SPATIAL TOOL SIMPLIFIES ENVIRONMENTAL AUTHORIZATION PROCESS

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by Keneilwe Mmushi
The Department of the Environment, Forestry and Fisheries (DEFF) is responsible for protecting, conserving and improving the South African environment and natural resources. As part of their mandate DEFF is required to be proactive and foster innovative thinking and solutions for environmental management. As part of fulfilling its commitments, DEFF has launched a geographically based web-enabled National Screening Tool that aims to provide users the ability to pre-screen their proposed site for environmental impacts before applying for an environmental authorization.

DEFF, in partnership with private and public organizations, collated over 100 environmental data sets, such as the South African Protected Areas Database, the Agricultural Land Capability, and Terrestrial biodiversity. These datasets have been overlaid with national parcel and street map data making it possible for users to easily identify a proposed site and establish the environmental sensitivity for the area.
The screening tool was developed using ESRI geospatial technology and its functionality was designed to comply with the Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations of 2014.
On the 5th of July 2019 DEA held a seminar, that aimed to showcase their webinar and its functionality to the broader community at the ESRI South Africa Offices, International Business Gateway Park in Midrand. The participants were a combination of EAPs, developer’s, government officials, research institutions and NGOs.
The seminar helped us explore the objectives of the screening tool from the report generated including but not limited to; the list of specialist reports required, all listing notices for the specified proposed developments and checking for sensitivity.

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