Where are you: Home News December 2003

December 2003 Newsletter

From The Director’s Desk

During the past year the Institute has focussed on networking on the environment in the region. In early 2003 it received recognition from the Southern African Developing Community (SADC) Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources Directorate as A Centre of Excellence in Environmental Research, Training and Networking. The Institute is the secretariat for two regional Networks; the Air Pollution Network for Africa (APINA); and the Southern African Network for Research and Training on the Environment (SANTREN). Until end of 2003 it was also secretariat for the African Conservation Tillage Network (ACT). In addition, IES coordinates the Southern African Millenium Ecosystems Assessment (SAFMA).

The Institute also fulfilled one of its objectives in its 2001 - 2005 strategic plan of "contributing to policy development so as to ensure sound use and management of the environment" by being contracted by the Ministry of Environment and Tourism to facilitate the development of a National Environmental Policy for Zimbabwe.

All those interested in receiving a copy of the 1st Draft of the National Environmental Policy should contact the Process Manager, Ms. Doreen Tsitsi Vhevha on email doreen@ies.uz.ac.zw or tel:263-4-302603. The draft policy will also be available on the Institute's Website www.ies.ac.zw with effect from 30 September 2003.

Air Pollution Network for Africa

APINA is a component of the Regional Air Pollution in Developing Countries (RAPIDC) Programme that is funded by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) and coordinated by the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI). The aim of APINA is to fill gaps in knowledge on air pollution in Africa and ensure that currently available information and concerns are articulated to policy makers in the region. APINA is a network of scientists, policy makers, industry and NGOs interested in air pollution issues and currently has members in seven SADC countries, Botswana, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Regional Policy Dialogue

The network held a very successful Regional Policy Dialogue in Maputo, Mozambique 22-24 September 2003, which was attended by two Ministers and top ranking government officials from relevant ministries from the seven participating countries, Mrs Sara Stenhammar, Sida Advisor on Environment and Mr Stephen Karekezi, a member of the Programme Advisory Group of the RAPIDC Programme. The dialogue was attended by 64 participants. Scientific information derived from APINA activities and the Southern African Regional Science Research Initiative (SAFARI 2000) was presented. Policy makers from the seven countries also presented country activities on air pollution.

The outcome of the policy dialogue was a draft declaration, the Maputo Declaration on the Prevention and Control of Air Pollution in southern Africa and its likely Transboundary Effects. A road map is currently being formulated to have the declaration endorsed by SADC ministers. An organizational structure, which facilitates information flow to ministries of environment at both national and regional levels was agreed upon as part of the declaration. Country focal points for air pollution issues are to be established.

Other outputs of APINA during 2003

Country Reports

Country reports on the status of air pollution for seven southern African countries namely Botswana, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe have been written and completed. The factsheets which summarize the country reports have also been produced and are available at the APINA webiste (http://www.york.ac.uk/inst/sei/rapidc2/apina/factsheet.html).

Corrosion Experiments

Four corrosion sites have been commissioned in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Zambia. Experimental rigs have been mounted and materials exposed in collaboration with the Swedish Corrosion Institute. Some of the materials will be exposed for one year and others for two years. The first samples were demounted in August, 2003 and results from these samples are ready. The results are expected to show the rate of corrosion of some selected materials, zinc, steel, iron and limestone in subtropical regions. These will then be used to estimates the cost implications of corrosion as a result of air pollution.

Health Study

A study on the air quality in Kitwe of the Copper-belt of Zambia has been performed in a co-operative project between the Swedish Environmental Research Institute (IVL), ZCCM (SmelterCO) Ltd in Kitwe and School of Mines, University of Zambia. Air quality in Kitwe area has historically been affected by stack and fugitive emissions from the various operations of SmelterCo. Both particulate and SO2 emissions have exceeded the Zambian permit limits.

