Effective Environmental Improvement Intervention (2E2I) · This Effective Environmental Improvement...

The Department of Environmental Affairs

Effective Environmental Improvement

Intervention (2E2I)

Draft System Description

(Revision 3.0)

September 2016

EFFECTIVE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT INTERVENTIONS (2E2Is)

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Effective Environmental Improvement Interventions (2E2Is)

Table of Contents 1 Introduction .................................................................................................................................... 3

1.1 Ecological Deficit ..................................................................................................................... 3

1.2 The Implications ...................................................................................................................... 4

1.3 Rehabilitation and Restoration ............................................................................................... 4

1.4 Global efforts .......................................................................................................................... 5

2 Direction from the NDP 2030.......................................................................................................... 5

3 Problem Statement ......................................................................................................................... 5

4 The 2E2I Objectives ......................................................................................................................... 6

4.1 Overall Objective ..................................................................................................................... 6

4.2 Immediate Objectives ............................................................................................................. 6

5 The 2E2I Strategy ............................................................................................................................ 6

5.1 The Green Building Certification Case Study .......................................................................... 6

5.2 Creating a demand for 2E2I recognition and relationships .................................................... 7

6 What is an Effective Environmental Improvement Intervention (2E2I) ......................................... 8

7 Desired 2E2I Co-benefits ................................................................................................................. 8

8 2E2I Recognition ............................................................................................................................. 9

8.1 Initial Publication .................................................................................................................... 9

8.2 Evaluation ............................................................................................................................... 9

8.3 Approval .................................................................................................................................. 9

8.4 Registration ............................................................................................................................. 9

8.5 Benefits of 2E2I recognition .................................................................................................... 9

8.6 Existing or Historical Interventions ....................................................................................... 10

8.7 Deregistration ....................................................................................................................... 10

8.7.1 Failed 2E2Is ................................................................................................................... 10

8.7.2 Unsuccessful 2E2Is ........................................................................................................ 10

9 Registered 2E2I Information ......................................................................................................... 10

9.1 2E2I Status............................................................................................................................. 11

9.2 Implementer Details ............................................................................................................. 11

9.3 Intervention Description ....................................................................................................... 11

9.4 Reason for the intervention .................................................................................................. 11


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9.4.1 Directed Interventions .................................................................................................. 11

9.5 Intervention Timing............................................................................................................... 12

9.6 Intervention Location ............................................................................................................ 12

9.7 Intervention Cost .................................................................................................................. 12

9.8 Intervention Success Indicators ............................................................................................ 12

9.9 Intervention Partners ............................................................................................................ 13

9.10 Intervention Sustainability and Custodianship ..................................................................... 13

9.11 Intervention Co-Benefits ....................................................................................................... 13

9.12 Other documents .................................................................................................................. 13

10 2E2I Valuation ........................................................................................................................... 13

11 2E2I Monitoring, Reporting and Verification ............................................................................ 14

11.1 2E2I Progress and Success Indicators ................................................................................... 14

11.2 Repeat Photography ............................................................................................................. 14

11.3 Annual Progress Reports ....................................................................................................... 14

11.4 Final Project Report .............................................................................................................. 14

11.5 Sustainability Reports ........................................................................................................... 15

12 2E2I Structures, Actors and Stakeholders ................................................................................. 15

12.1 Who implements 2E2I ........................................................................................................... 15

12.2 The 2E2I Pool of Experts ....................................................................................................... 15

12.2.1 Expert Panels ................................................................................................................. 15

12.3 The 2E2I Unit ......................................................................................................................... 16

12.4 The 2E2I Custodian ............................................................................................................... 17

12.5 Registered interested parties ................................................................................................ 17

Annexure A: 2E2I Registration Form ..................................................................................................... 18

Endnotes ............................................................................................................................................... 19

