
E umbeluziensis or add it to the schedule, remove E cerinus and must also
exclude critically endangered species. It does not seem as if DEAT are going to
advertise the amendments due to them being trifling and the date of
implementation remains at 01.02.08. The growers permit books will now consist of
50 sets (not 25 as previously indicated) and the permit forms will have space
for more than one plant to be entered. The tenders have been finalised and DEAT
expect to be ready by the end of October for applications. The final
implementation document will only be available once the N&S document has been
finalised.
The Minister has finally advised that a senior
official will be delegated to meet with Adv van Zyl. I will also attend this
meeting. Mark consulted with Adv van Zyl on 26.09.07 and the final decision over
the interdict date will be done after the meeting with the appointed official.
Remember if we can prove that we did everything in our power to reach an
amicable solution, despite the mistakes and or omissions in their advert, it
will be to our advantage when applying for an urgent interdict.
Greetings
Xander de Kock
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1 Oktober, 2007
TOPS terugvoering
Mini-konferensie van die Transvaalse streekstak
oor die lang naweek was 'n sukses en ek moedig ander streke aan om dit ook te
doen. Aan die einde van die konferensie en op Mark Crooks se versoek word 'n
TOPS regulasies kommitee gestig. John Kloppers stel voor dat ek en Mark die
kommitee saamstel. Die 4 man kommitee bestaan uit ons 2, Ian Bassingthwaighte en
Vaughn Botha (Voorsitter van die Cycad Growers Association). Almal is ook lede
van die vereniging, Mark verteenwoordig die nie lede belang en Vaughn die
kwekers belang.
Die vergadering met DEAT (Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism) op
28.9.2007 het regtig in 'n goeie gees plaas gevind en ek dink ons het heelwat
bereik. Die belangrikste is dat ons vir hulle uitgewys het dat die BMP-S (Biodiversity
Management Plans for species) wat hulle vir ons tot op hede as oplossing gebied
het, nie kan werk sonder dat die N&S (Norms and Standard) dokument gefinaliseer
is nie. Die probleem is egter dat beide die NEMBA(National Environmental
Management: Biodiversity Act) en die N&S dokument primêr fokus op plante in die
natuur. Die N&S dokument is huidiglik oop vir kommentaar en ons het reeds
aangedui dat ons van die rolspelers wil wees en dat ons hoop om 'n N&S dokument
te kan opstel vir die wettige broodbome in privaat besit. Daar moet onderskeid
getref kan word tussen plante in die natuur en in tuine! Wysigings aan
TOPS (Threatened or Protected Species Regulations) vir ons van belang gaan beperk
word tot 4 byvoegings onder 25(c); nl. BMP-S gaan bygevoeg word, hulle gaan of
E. umbeluziensis afhaal of by die skedule plaas, gaan E.cerinus hier uithaal en
moet krities bedreigde plante hier uitsluit. Klink nie of hulle dit gaan
adverteer nie, omdat dit geringe wysigings volgens hulle is en die
implementeringsdatum bly 1/2/2008. Die kwekerspermitboeke gaan uit 50(nie meer
uit 25 enkeles nie) bestaan en dit gaan oop wees, m.a.w. verskeie plante per
permit. Die tenders is reeds gefinaliseer en hulle hoop om einde 10/2007 reg te
wees vir aansoeke. Die finale implementeringsdokument sal eers reg op die einde
beskikbaar wees nadat die N&S dokument gefinaliseer is.
Die minister het uiteindelik laat weet dat 'n senior amptenaar aan gewys sal
word om met Advokaat Francois van Zyl te vergader. Ek sal defnitief dit bywoon
en dit pas goed in na ons afgelope vergadering. Mark het op 26.9.2007 met
Francois vergader en die finale besluit oor die interdik datum sal gedoen word
na afloop van die vergadering met die aangewese amptenaar van die Minister.
Onthou dat as ons kan bewys dat ons alles(onderhandel, onderhandel en nogmaals
onderhandel) binne ons vermoëns gedoen het tot 'n vreedsame oplossing, ongeag
die foute in hul advertensie, dit tot ons voordeel strek om 'n dringende
interdik te bekom. Groete
Xander de Kock
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