Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment - 2019/20 - 2023/24 Strategic Plan and 2020/21 Annual Performance Plan.

This Strategic Plan promoted by the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment represents the Government's commitment to building a united and cohesive society in which poverty is eradicated and lives are improved advancing the need to live in harmony with nature. This will be achieved by providing leadership in environmental management, conservation, and protection towards sustainability for the benefit of South Africans and the global community. The Plan aims to facilitate sustainable socio-economic growth by enhancing the environmental sector’s contribution to economic prosperity and supporting a transition to a low-carbon economy. To achieve this, various programs in different sectors such as forests, water, wetlands, waste, land, and oceans are being expanded, alongside further development of Green Economy initiatives. These efforts focus on job creation and environmental infrastructure development. Significant investments are being made in environmental awareness and education, particularly for youth, supported by skills development initiatives. Aligned with Government policy, the Plan prioritizes benefits for women, youth, and people with disabilities while fostering the growth of SMMEs across multiple sectors, including aquaculture, wildlife, bioprospecting, and waste management. Additionally, communities are encouraged to leverage traditional knowledge for sustainable resource use, supported by wildlife industry transformation and Benefit Sharing Agreements.
The Plan includes various programs designed to achieve its objectives, which are (i) Administration to provide strategic leadership, management, and support services to the department; (ii) Regulatory Compliance and Sector Monitoring to establish an enabling legal framework and licensing system that promotes enforcement, compliance, and coordination of sector performance; (iii) Oceans and Coasts to promote, manage, and provide strategic leadership in ocean and coastal conservation; (iv) Climate Change, Air Quality, and Sustainable Development to lead, promote, facilitate, inform, monitor, and review the integration of environmental sustainability, low-carbon strategies, climate resilience, and air quality into the transition to sustainable development; (v) Biodiversity and Conservation to regulate and manage biodiversity, heritage, and conservation efforts in a way that supports sustainable economic growth and development; (vi) Environmental Programs to implement the expanded public works program and green economy initiatives in the environmental sector; (vii) Chemical and Waste Management to manage and ensure the implementation and enforcement of chemicals and waste management policies and legislation in compliance with relevant authorizations, directives, and agreements; (viii) Forestry Management to develop and implement policies and programs for the sustainable management of forests, land, and water, as well as agricultural risk and disaster management; (ix) Fisheries Management to ensure the sustainable use and regulated access to marine living resources through improved management and regulation. The Implementation Plan outlines quarterly performance verification and enhancements to internal control systems to mitigate risks related to corporate governance and financial management. It highlights the creation of a central supplier database and stresses the importance of proper segregation of duties to prevent irregular expenditures. The Plan also emphasizes stakeholder engagement and partnerships in training and capacity-building initiatives to address wildlife crime.