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Certification standards for sustainable game ranching in the Northern Province, South Africa

Thesis (MSc)--University of Stellenbosch, 2000. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Formal systems of environmental management and certification for activities associated
with extensive land use, relate mainly to forestry. The emergence of forest certification
largely originates from the issue of tropical deforestation and the associated boycott
campaigns against tropical timber. At the United Nations Conference on Environment
and Development in Rio de Janeiro in 1992, a new set of international norms were set in
the form of Forest Principles. These were non-binding and together with international
initiatives, such as the Tropical Forestry Action Programme and the International
Tropical Timber Organisation have failed to decrease deforestation. New efforts to
encourage sustainable forestry through forest certification were made by Non
Governmental Organisations which collaborated with the private sector in developing
new policy instruments. They followed the trend of eco-labelling in an attempt to link
green consumers to producers whose aim it is to improve management practices. The
Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) was established. The FSC system relies on forest
management principles and criteria approved by itself and is based on performance
standards. The International Standards Organisation (ISO) also developed a management
standard based on the principle of continuous improvement. ISO developed the ISO
14001 standard for the certification of Environmental Management Systems which is
applicable to any industry concerned with the environment. From questionnaire surveys
carried out among a sample of private game ranch owners/managers in the Northern
Province, current standards of management were established. It was found that private
owners/managers rely mostly on their own experience and knowledge. Information about
management on game ranches is rarely available and only major concerns and most
visible problems are attended to. Guidelines with standards for an Environmental
Management System (EMS) according to the ISO 14000 series were drawn up from the
results of the surveys and a literature review. A checklist of principles and criteria which
could be used for the certification process was also developed. The final objective is to
attain quality game ranch management which is environmentally sensitive, socially
aware/beneficial and economically viable. This is crucial for the conservation and
preservation of the natural systems in South Africa in which private land owners playa
major role. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Formele omgewingsbestuursisteme en sertifisering vir aktiwiteite wat geassosieer word
met ekstensiewe grondbenutting, word hoofsaaklik gekoppel met bosbou. Die konsep
van sertifisering het tot stand gekom as gevolg van die omstredenheid rondom ontbossing
en die gassosieerde sanksies teen tropiese hout. By die Verenigde Nasies Konferensie
oor Omgewing en Ontwikkeling in Rio de Janeiro in 1992 is 'n nuwe stel internasionale
norme daargestel in die vorm van Bosbeginsels. Hierdie was nie-bindend en saam met
internasionale inisiatiewe soos die Tropiese Bos Aksie Program en die Internasionale
Tropiese Hout Organisasie het hulle gefaal om ontbossing te verminder. Nuwe pogings
om volhoubare bosboupraktyke aan te moedig is aangewend nadat Nie-Regering
Organisasies en die privaatsektor saamgewerk het om nuwe beleidsinstrumente te
ontwikkel. Hulle het die neiging vir die "eko-etiket" nagevolg in 'n poging om
omgewingsbewuste verbruikers in kontak te bring met produseerders wat gemoeid is met
verbeterde bestuurspraktyke. Die Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) het tot stand gekom
en hulle sisteem sluit bosbestuursbeginsels en kriteria in wat deur hulleself goedgekeur is
en gebaseer is op werkverrigtingstandaarde. Die Internasionale Standaarde Organisasie
(ISO) het ook 'n bosbestuurstandaard opgestel gebaseer op die beginsel van kontinue
verbetering. ISO het die ISO 14001 standaard opgestel vir Omgewingsbestuursisteme
wat van toepassing gemaak kan word op enige industrie wat gemoeid is met die
omgewmg. Na afhandeling van vraelys opnames onder privaat wildsplaas
eienaars/bestuurders, is daar vasgestel wat die standaard van bestuur tans in die
Noordelike Provinsie is. Privaat eienaarsIbestuurders maak meestal staat op hulle eie
ondervinding en kennis. Inligting oor die bestuur van die wildsplase is nie geredelik
beskikbaar nie en slegs die mees sigbare en grootste probleme word bestuur. 'n Riglyn
met standaarde vir 'n Omgewingsbestuursisteem volgens ISO is opgestel vanaf resultate
van die opnames en 'n literatuurstudie asook 'n "Checklist" wat beginsels en kriteria
insluit wat gebruik kan word in die sertifiseringsproses is ook ontwerp. Die finale doel is
om kwaliteit bestuur te bewerkstellig wat omgewingsensitief, sosiaal bewus/voordelig en
ekonomies lewensvatbaar is. Laasgenoemde is uiters belangrik aangesien privaat
grondeienaars 'n sleutelrol speel in die bewaring en preservering van die natuurlike
sisteme in Suid-Afrika.

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/51648
Date03 1900
CreatorsDu Toit, Engela A.
ContributorsVan Hensbergen, H. J., Stellenbosch University. Faculty of AgriSciences. Dept. of Conservation Ecology and Entomology.
PublisherStellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
Source SetsSouth African National ETD Portal
Languageen_ZA
Detected LanguageUnknown
TypeThesis
Format144 p. : ill.
RightsStellenbosch University

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