1 Introduction

1.1 Ecological Deficit

According to the National Development Plan 2030 (NDP 2030), “market and policy failures have resulted in the global economy entering a period of "ecological deficit" as natural capital (ground water, marine life, terrestrial biodiversity, crop land and grazing) is being degraded, destroyed, or depleted faster than it can be replenished.”i More recently, the Global Commission on the Economy and Climate’s 2015 New Climate Economy Report noted that “land use is a key development concern, as roughly a quarter of the world’s agricultural land is severely degraded, and forests continue to be cleared for conversion to crops and pasture, and for timber and mining” and “key ecosystem services are being compromised, and the natural resource base is becoming less productive.”ii

The Global Footprint Networkiii notes that “in today’s world, where humanity is already exceeding planetary limits, ecological assets are becoming more critical.” The network has established that, although, each country has its own ecological risk profile, many are running ecological deficits, with Ecological Footprintsiv larger than their own


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biological capacityv, whilst others depend heavily on resources from elsewhere, which are under increasing pressure.

Unfortunately, the situation in South Africa appears to mirror the global picture.

Cole et al (2014)vi have used the Stockholm Research Centre’s “safe operating space for humanity” concept to establish and illustrate possible ecological deficits in South Africa as reflected in the Figure below.

Figure 1: Cole et al's (2014) national barometer for the environmental stress component of sustainable development in South Africa.

From the above, Cole et al (2014) estimate that four of the environmental dimensions have already exceeded their boundaries – climate change by 2%, freshwater use by 34%, marine harvesting by 45% and biodiversity loss by 37%. Furthermore, Cole et al (2014) also believe that arable land use, phosphorous loading, and air pollution are within 10% of exceeding their boundaries.

In terms of biodiversity loss, the National Biodiversity Assessment 2011vii estimates that, at current rates of loss, there will be no natural habitat left outside protected areas in Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal and North West Province by 2030.

In summary, it is clear that our demand for the goods and services delivered by robust ecological infrastructure is outstripping supply.

1.2 The Implications

According to the 2015 New Climate Economy Report, despite the degradation of our natural capital, by 2050, the world’s farms will need to produce 70% more calories than in 2006, due to population growth, rising incomes and changing diets.

The Global Footprint Network believes that “in some areas of the world, the implications of ecological deficits can be devastating, leading to resource loss, ecosystem collapse, debt, poverty, famine and war.”

From a South African perspective, ecological deficit means that we are effectively undermining the Constitutional Right of future generations to an environment that is not harmful to health and well-being.

1.3 Rehabilitation and Restoration

Given the dire implications of ecological deficit, it is clear that we must address the fact that our demand for the goods and services delivered by robust ecological infrastructure is outstripping supply. In order to address this effectively, both sides of this equation must be considered – on the demand side we must address our demand through more sustainable consumption patterns and behaviour – on the supply side, we must address, among others, what the NDP 2030 calls the “replenishment” of our renewable natural capital through interventions that rehabilitate and/or restore our ecological infrastructure.


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This Effective Environmental Improvement Intervention (2E2I) system description deals with the latter, namely, interventions that are specifically aimed at rehabilitating and/or restoring our ecological infrastructure and the three basic natural resources for a good human life – good air, good water and good earth.

1.4 Global efforts

Although the recognition of the need to rehabilitate and/or restore our ecological infrastructure is not new, this need is now globally recognised. Indeed, the implications of ecological deficit is of such concern that the Global Commission on the Economy and Climate regards the restoration and protection of agricultural and forest landscapes, and increased agricultural productivity as one of its 10 key opportunities in its 2015 New Climate Economy Report. The commission recommends that governments, multilateral and bilateral finance institutions, the private sector and willing investors should work together to scale up sustainable land use financing, towards a global target of halting deforestation and putting into restoration at least 500 million ha of degraded farmlands and forests by 2030.

2 Direction from the NDP 2030

Although, as noted above, the National Development Plan 2030 (NDP 2030) recognises that an ecological deficit is the consequence of natural capital being degraded, destroyed, or depleted faster than it can be replenished, the NDP 2030 also provides some guidance on how this should be addressed on “the supply side”.

