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.
• 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

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

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
 

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