DFFE FOCUS BY JESSIE TAYLOR
Green jobs
Building a workforce to fight the effects of climate change
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n a world that is increasingly witnessing the effects of climate change, it’s becoming essential that creating employment opportunities comes at a benefit to the environment. It’s this sentiment that drives the creation of green jobs in South Africa, through a series of programmes by the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment. However, the programmes are not simply about creating work opportunities, they also aim to protect some of South Africa’s most important environmental resources. A ROAD MAP TO EMPLOYMENT Over the last several years, the Department has made a significant contribution to employment creation and skill development
opportunities through its environmental sector programmes. The programmes form part of interventions to support the National Development Plan (NDP). A core focus of the NDP is tackling poverty, inequality and unemployment, and it looks to see 11 million jobs created between 2012 and 2030.
The afforestation projects address the critical shortages in forest products It is a roadmap to a South Africa where all will have water, electricity, sanitation, jobs, housing, public transport, adequate nutrition, education, social protection, quality healthcare, recreation and a clean environment.
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The Department’s green economy interventions aim to support this roadmap, through programmes that create employment and protect the integrity of our environment. THE DEPARTMENT RUNS THE FOLLOWING PROGRAMMES: WORKING FOR FORESTS This programme aims to create employment while developing and rehabilitating government-owned plantations, as well as managing them. The programme is centred around more than 100 000 hectares of new afforestation in the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal. The afforestation projects address the critical shortages in forest products, such as saw timber,