Firstly, the NDP 2030 recognises this challenge and draws a line in the sand by re-emphasising the inter-generational element of our Constitutional Right to an environment that is not harmful to our health and well-being as follows – “The country needs to… protect the natural environment in all respects, leaving subsequent generations with at least an endowment of at least equal value.”viii

The NDP 2030 then proposes “three measures to protect the country’s natural resources: (i) An environmental management framework – developments that have serious environmental or social effects need to be offset by support for improvements in related areas; (ii) A target for the amount of land and oceans under protection (presently about 7.9 million hectares of land, 848km of coastline and 4 172km2 of ocean are protected); and (iii) A set of indicators for natural resources, accompanied by publication of annual reports on the health of identified resources to inform policy.”ix

Taking this direction from the NDP 2030, this Effective Environmental Improvement Intervention (2E2I) system description focusses on the environmental “improvements” contemplated above.

3 Problem Statement

Despite the growing national and international consensus around the need to rehabilitate and/or restore our degraded landscapes, ecosystems, ecological infrastructure and our basic environmental media of air, water and soil, there is little, if any, consensus on what constitutes an effective rehabilitation and/or restoration intervention. As a result, although there may be many shining examples of effective rehabilitation and/or restoration interventions, there are probably as many examples, if not many more, of interventions that have very limited, if any, medium- to long-term environmental benefits despite being branded as environmental improvement projects.

As a result, there is often much suspicion and scepticism around environmental improvement projects which are sometimes regarded as “window-dressing” projects or “greenwash”. In many cases this suspicion and scepticism is very well founded as there are untold “clean-up campaigns”, transparent public relations events and other “media-friendly” initiatives that provide far more short-term benefits to their implementers than long-term benefits for the environment.

Thus the problem statement may be framed as follows – “poor, ineffective, misdirected, non-sustainable, grossly inefficient and/or misguided projects that are branded as environmental improvement projects may be stalling, disincentivising, challenging, undermining, maligning and/or generally reducing the potential large-scale rollout of effective environmental improvement interventions”.


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4 The 2E2I Objectives

4.1 Overall Objective

With reference to the problem statement above, the Effective Environmental Improvement Intervention (2E2I) system is designed to contribute to the following overall objective that is framed as a desired outcome –

4.2 Immediate Objectives

In order to contribute to the overall objective, the 2E2I system has the following immediate, or system-specific, objectives framed as the desired outcomes of the 2E2I system –

Immediate Objective Success Indicator

The Profile Objective

Sufficient value is associated with 2E2I registration through appropriate public recognition, national profile and other means such that all significant effective environmental improvement interventions are submitted for 2E2I registration

Continued growth in the number of registered interventions

The Continuous Improvement Objective

The efficiency and effectiveness of environmental improvement interventions is continuously improved through peer review and support, access to project and good-practise information, and facilitated engagements amongst a growing community of practise

A peak, plateau and decline in the number of ‘unsuccessful’ 2E2Is

The Sustained Impact Objective

The longevity of the positive impacts of environmental improvement interventions is encouraged and facilitated through long-term monitoring and reporting intervention recognition requirements

Continued increase in the average age of registered 2E2Is

The Research Objective

Environmental improvement science is popularised and significantly up-scaled as a result of the ease of access to high quality data on all significant effective environmental improvement interventions

Growth in the number of peer-reviewed environmental improvement-related papers

5 The 2E2I Strategy

5.1 The Green Building Certification Case Study

Building that are designed, built and operated in an environmentally sustainable way are known as ‘green building’ and recent research1 forecasts the doubling of green building globally by 2018, with South Africa as one of the top performers reporting the highest percentage of green building projects currently underway.

According to the research, South African respondents believe the green activity so far is just laying the groundwork for an overall shift in the market and that, if the current degree of commitment to green building holds, South Africa will be a leader in the global green market in the next three years.

The research found that, internationally, twice as many companies are expecting their building projects to be certified green by 2018 – an increase to 37 percent. In comparison, respondents in South Africa indicated that 41 percent of their work is already green.

1 Dodge Data & Analytics and United Technologies’ World Green Building Trends 2016 report.

“Good, effective, directed, sustainable, efficient and properly informed projects that are recognised as environmental improvement projects are accelerating, incentivising, promoting, supporting, highlighting and generally increasing the large-scale rollout of effective environmental improvement interventions”.


