CLOSING DATE: Monday 26 January 2026
Consultation on the intention to adopt a generic environmental management programme and exclude identified activities associated with conservation or conservation research at THE PRINCE EDWARD ISLANDS, for public comment.
The Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment is hereby consulting on the intention to adopt a Generic Environmental Management Programme for Conservation or Conservation Research at the Prince Edward Islands (revision 0 of 2025) (GEMPr) as an environmental management instrument in terms of the Regulations Laying Down the Procedure for the Adoption of Environmental Management Instruments, 2019, read with section 24(5)(bA) of the National Environmental Management Act, 1998, (Act No. 107 of 1998) (NEMA) and based on compliance with this environmental management instrument to, in terms of section 24(2)(e) of the NEMA, exclude activities identified in terms of section 24(2)(a) and (b) from the requirement to obtain an environmental authorisation.
Only conservation or conservation research currently takes place at the Prince Edward Islands, some of which may require environmental authorisation for activities identified in terms of sections 24(2)(a) and (b) of the NEMA prior to commencement thereof. The GEMPr stipulates appropriate measures to avoid, manage and/or mitigate potential environmental impacts and risks associated with the implementation of identified activities. The exclusion of identfied activities will be applicable to conservation or conservation research only, subject to compliance with the Government Notice and Schedule and the relevant requirements of the GEMPr, which includes the requirement to register any such exclusions.
Members of the public are invited to submit written comments or input within 30 days from the date of the publication of the Notice in the Government Gazette or the publication of the newspaper notice, whichever occurs last. Should the 30-day comment period overlap with the period from 15 December 2025 to 5 January 2026, this period will be excluded from the reckoning of days.
Comments may be submitted by post to the Director-General of the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment for the attention of A Gabriel, at Private Bag X447, Pretoria, 0001; or by e-mail at agabriel@dffe.gov.za. Comments or inputs received after the public comment period may not be considered.
The Government Notice is accessible on the website of the Department – CLICK HERE
GEMPr is accessible at DFFE – CLICK HERE
Any inquiries in connection with the Notice can be directed to Alvan Gabriel at agabriel@dffe.gov.za (Cell: 066 081 9554).
For communications or media enquiries, kindly contact Mr Zolile Nqayi: Acting Chief Director Communications and Advocacy on Cell: 083 898 6483 I Tel: 021 4937144 Email: znqayi@dffe.gov.za
The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment complies with the Protection of Personal Information Act, 2013 (Act No. 4 of 2013). Comments received and responses thereto are collated into a comments and response report which will be made available to the public as part of the consultation process. If a commenting party has any objection to his or her name, or the name of the represented company/organisation, being made publicly available in the comments and responses report, such objection should be highlighted in bold as part of the comments submitted.
TEXT from PUBLIC NOTICE: ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY, FISHERIES AND THE ENVIRONMENT.
