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Minutes of the Workshop to Determine the Feasibility and Appropriateness of a Forum for Economics and Environment held on 4 June 1999. Venue: DBSA - Midrand. Time: 09:00Dr P Pillay from the Deputy Presidents Office chaired the meeting and welcomed everybody.
| Item | Description |
| Spatial information database | Prof. W. van Riet gave an analysis of Spatial information database and the role it can play on the environmental management as well as economic development in South Africa. |
| Background information | Prof J. Blignaut gave an ERE perspective and how the initiatives on establishing the Forum started and the discussions were captured under Afroeconet. He further explained the purpose of the workshop. |
| EENESA background | Dr Arentz from Botswana gave a regional perspective on EENESA and its mission and vision, how it was started and what has it achieved so far |
| ISEE | Mr W. Visser gave a background information on ISEE and how it was formed. He further indicated that ISEE could help the South African Forum if it is established. |
| Input by panel members | The six panel members gave inputs on the importance of the establishment of the Forum and the role that resource economics can play in analyzing the economic impacts on the environment. Dr Mhlongo from DTI pointed out that there is pressing issues that South Africa is faced with than looking at the environment. After deliberations he pointed out the commitment that DTI will give to the establishment of the Forum. |
| Purpose of the workshop | The stakeholders wanted to find out what was the purpose of the workshop, and also pointed out that DEA&T had an ERE project with extensive research, so DEA&T should carry on with what is started instead of re-inventing the wheel Howard Benkenstein explained the purpose of the workshop |
| Establishment of the Forum | Dr A. Weaver pointed out that the establishment of a formal Forum is not necessary but what can be done is to have a team of enthusiasts that can drive the process The enthusiast can identify a program of action that will involve relevant stakeholders and also share information on related issues. The stakeholders supported the idea and it was agreed that nominations for the ten enthusiasts can be forwarded. Howard Benkenstein thought that it would be appropriate if the enthusiasts can be nominated sectorally, and the stakeholders said that they don't want the process to be sectorally done since this will promote sectoral issues instead of general and broad issues. |
| Nominations of the enthusiasts | Eleven enthusiasts were nominated: Hilda Mthimunye, Howard Benkenstein, Ester Koch, James Blignaut, Martin De Wit, Quinten Gepsey, Karin Ireton, Atim Ogunbee, Sebueng Kelatwang, Jeffrey Mkhabela and Charl de Villiers. |
| Way forward | The enthusiasts met immediately after the workshop to decide on the action plan of the group. Hilda Mthimunye was nominated to provide secretariat support with DEA&T to the group and any activities emanating from the group and the broader stakeholders. The enthusiast came up with the list of action plans that need to be addressed after the workshop. |