Last month, the Cape Town Declaration on Crimes that Affect the Environment was adopted, marking the first time that major economies recognised environmental crime as organised crime.

“The Cape Town Declaration was the turning point. It was the first time that G20 nations recognised crimes that affect the environment as organised crimes that demand a united response. The outcomes in Rio prove that multilateralism, when rooted intrust and cooperation, can deliver tangible results,” Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Dr Dion George, said last week.

The Cape Town Ministerial Declaration on Crimes that Affect the Environment calls for stronger global cooperation to combat illegal wildlife trade, deforestation, mining, waste trafficking and other transnational crimes that undermine environmental security, societies and economic integrity.

In a significant milestone last week, the Rio Declaration on Crimes that Affect the Environment was adopted in Brazil.

It builds directly on the Cape Town Ministerial Declaration on Crimes that Affect the Environment, led by South Africa and adopted by G20 nations, representing more than 85 percent of the global economy, last month.

The Rio Declaration was led by the Royal Foundation’s United for Wildlife programme, with Brazil, South Africa, and other governments committing to stronger collective action against crimes that affect the environment.

“The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment congratulates the Government of Brazil, the Royal Foundation, and all international partners on the adoption of the Rio Declaration. South Africa remains committed to turning global ambition into lasting action for people and the planet,” the Department said.

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This is according to Pam Yako, Chairperson of South African National Parks, speaking late last month at the Minister’s Induction Workshop for the Portfolio Committee on Forestry, Fisheries, and Environment.

She told the workshop there was “a recent drastic reduction” in rhino poaching, both on national and provincial game reserves and parks, including Kruger. On the debit side of the ledger, the iconic South African park now must deal with an increase in snaring, particularly along its western border, much of which is in Mpumalanga’s Bushbuckridge.

South Africa’s south-western parts are where plant and reptile smugglers ply their trade, according to Yako.

She further informed the workshop, attended by DFFE deputy ministers Bernice Swarts and Narend Singh with apologies from Minister Dion George, that environmental crime varies between parks and regions as each area has a unique set of drivers impacting criminal activities and park integrity.

Partnership and technology are, according to her, proving successful in the “drive against environmental crimes”. The SA Police Service (SAPS), National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), local and provincial authorities as well as communities adjacent to and in the vicinity of national parks all partner with the custodian of the country’s natural heritage.

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