White Paper on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of South Africa's Biological Diversity. Notice no. 1095 of 1997.

This White Paper, responding to the global cooperation to conserve biodiversity, concerns the definition of a Policy and Strategy on the protection of biodiversity, the sustainable use of biological resources, the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the use of genetic resources. The White Paper defines the following components of biodiversity: genetic diversity, species diversity, ecosystem diversity, landscape diversity. The White Paper defines the mission of a Biodiversity Policy and Strategy for South Africa: the Government improves ecological processes and systems, while providing lasting development benefits to the nation through the ecologically sustainable, socially equitable, and economically efficient use of biological resources. The contents of this White Paper are based on the following guiding principles: duty of care; sustainable use; fair and equitable distribution of benefits; full cost-benefit accounting; precautionary principle; accountability and transparency; recognition and protection of traditional knowledge, practices and cultures.
This White Paper defines the Biodiversity Policy’s goals, moving from the three priorities of the government: eradication of poverty; sustainable development of the economy; social development of the people. In addition to these priorities, the government commits itself to achieve reconstruction and development of the country through six goals: 1) Conservation of the diversity of landscapes, ecosystems, habitats, communities, populations, species and genes in the country. 2) Sustainable use of biological resources and minimisation of adverse impacts on biological diversity. 3) Serving national interests through the use and development of South Africa’s genetic resources. 4) Expansion of human capacity to conserve biodiversity and manage its use. 5) Creation of conditions and incentives that support the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity. 6) Promotion of conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity at international level. Conservation aims at preserving terrestrial, marine and wetlands protected areas, through restoration and rehabilitation of degraded ecosystems, strengthening and further developing species recovery plans and by preventing the introduction of potentially harmful alien species and eradicating alien species which threaten ecosystems, habitats or species, and through regulation of the transfer, handling, use and release of genetically modified organisms, in order to minimise the potential risks to biodiversity and human health.
The White Paper focuses on core sectors affected by the use of Biodiversity resources and on their level of dependence on: the use of wild species, ecological processes, impact on biodiversity. Core sectors are: agriculture; chemical and biotechnology industry; fisheries; energy and power generation; forestry, including agroforestry, community forestry, natural forest resources; mining industry; water, including both freshwater and estuarine areas and marine and coastal areas. Sustainable use of biological resources concerns: terrestrial and aquatic areas, including use of integrated pest management approaches; integration of biodiversity into land-use planning and environmental assessments; reduction of resource consumption, stabilisation of human population and achievement of sustainable development. The use of genetic resources concerns: agricultural biodiversity; definition of farmers’ rights; control of indigenous genetic resources; providing genetic material for food, agriculture and forestry. Expansion of human capacity to conserve biodiversity concerns: public education; traditional knowledge and customary practices. The following relevant terms are defined: biological diversity; biological resources; biotechnology; alien organism, including: plants, animals and microorganisms; conservation; ecosystem; ecological community; ex-situ conservation; genetically modified organism; genetic resources; habitat; prior informed consent; indigenous; protected area; restoration; species; traditional knowledge; sustainable use of biological resources; wildlife.