The legal mandate and core business of South Africa’s Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) are to manage, protect and conserve South Africa’s environment and natural resources. The mandate is informed by section 24 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996, which affords everyone the right to (a) an environment that is not harmful to their health or well-being; and (b) to have the environment protected for the benefit of present and future generations, through reasonable legislative and other measures.
The DFFE, in its commitment to upholding the constitutional environmental right and ensuring sound environmental management and sustainable development, has meticulously developed a comprehensive environmental management legislative/regulatory framework. This framework, which includes acts of parliament (environmental laws), regulations, policies, norms and standards, and other regulatory tools, is designed to promote sound environmental management practices for the protection and conservation of the environment for the benefit of current and future generations.
Critical environmental management interventions by the DFFE include raising awareness on key environmental issues and promoting a culture of environmental activism among ordinary citizens, building capacity within the sector, and establishing and strengthening national, regional, and global partnerships to address common environmental challenges.