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According to the Green Building Council South Africa (GBCSA), the country will continue to outperform with almost two thirds of respondents expecting more than 60 percent of their projects to be green by 2018.

The research concluded that it was “especially noteworthy” that South African green building is driven by an acknowledgement that green building is “the right thing to do”, rather than by regulations, as is the case in many other jurisdictions.

This “doing the right thing” motivation is seen as testimony to the work being done by the GBCSA which was founded in 2007 and certified South Africa’s first green building project in 2009. By May 2015, the council had certified its 100th building project, and by February 2016 there were 167 certified projects.

The GBCSA believes that this is a clear sign that green building practices are gaining significant momentum in South Africa, along with an acknowledgment that Green Star-certified projects are not only world-class and innovative, but benefit people, the planet and profits.

5.2 Creating a demand for 2E2I recognition and relationships

In an attempt to drive environmental improvement through an acknowledgement that it is “the right thing to do”, rather than by regulation, the 2E2I implementation strategy is shaped by its objective success indicators as follows –

Immediate Objective

Success Indicator Implementation Strategy

The Profile Objective

Continued growth in the number of registered interventions

Building the value of 2E2I recognition through the on-going provision of ever-improving recognition benefits

The Continuous Improvement Objective

A peak, plateau and decline in the number of ‘unsuccessful’ 2E2Is

Actively contributing to the building and maintenance of an environmental improvement community of practise through facilitating discussion, debate, information sharing, peer review and support amongst key environmental improvement stakeholders

Building partnerships with key stakeholders in the environmental improvement space

Compiling and/or circulating good practise guidelines for environmental improvement interventions

The on-going provision of ever-improving standard 2E2I project success indicators

The Sustained Impact Objective

Continued increase in the average age of registered 2E2Is

Building the value of sustained 2E2I recognition through the on-going provision of ever-improving recognition benefits

Compiling and/or circulating good practise guidelines for sustaining positive environmental improvement intervention outcomes

Mobilising advice and support for struggling 2E2I projects

The Research Objective

Growth in the number of peer-reviewed environmental improvement-related papers

Providing easy access to all 2E2I data

The compilation, presentation and publication of various 2E2I reports and analyses

Building partnerships with key stakeholders in the environmental improvement research space

Actively contributing to the building and maintenance of an environmental improvement community of practise through facilitating discussion, debate, information sharing, peer review and support amongst key environmental improvement stakeholders

http://www.engineeringnews.co.za/topic/projects


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It should be clear that the success of the 2E2I system is dependent on the number of projects that are registered – the more projects registered, the greater the positive contribution to the overall objective and to all of the 2E2I immediate objectives. To this end, building the value of 2E2I recognition through the on-going provision of ever-improving recognition benefits is the key underpinning implementation strategy of the 2E2I system.

6 What is an Effective Environmental Improvement Intervention (2E2I)

An Effective Environmental Improvement Intervention is defined as a discrete, intentional and recognised intervention that has the measurable and sustained improvement of degraded natural environments or environmental media as its principle objective.

For the purposes of this definition –

A “discrete and intentional intervention” means the implementation of a set of defined tasks that would not have otherwise been undertakenx.

“Recognised” means that the intervention has been formally evaluated, approved and registered as a 2E2I (see 8 below).

“Measurable improvement” means a broadly recognised and significant improved quality or ecological state measured against an established base state (see 11.1 below).

“Sustained” means that the intervention includes measures to ensure that measured improvements are sustained for, at least, 25 years (or such period as may be determined by a panel of experts from time to time) after the improvements, or agreed improvement milestones, are first achieved.

“Natural environments” include natural aquatic, terrestrial and marine ecosystems, public open space and rangeland and other agricultural land, i.e. all areas other than built-up areas.

“Environmental media” include ambient air, fresh and salt water and soil.

“Principle objective” means the overall desired outcome of the intervention, notwithstanding any other desirable co-benefits (see 7 below).

