SPATIAL TOOL SIMPLIFIES ENVIRONMENTAL AUTHORIZATION PROCESS

By -
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.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Kukula Traditional Health Practitioners Association Bio-Cultural Community Protocols Revision Workshop & Peer-to-Peer Learning Exchange

By -
Image
Community mapping Natural Justice’s Cath Traynor together with Mina Buthelezi (SANParks BSP/K2C Data Collector & Field Assistant), and Prof. Wayne Twine (Wits University) facilitated a 3-day workshop with the Kukula Traditional Health Practitioners Association to revise their bio-cultural community protocol (BCP). The Kukula’s original BCP was finalized in 2010, and the past 6 years have seen a growth in Kukula membership, a change in their priorities plus the introduction by the South African Government of several new laws and policies which will impact the Kukula. The objectives of the workshop were to (i) finalize the BCP revision process, (ii) focused discussions concerning leveraging the revised BCP, (iii) furthering engagement around medicinal plant issues with protected areas managers, and (iv) peer-to-peer learning exchange with Ndindani Community Nursery in Phalaborwa . During the first session of the workshop the Kukula agreed on a BCP revision process, this wa...
Read more

K2C to start a blogging page

By -
Image
From the 1st Dec 2013, K2C will start a regular blog posting on this page.   Various potential bloggers will be approached by K2C to submit regular blogs on their life in the K2C, their challenges and opportunities.   If you would like to contribute and be a regular blogger on the K2C blog page, please contact info@kruger2canyons.org.   If you would like to be able to follow the regular blogs, please fill in your email address in the email block below "Follow by Email"
Read more

KNP ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION CAPACITY BUILDING FOR ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORS

By -
Image
By Vulani Mabunda On the 19 th of July 2019 19x EMS from different host institutions, i.e.   Sefapane, Nourish and Letaba Ranch attended an Environmental Education workshop at Letaba Elephant Hall facilitated by KNP’s Kirsty Reedman and her team. Environmental Education (EE) connects us to the world around us, teaching about both natural built environments, EE raises awareness of issues impacting the environment upon which we depend, as well as actions we can take to improve and sustain it. The specific outcome s from the Workshop was to empower participants to be able to: Design and implement an environmental Education Programme Design and implement a children’s environmental education programme Design and implement an environmental education programme for visitors to a conservation area Through this workshop, EM's acquired a lot of knowledge and experience in terms of Environmental Education:  EM's learned how to integ...
Read more