An air quality mapping campaign was undertaken in the Kitwe area in October-November 2002 using diffusive samplers for sulphur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2). In addition, some indoor and personal exposure sampling were performed. The main objective was to achieve information about the pollution levels in the area and to introduce a cost-effective air pollution measurement technique.

Emission Inventory

Mr Joseph Kanyanga, an APINA member from Zambia has been tasked to initiate the production of a southern African regional Emissions Inventory for the participating countries. He is to form, a task team to carry out this work. In preparation for this Mr Kanyanga, was sent for training to the Stockholm Environment Institute at York 9SEI-Y), UK for a period of two weeks from 26 June to 11 July 2003. Using the information gained from this course, Mr Kanyanga has written an inception report on the emissions inventory using data from Zambia. It is expected that the task team members will be trained to collate data on emissions for their respective countries so that a regional emission inventory can be developed.

Newsletter and website

The APINA Newsletter was launched in August 2003 with volume 1 of the series. This is to be published biannually and will highlight issues on air pollution affecting the Africa region with special emphasis on southern Africa. Contents of the Newsletter will be posted on the APINA webiste which is hosted by the RAPIDC website on www.rapidc.org.

Networking

APINA Annual Workshop

APINA held an Annual Workshop during 4 - 5 August 2003 in Gaborone, Botswana. This was a strategic meeting to discuss APINA's activities for the next phase of the RAPIDC programme 2004 - 2009, and the Regional Policy Dialogue which was to be held in Maputo in September 2003.

Collaboration with other networks

As part of its networking activities, APINA has links with other regional initiatives carrying out various activities linked to air pollution. APINA currently has successful collaboration with SAFARI 2000, the Cross Boarder Air Pollution Impact Assessment (CAPIA) and the Southern Africa Fire Network (SAFNet).

For more information on APINA and its activities, visit the APINA website: http://www.york.ac.uk/inst/sei/rapidc2/apina/apina.html or contact its coordinator on ssimukanga@mines.unza.zm or the APINA secretariat at felie@ies.uz.ac.zw.

Southern Africa Network For Training and Research on the Environment

SANTREN is a network of research and educational institutions and experts in the region. The main objective of SANTREN is to bring together individuals, universities, industrial organizations and other institutions in the southern African region into a financially sustainable programme of environmental research, training and capacity building. Members of SANTREN are drawn from at least 30 institutions within the SADC region.

The network is organized into 12 technical subgroups, which offer short courses to middle- and upper-level environmental managers.

Recently SANTREN introduced e-learning. During 2003 the SANTREN e-learning team were mainly involved in the development of SANTREN's first e-learning courses in the areas of air pollution, waste management, mining and the environment and water resources management. The courses went through a thorough product development process with the assistance of experts from Germany. The four courses are to be launched in early 2004. For more information e-learning visit www.santren-elearning.com.

SANTREN held its Annual General Meeting in Cape Town, South Africa in June 2003. The Cape Town meeting also included a training session on proposal writing facilitated by IES and an e-learning course facilitated by common sense of Austria.
Since its inception in 1994 the network has received support from the Carl Duisberg Gesellschaft (CDG of Germany) now Inwent, the Danish International Development (Danida); the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Minerals Mining and Sustainable Development Initiative.

For more information on SANTREN please visit www.santren.com or www.santren.ac.zw

African Conservation Tillage Network

ACT is an African Regional Network of organizations and individuals who aim to promote Conservation Agriculture as a sustainable means to alleviate poverty, make more effective use of natural and human resources and reduce environmental degradation in Africa. Its main activities to date have been facilitating voluntary collaboration and partnerships through sharing of information and establishing grass-root land use management and conservation agriculture committees and networks. ACT has over 400 members spread in over 25 countries.

ACT was involved in orgnising the stakeholders workshop to prepare "Africa's Input" to the 2nd World Congress on Conservation Agriculture 19 - 23 May 2003, Siavonga, Zambia. The workshop was a voluntary initiative to collectively prepare for the World Congress that was held at the Iguasu Falls, Brazil, 1 - 15 August 2003.

