"In
abundance of water the bull is thirsty" - legal framework for addressing
environmental and land degradation in Swaziland
21 June 2004
On 17 June 2004 we celebrated
the 10th anniversary of the World Day to Combat Desertification, in which
we reflected on ecological and socio-economic significance of desertification
to Swaziland. The kingdom has a plethora of policies for addressing environmental
degradation and desertification challenges. The biggest question
is why then do we have such severe environmental and land degradation?
Why do we go "hungry" in the land of "plenty"? What is the problem?
Lets take a snap synopsis of
some of the policies related to addressing these challenges.
Rural resettlement policy,
2002
The emphasis of the policy
is on correcting or preventing the often-haphazard allocation of land to
homesteads, cropping and grazing, so that arable land is not wasted, erosion
is minimised and service provision is facilitated. Arable land is disappearing
rapidly and communities that depend on it for their livelihoods are growing
at an accelerating rate. Soil erosion, haphazard location of non-agricultural
activities, outdated grazing practices, expanding population and the changing
needs and nature of rural society - all these factors pose tremendous challenges
to Swaziland’s pursuit of sustainable development and food security.
The Draft National Land
Policy, 1993
This policy seeks to address
economic, social and environmental pressures on Swaziland’s land resources.
The policy include the following issues;
-
Human Rights - Gender equity
and protection of property rights;
-
Cultural - Protection of
traditional values, integration between cultural values and economic realities;
-
Land Tenure - Tenure security,
dual system of tenure, land allocation and access;
-
Land Use and Management
- Strengthening planning control and principles; land under utilisation;
inappropriate land use; strengthening management of grazing areas;
-
Land Markets - The
land markets are not functioning properly - that is, for the benefit of
the entire society; and
-
Land Administration - There
is uncoordinated land administration.
The policy is part of an integrated
government initiative, not a stand-alone policy, in accordance with the
short-term objectives of the Economic Social Reform Agenda (ESRA) and the
long-term vision of the National Development Strategy (NDS).
Draft peri-urban growth
policy, 1997
Aimed at instituting a participatory,
evolutionary approach towards urban status and individuation of tenure
and to provide an integrated management of settlements etc. The policy
also addresses issues relating to what property and management rights are
held by which party at which stage, and a means for their transfer over
time by mutual agreement are also addressed in this policy.
The National Livestock Development
Policy, 1995
Farming, especially livestock
and food crop production in Swazi Nation land (SNL) is a historical feature
of the Swazi. Livestock production is given more significance for both
social and economic reasons. The policy makes long-term goals in the industry
and provides the direction to achieving them especially in the circumstances
where no land use policy has been in existence and the question of land
tenure has not been fully addressed as one of the main vehicles for national
development.
The National Energy policy,
2002
The vision of this policy
is to ensure that the development goals of the country are met through
the sustainable supply and use of energy for the benefit of all the citizens
of the country.
The National Forestry policy,
2002
Provides an integrated and
comprehensive forest policy and legislative framework to regulate forestry
development as well as addressing problems of deforestation and environmental
degradation in the country.
The Draft National Environment
Policy, 1997
The goal is to promote the
enhancement, protection and conservation of the environment to the attainment
of sustainable development in Swaziland.
Sustaining national development
Food security, sustainable
livelihoods, employment creation, income generation and poverty alleviation
are key policy elements that must be adequately addressed as essential
issues in the national development process. In this regard, natural resources
necessary for meeting basic human life such as land, water, soil, trees
and forest, wildlife and fisheries must be used rationally to secure sustained
quality of life and development of our people.
We have a long list of good
policies although some of them have long survived as drafts. The biggest
question is how come then we have serious environmental and natural resources
management problems?
Watch the column for subsequent
articles on sustainable development in Swaziland.
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