The Witness Editors Comment

The Witness: "Nurturing the environment"
Nurturing the environment
19 Aug 2009

IF the letters pages of this newspaper are taken as a barometer reading of public concerns, then it’s clear that currently many resident­s of Pietermaritzburg and surrounding areas are troubled about environmental matters. For example, many recent letters dep­lored the apparently wanton felling of 200 yellow­wood trees. Was this act committed out of ignorance, as claimed, and if so, how was it that ignorant people were in a position to wreak such destruction? Or was there some more sinister motive behind it, relating to the value of the timber?

Then, yesterday, a correspondent graphically described the litter of every kind, and the filth, including human waste, at Camps Drift — and indicated that Alexandra Park would not be a suitable alternative for a pleasant walk for the same reason.

And for weeks now there has been comment about the historic buildings damaged by fire in the city centre, the neglect, the shortcomings of the fire department and the general decline of infrastructure. Writers have also often complained of blocked storm drains, weed-choked gutters and verges, potholed roads and a general air of seedy decay.

In fact, this groundswell of environmental concern should be seen as part of the generalised, nationwide dissatisfaction with poor “service delivery”, a phenomenon that manifests itself in many different ways, from the provision of housing and essential services to the preservation, maintenance and upgrading of the urban, periurban and rura­l environments.

The Msunduzi Municipality’s Environmental Management Framework (EMF) plans, via consultation with local agencies, to devise strategies for development that will safeguard the natural heritage while providing the goods and services essential to a healthy population and flourishing economy. Important in this connection will be the environmental leadership summit to be hosted by A Rocha South Africa at the Botanical Gardens next week, when data relating to water quality, biodiversity, climate and soil will be presented and solutions to the main threats to sustainability, such as poor sanitation and waste management, will be sought.

Those who have expressed concern will await the outcome of the summit with interest.