ACT also held an International Training Workshop for field staff and subject matter specialists in conservation agriculture "Concept, principles and practices in smallholder farming systems" was held in Polokwane, South Africa from 21st - 31st October 2003. The training was jointly organised by the Based Project - South Africa and ACT in collaboration with the Land care Project - South Africa, FAO and GTZ. The aim of the workshop was to contribute to building the capacity and ability of frontline agricultural extension and technical staff in identification, development and dissemination of appropriate conservation agriculture practices, thereby enhancing their ability to respond to farmers' needs and aspirations. The workshop was attended by more than 40 participants from NGOs, government departments and private institutions from Kenya, Mozambique, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

A consortium consisting of African Conservation Tillage Network (ACT), Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Kenya and Kenya Conservation Tillage Initiative (KCTI) won the bid to host the 3rd World Conress on Conservation Agriculture. The congress will be held in Nairobi, Kenya from 3rd to 7th October 2005.

More information on ACT is found at www.ies.uz.ac.zw/act-network/index.html.

Southern African Millennium Ecosystem Assessment

The Institute is coordinating the Southern African Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (SAfMA). The SAfMA is an integral part of the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment. The Southern African component aims to assess the services provided by ecosystems in the region and their impacts on the lives of people.

The assessment has been exploring how local, informal and conventional management systems can be combined in ways that ensure the continued provision of ecosystem services. The assessment is being undertaken at multiple spatial scales and consists of three basin-wide studies of the Gariep, the Zambezi and the Okavango river systems and a number of assessments at local level. Seven project teams in South Africa, Zambia, Mozambique/Zimbabwe are undertaking these assessments.

The Institute acts on behalf of the SAfMA Advisory Committee to oversee the implementation of approved plans and procedures including overall technical implementation of the SAfMA.

In addition, one of its Research Associates is the team leader of the Gorongosa-Marromeu (G-M) assessment. The G-M Assessment is focused on a 200 km long transect with different ecosystems encompassing a diverse assortment of land and water resources uses and users in Mozambique.
For more information visit: www.millenniumassessment.org

National Environment Policy

Since January 2003, IES has been contracted by the Zimbabwe Ministry of Environment and Tourism to facilitate the development of a National Environmental Policy (NEP). The policy being developed aims to fully and accurately reflect the interests and concerns and preferences of all key stakeholders in the country on issues of environmental conversation, management and protection.

Initially IES came up with an issues document and a proposal for the process for formulating the National Environmental Policy. This was presented to and validated by two national workshops held in Harare, one on "green" issues and the other on "brown" issues in January 2003 and March 2003 respectively.

The Institute then engaged nine members of a drafting team in April 2003 which reviewed Environmental Policies from the region and from abroad as well as other national policies. The team also carried out sectional reviews including cross-cutting and cross-scale issues to come up with the first Draft of the National Policy by end of June 2003.

The First Draft of NEP was discussed at a National Workshop in July 2003 held in Bulawayo. Comments from this workshop were incorporated by the drafting team to come up with the Second Draft of NEP.

One thousand five hundred copies of the 2nd Draft of NEP were printed. Some copies were distributed to solicit for written comments while other copies would be distributed at consultative workshops. Consultations involving Government, industry, local authorities, other agencies and civil society are being held at national, provincial, district and local community levels. By end of 2003 the Institute had organised:

More workshops are planned for early 2004 with the Timber Producers Federation, communities in Mwenezi and Matobo districts of Matebeleland and representatives of old and newly resettled farmers. Comments from all these consultations will be incorporated into the 2nd Draft of NEP to come up with the 3rd Draft of NEP. This will be presented to a final National Workshop. The comments will then be incorporated and the final Draft of NEP submitted to Government.

It is hope that the process will be complete and the policy submitted to Government by May 2004. UNDP, Danida and the Centre for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) are providing financial support.

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