The protection and improvement of the environment

Legislation

Legislation

The protection and improvement of the environment is encouraged in numerous ways in the Western Cape. There are legal requirements of farmers and land managers, good-practice expectations from different organisations, as well as public and local community demands for environmental and social benefits.

Conservation issues affect every aspect of farming. These legal documents explain the areas of concern and interest for farmers and land managers and the legal requirements for environmental management.

Cape Land use Planning Ordinance, No. 15 of 1985

Ordinance to regulate land use and to provide for matters incidental thereto.

Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, No. 108 of 1996

The Constitution of the Republic of South Africa is the foundation of South African legislation.

Cape Land Use Planning Ordinance, No. 15 of 1985 (Amendment of Zoning Scheme Regulations)

This is an amendment of the Zoning Scheme Regulations of the Cape Land Use Planning Ordinance.

Fencing Act, No. 31 of 1963

To consolidate the laws relating to fences and the fencing of farms and other holdings and matters incidental thereto.

National Forests Act, No. 84 of 1998

To reform the law on forests; to repeal certain laws; and to provide for related matters

Nature and Environmental Conservation Ordinance, No. 19 of 1974

To consolidate and amend the laws relating to nature and environmental conservation and to provide for matters incidental thereto.

The National Veld and Fire Act, No. 101 of 1998

To reform the law on veld and forest fires; to repeal certain provisions of the Forest Act, 1984; and to provide for related matters

Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act, No. 28 of 2002

To make provision for equitable access to and sustainable development of the nation’s mineral and petroleum resources; and to provide for matters connected therewith.

National Water Act, No. 36 of 1998

To provide for fundamental reform of the law relating to water resources; to repeal certain laws; and to provide for matters connected therewith.

Conservation of Agricultural Resources Act, No. 43 of 1983

To provide for control over the utilization of the natural agricultural resources of the Republic in order to promote the conservation of the soil, the water sources and the vegetation and the combating of weeds and invader plants; and for matters connected therewith.

National Environmental Management Act, No.107 of 1998

To provide for co-operative, environmental governance by establishing principles for decision-making on matters affecting the environment, institutions that will promote co-operative governance and procedures for co-ordinating environmental functions exercised by organs of state; and to provide for matters connected therewith.

Fertilizers, Farm Feeds, Agricultural Remedies and Stock Remedies Act, No. 36 of 1947

To provide for the appointment of a Registrar of Fertilizers, Farm Feeds, Agricultural Remedies and Stock Remedies; for the registration of fertilizers, farm feeds, agricultural remedies, stock remedies, sterilizing plants and pest control operators; to regulate or prohibit the importation, sale, acquisition, disposal or use of fertilizers, farm feeds, agricultural remedies and stock remedies; to provide for the designation of technical advisers and analysts; and to provide for matters incidental thereto.

Hazardous Substances Act, No. 15 of 1973

To provide for the control of substances which may cause injury or ill-health to or death of human beings by reason of their toxic, corrosive, irritant, strongly sensitizing or flammable nature or the generation of pressure thereby in certain circumstances, and for the control of certain electronic products; to provide for the division of such substances or products into groups in relation to the degree of danger; to provide for the prohibition and control of the importation, manufacture, sale, use, operation, application, modification, disposal or dumping of such substances and products; and to provide for matters connected therewith.

National Environmental Management Biodiversity Act, No. 10 of 2004

To provide for the management and conservation of South Africa’s biodiversity within the framework of the National Environmental Management Act, 1998; the protection of species and ecosystems that warrant national protection; the sustainable use of indigenous biological resources; the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from bio prospecting involving indigenous biological resources; the establishment and functions of a South African National Biodiversity Institute; and for matters connected therewith.

National Environmental Management Integrated Coastal Management Act, No. 24 of 2008

To establish a system of integrated coastal and estuarine management in the Republic, including norms, standards and policies, in order to promote the conservation of the coastal environment, and maintain the natural attributes of coastal landscapes and seascapes, and to ensure that development and the use of natural resources within the coastal zone is socially and economically justifiable and ecologically sustainable; to define rights and duties in relation to coastal areas; to determine the responsibilities of organs of state in relation to coastal areas; to prohibit incineration at sea; to control dumping at sea, pollution in the coastal zone, inappropriate development of the coastal environment and other adverse effects on the coastal environment; to give effect to South Africa's international obligations in relation to coastal matters; and to provide for matters connected therewith.

National Environmental Management Waste Act, No. 59 of 2008

To reform the law regulating waste management in order to protect health and the environment by providing reasonable measures for the prevention of pollution and ecological degradation and for securing ecologically sustainable development; to provide for institutional arrangements and planning matters; to provide for national norms and standards for regulating the management of waste by all spheres of government; to provide for specific waste management measures; to provide for the licensing and control of waste management activities; to provide for the remediation of contaminated land; to provide for the national waste information system; to provide for compliance and enforcement; and to provide for matters connected therewith.

Protected Areas Act, No. 57 of 2003

To provide for the protection and conservation of ecologically viable areas representative of South Africa’s biological diversity and its natural landscapes and seascapes; for the establishment of a national register of all national, provincial and local protected areas; for the management of those areas in accordance with national norms and standards; for intergovernmental co-operation and public consultation in matters concerning protected areas; for the continued existence, governance and functions of South African National Parks; and for matters in connection therewith.

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