A critical analysis of the proposed National Environmental Management System

In this article it is submitted that the opportunity to create a strong and effective Department of Environment Affairs has been missed, hopefully temporarily. The 1993 Environment Conservation Amendment Acts does little to promote a system of comprehensive national environmental management. The Department of Environment's policy document and White Paper are deficient, particularly for failing to propose any fundamental restructuring of government departments to promote integrated conservation and land use and planning activities. The only area of environmental management which is likely to be restructured is that of pollution control. It seems that the pursuit of an holistic national environmental management system has fallen prey to a pragmatic but unenlightened rejection of an effective Department of Environment Affairs, and an unjustifiable sympathy for bureaucracies. Comparative analyses have shown, however, that an effective and participative management system is attainable.