7 Desired 2E2I Co-benefits

Although the measurable and sustainable improvement of degraded natural environments or environmental media is the principle objective of 2E2Is, many co-benefits, including many national priority desired outcomes, are also expected and should be considered in the valuation of each 2E2I.

These co-benefits are likely to include, among others:

Job creation and improved employment opportunities;

Improved public health and well-being;

Reduced poverty and depravation;

Rural development and improved rural livelihoods;

Improved supply of ecological goods and services;

Carbon sequestration;

Improved resilience to the impacts of climate change;

Expansion of the conservation estate;

Private sector investments for the public good;

Improved water quality and quantity (where water is not already the principle objective);

Reduced investments in, and operation of, expensive built infrastructure required to replace reduced ecological goods and services resulting from damaged, destroyed or degraded ecological infrastructure;

Improved livestock farming productivity;

Improved skills, expertise, knowledge and experience in the field of environmental rehabilitation and restoration;

New and innovative approaches to environmental rehabilitation and restoration;

Greatly improved environmental rehabilitation and restoration data.


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8 2E2I Recognition

In order for a 2E2I to conform to the definition in 5 above, the intervention must be recognised as a formal 2E2I. To this end a potential 2E2I must be submitted, publicised, evaluated, approved and registered.

8.1 Initial Publication

In order to initiate the 2E2I recognition process, the Registration Form contained in Annexure A must be completed and submitted to the 2E2I Unit (see 12.3 below). The 2E2I Unit immediately acknowledges receipt of the form and confirms that the information provided is sufficient to properly inform an evaluation, or otherwise.

Properly completed Registration Forms are captured on the 2E2I national database and website as “new applications” and the public is invited to submit comments on the proposals through the website or other convenient means for a period of no less than thirty (30) calendar days. Registered interested parties (see 12.5 below) are provided with an e-mail notification of any new applications related to their specified area of interest.

8.2 Evaluation

Following the initial publication and public comment process, properly completed Registration Forms and any public comments associated with the proposed intervention are submitted to a 2E2I Expert Panel (see 12.1 below) who evaluate the proposed intervention in terms of the definition in 5 above and any other appropriate evaluation criteria that may be published by the Department of Environmental Affairs from time to time, taking into account any public comments.

Following an evaluation of the proposed intervention, the 2E2I Expert Panel may:

Reject the proposal and provide a clear justification for its decision;

Return the proposal with a request for further information; or

Recommend approval of the proposal.

8.3 Approval

Within three (3) weeks of a 2E2I Expert Panel meeting, the 2E2I Unit compiles a meeting report reflecting the meeting discussions and decisions and submits this report and all initiatives recommended for approval by the 2E2I Expert Panel to the department’s Accounting Officer for formal approval as 2E2Is.

8.4 Registration

Within three (3) weeks of approval by the department’s Accounting Officer, the 2E2I Unit informs the applicant of such approval and migrates the proposal information from the “new applications” section of the 2E2I national database and website to the 2E2I Register (see 9 below).

8.5 Benefits of 2E2I recognition2

As noted in 5.2 above, the success of the 2E2I system is dependent on the number of projects that are registered and the strategy to maximise project registration is by building the value of 2E2I recognition through the on-going provision of ever-improving recognition benefits.

Initially, the 2E2I recognition benefits will be derived mainly through profiling interventions such as high-profile award ceremonies, departmental press releases, project profiling by the Minister and senior officials at high-profile events, good practise case studies, advertorials, media coverage, etc. However, the 2E2I Unit will continuously engage with the environmental improvement community in exploring and implementing new ways of increasing and/or improving the benefits of 2E2I recognition.

Notwithstanding the above, the benefits of 2E2I recognition include, but are not limited to –

2 Directed interventions (see 9.4.1) do not receive the benefits to the applicant or implementer accrued from

public profiling activities undertaken by the department or it’s Minister as these interventions are not included in

any public profiling activities.


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Published and quotable recognition by the national Department of Environmental Affairs that an intervention is one that has measurable and sustainable improvement of degraded natural environments or environmental media as its principle objective;

Third party evaluation of the project and project progress;

National profile;

Potentially improved status or image of 2E2I intervention implementers, funders and/or custodians;

Potentially improved public interest and support;

Potentially improved private sector interest and support;

Potentially improved international interest and support;

Potentially improved funding opportunities; and

Recognised contribution to national and global environmental improvement efforts.

