The two memorandums of understanding dealt with oceans and coastal management and ecosystems and biodiversity protection‚ Molewa told Business Day last week.
"The memorandum dealing with biodiversity was similar to that signed with Vietnam last December and encompassed a list of actions that need to be taken on the illegal trade in rhino horn‚" she said.
These included joint security and cross-border actions‚ capacity building‚ greater harmonisation of legislation‚ education and awareness of the negative effects of the black-market trade in rhino horn‚ and training for government officials.
South Africa is home to more than 90% of the global rhino population‚ and scientists have warned that if poaching increases at the same rate as it did between 2009 and 2011‚ when the number of rhinos killed jumped from 122 to 448‚ the species will be extinct by mid-century.
Conservationists see Vietnam as key to curbing poaching for the illegal trade in rhino horn. The country‚ a known destination for much of the illegal rhino horn poached in South Africa‚ posted the highest wildlife crime score in the World Wide Fund for Nature's 2012 Wildlife Crime Scorecard.
Do Quang Tung‚ the acting head of Vietnam's wildlife trade authority‚ reportedly told the Mail & Guardian newspaper that allegations that Vietnam was the primary destination and consumer country for rhino horn were untrue. Instead he pointed to China‚ as being responsible for "99% of the horn that goes through Vietnam".
However‚ research by wildlife trade monitoring network Traffic shows that while a decade ago rhino horn was "noticeably absent" from Vietnamese markets‚ that country is now the largest market for horns‚ with the young and newly affluent among the biggest consumers.
Rhino horn‚ prized in Vietnam as a "pick-me-up"‚ a cancer cure and even an aphrodisiac‚ fetches about US$60‚000/kg in the South-east Asian country.
Molewa said the biodiversity memorandum of understanding covered wetlands‚ with South Africa keen to benefit from China's wetlands management expertise. "They have mechanisms and technology for that‚" she said.
It also covered species‚ from plants such as hoodia and cycads to animals and animal parts that are transported under Convention on Trade in Endangered Species rules.
The oceans and coastal management memorandum of understanding looked at developing the "blue economy" for both nations.
"About 95% of what's actually in the oceans is unknown. We can co-operate on that‚" the minister said.
Molewa also said China was interested in working with South Africa on Antarctic research. South Africa is one of a handful of countries that has an Antarctic base.
Source: Business Day via I-Net Bridge
For more than two decades, I-Net Bridge has been one of South Africa’s preferred electronic providers of innovative solutions, data of the highest calibre, reliable platforms and excellent supporting systems. Our products include workstations, web applications and data feeds packaged with in-depth news and powerful analytical tools empowering clients to make meaningful decisions.
We pride ourselves on our wide variety of in-house skills, encompassing multiple platforms and applications. These skills enable us to not only function as a first class facility, but also design, implement and support all our client needs at a level that confirms I-Net Bridge a leader in its field.
Go to: http://www.inet.co.za
