Hoedspruit - More than 850 young environmental monitors have been appointed to work in protected areas across the country.
This was announced by Deputy Minister for Water and Environmental Affairs Rejoice Mabudafhasi during the celebration the Environmental Monitors Day in Hoedspruit, Limpopo, this week.
“The importance of this day is to celebrate the contributions made by you, the environmental monitors. It is also an opportunity for you to demonstrate to us, the returns on investment," said Mabudafhasi.
"To date, 862 environmental monitors have been appointed, of which 168 jobs have been created in the Kruger to Canyons (K2C) biosphere."
Mabudafhasi said other opportunities created include an extensive network of partners, among them landowners, collaborating on the oversight of environmental-related issues in the biosphere reserve.
"A further 95 jobs is anticipated for the next two months,” said Mabudafhasi.
The purpose of the day was to celebrate the contribution made by environmental monitors and demonstrate what return-on-investment the programme has yielded.
Mabudafhasi said environmental monitors of the K2C biosphere form part of the department’s Environmental Monitor programme in partnership with the South African National Parks (SANParks).
She added that the monitors participate in the K2C biosphere reserve programme as an extensive community-driven initiative that provides additional support to the Kruger National Park as well as numerous private host institutions bordering the park.
“This day is a huge success. I will be taking messages from your learning to other places I go. I believe you are going to make a huge contribution towards the growth of our country, your bioregion and your community,” Mabudafhasi said.
The operations of the monitors include daily patrol on protected areas and monitoring biodiversity in and around protected areas throughout South Africa.
One of the monitors, Kenneth Ngobeni, said the programme had changed his life for the better.
"I have gained knowledge about the environment and we also share the information with communities,” said Ngobeni.
Department spokesman Peter Mbelengwa said the K2C biosphere is one of the department's six biospheres that are reserved in South Africa.
“The department plays a central role in empowering communities through its Environmental Protection and Infrastructure Programme (EPIP) branch, and has nominated the Kruger to Canyons biosphere as one of its flagship programmes in this regard,” said Mbelengwa.
In 2001, the K2C biosphere was rated the third largest biosphere reserve in the world.
A biosphere designation is given by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation to special landscapes where people are collaborating to ensure their environmental integrity as the basis for their economic development. – SAnews.gov.za