8.6 Existing or Historical Interventions

Existing or historical interventions that conform to the definition in 5 above may also be recognised as 2E2Is if there is sufficient, robust, documented evidence, photographic records and/or expert testimony of the base state and the improvements realised by the intervention. However, notwithstanding the age of the existing or historical intervention, the sustainability requirements detailed in the definition in 5 above apply from the date of registration.

8.7 Deregistration

8.7.1 Failed 2E2Is

If there is any reasonable doubt that a 2E2I no longer conforms to the definition in 5 above through some act or omission, the 2E2I Unit provides the implementer or custodian with an opportunity to respond to the concerns within ninety (90) days.

Should the 2E2I Unit not be satisfied with the response, the unit brings the matter to the attention of an Expert Panel for their advice.

Should the panel concur with the 2E2I Unit concerns, the implementer and custodian are informed that their 2E2I is under review and this status is included on the website and within the 2E2I Register until such time as the implementer and custodian have provided the unit with sufficient, independent evidence that the 2E2I still conforms to the definition in 5 above, Such evidence must be provided to the unit within six (6) months of the imposition of the review status.

Should the implementer or custodian not provide the required evidence, or the evidence is insufficient to address the non-conformity concerns, then the 2E2I is removed from the 2E2I Register and is reflected as “failed” in the database.

8.7.2 Unsuccessful 2E2Is

If a 2E2I no longer conforms to the definition in 5 above for biological reasons and not implementer or custodian act or omission (e.g. natural disaster, unexpected natural succession, etc.) and despite all good faith attempts to meet the desired 2E2I outcomes, the implementer or custodian must inform the 2E2I Unit that their 2E2I is unsuccessful.

Once the 2E2I Unit has collected enough data to explain why the 2E2I has been unsuccessful, despite the best efforts of the implementer or custodian, the unit brings the matter to the attention of an Expert Panel for their advice.

Should the panel concur that the 2E2I is unsuccessful rather than failed, the 2E2I is removed from the 2E2I Register and is reflected as “unsuccessful” in the database.

9 Registered 2E2I Information

All 2E2I information is captured in the 2E2I register. This register contains, among others, the following –


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9.1 2E2I Status

The register provides information on whether the 2E2I is still in the application stage, whether it is a recognised on-going or completed 2E2I, whether it is under review, whether it is a failed or unsuccessful 2E2I and whether the 2E2I is a directed intervention (see 9.4.1).

9.2 Implementer Details

Full and detailed information on the applicant or 2E2I implementer is captured in the register including; personal contact details for the applicant’s representative and alternate and a description of the applicant (e.g. consultancy, rehabilitation contractor, NGO, farmer, CBO, State-owned enterprise, etc.).

9.3 Intervention Description

Detail is provided on the type of intervention (e.g. degraded land improvement; degraded land rehabilitation; degraded land restoration; degraded indigenous forest/woodland improvement; degraded indigenous forest/woodland rehabilitation; degraded indigenous forest/woodland restoration; degraded wetland improvement; degraded wetland rehabilitation; degraded wetland restoration; degraded estuary improvement; degraded estuary rehabilitation; degraded estuary restoration; degraded stream/river improvement; degraded stream/river rehabilitation; degraded stream/river restoration; degraded coastal zone improvement; degraded coastal zone rehabilitation; degraded coastal zone restoration; degraded inshore marine improvement; degraded inshore marine zone rehabilitation; degraded inshore marine restoration; plant species reintroduction; animal species reintroduction; threatened species conservation; air quality improvement; freshwater quality improvement; marine water quality improvement; soil quality improvement; carbon sequestration; soil erosion rehabilitation and protection; etc.)

A brief summary of the principle intervention activities and their significance is also provided (e.g. invasive species removal, atmospheric emission reduction, tree planting, bio-control introduction, re-vegetation, erosion protection, bio char inoculation, formal protection of land, etc.)

