INDIA AND SOUTH AFRICA AGREE
TO SHARE INFORMATION ON CLEAN TECHNOLOGIES AND NATIONAL PARK MANAGEMENT
South Africa has
evinced keen interest to learn from New Delhi’s experience in
curbing air pollution in the National Capital Territory through
introduction of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) driven public transport
vehicles. This was disclosed by the visiting South African Minister
of Environmental Affairs and Tourism Shri V.M. Moosa when he called
on the Union Minister for Environment & Forests Shri T.R.
Baalu there. South Africa is the third highest per capita green
house gas emitter in the world today. Shri Moosa said there is
tremendous scope for the two countries to co-operate in the field
of clean energy sources.
The two sides took
stock of the situation that have taken place after the World Summit
on Sustainable Development (WSSD) Johannesburg in South Africa
from August 26 to September 4, 2002 as well as matters relating
to Climate Change. It may be recalled that Shri Moosa was the
Chairman of the Ministerial Group of WSSD and Shri Baalu is the
current President of Conference of Parties (COP-8) of the United
Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), both
landmark international events.
Shri Baalu extended
a personal invitation to Shri Moosa for participation in the Technology
Bazaar to be held at New Delhi from November 10-13, 2003. The
objective of this event is to showcase state-of-the-art environmentally
sound technologies with focus on climate friendly technologies.
It is expected that well known firms in renewable energy, energy
from waste, resource conservation and energy efficiency segments
would participate in the Bazaar. Shri Baalu also informed that
a Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) Conference would be held to
coincide with the event. Shri Moosa assured participation of South
African industry in these events.
In the bankdrop of
some recent cases where wild animals have strayed out of forest
areas and killed human beings and destroyed crops, Shri Baalu
wanted to know how South Africa has tackledsuch situations. Shri
Moosa informed that over population of elephants was a problem
for South Africa. While scientific work is going on to control
the fertility of the pachyderms, migratory routes have been allowed
in co-operation with neighbouring countries.
There are 89 National
Parks and 500 Wildlife Sanctuaries in India covering almost all
eco-systems. Since South Africa is known for its abundant wildlife
as well as its eco-tourism opportunities within national parks
and Sanctuaries, both the countries highlighted the need for mutual
cooperation in the areas of management of National Parks and Wild
Life. It was agreed to exchange information and visits of experts
on standardized environmental practices for national park management
and promotion of low impact high yield eco-tourism. Shri Moosa
invited a delegation of experts from India to visit South Africa.
Similarly one South Afrcian wild life expert would soon visit
India.