The register also provides a brief description of the state of the affected environment before the intervention (the base state) (e.g. devastated – no remnants of original natural state present in intervention area; highly degraded – few, if any, remnants of original natural state; degraded – mostly in original natural state, but in very poor quality; slightly degraded – all in original natural state, but not in optimal quality; threatened – pristine natural environment that is threatened with degradation; pristine - pristine natural environment; highly contaminated – an extremely hazardous and harmful polluted environment; contaminated – unacceptable levels of pollution; etc.)

9.4 Reason for the intervention

The register provides an insight into why the intervention is being undertaken (e.g. voluntary contribution to the public good / environment / conservation; voluntary community project; company social responsibility contribution; voluntary biodiversity offset – an intervention motivated by an attempt to counterbalance a negative environmental impact elsewhere; required biodiversity offset – an intervention that is required by an environmental authorisation or other official permit or license in order to counterbalance a negative environmental impact elsewhere; directed intervention – an intervention that is required by a court or regulatory authority to repair environmental damage or as a penalty for illegal damage to the environment; business investment – an intervention that is planned to generate a direct or indirect financial return (e.g. eco-tourism); public investment – an intervention that is planned to reduce the cost of public service delivery (e.g. reduced dam siltation, improved water quantity and/or quality); research; national, provincial or municipal protected area rehabilitation or restoration; rehabilitation or restoration within a conservancy, stewardship area or other recognised form of private land protection or conservation initiative; risk reduction – an intervention aimed at improving resilience to extreme weather events (e.g. flood attenuation, stream-flow management, water retention, groundwater recharge); etc.)

9.4.1 Directed Interventions An intervention submitted as a possible 2E2I that is being undertaken as a requirement directed by a court or regulatory authority to repair environmental damage or as a penalty for illegal damage to the environment is known as a ‘directed intervention’. Although ‘directed interventions’ may be registered in order for the court or


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regulatory authority to use the 2E2I assessment, monitoring and reporting mechanisms and with a view to improved environmental improvement research and practice, these interventions are not given any other public profile, i.e. the 2E2I does not receive any of the increased public profile benefits that result from 2E2I recognition.

9.5 Intervention Timing

The register provides brief detail on the timing of key intervention milestones including the start and end dates for the implementation of the core 2E2I activities and the expected date for when sustainable target indicator values are planned to be achieved.

9.6 Intervention Location

The register provides detail, including geographical information system (GIS) data, on where the core activities for the effective environmental improvement intervention take place. This includes detail on the principle location type (e.g. wetland; stream or river; lake or dam; estuary; coastal dune; waterfall; savannah; succulent Karoo; Nama Karoo; forest; fynbos; desert; Albany thicket; grassland; Indian ocean coastal belt; urban (city); urban (town); settlement (rural); etc.).

The physical location is also provided (e.g. a brief description of the physical location – erf numbers, farm or farm portions, communal land, etc.; nearest town or city; local municipalities; district municipalities; provinces; etc.)

The physical Location geo-reference is also available and spatial information is accessible from the department’s GIS system 2E2I layer.

9.7 Intervention Cost

With reference to 10 below, detail is provided on the cost of implementing the core activities for the effective environmental improvement intervention as well as the cost associated with sustaining the improvements for, at least, 25 years. To this end, the core improvement activity costs are detailed including design and project management costs and itemised costs for the improvement activities (e.g. labour; equipment; materials; transport; purchase of land; plants and animals; etc.), as well as the estimated annual 2E2I maintenance cost at registration date prices.

9.8 Intervention Success Indicators

With reference to 11.1 below, detail on the measures that are used to assess 2E2I progress and success are provided in the form of Intervention Success Indicators. These are outcome indicators that measure the desired environmental improvement. Input and activity impacts are not accepted. No more than 3 standard, own or combination indicators are detailed.

When Standard 2E2I Intervention Success Indicators are used, detail is provided on: the standard 2E2I indicator title and indicator code number; the base-state indicator value (i.e. the calculated indicator for the base-state described in 9.3 above); the sustainable target indicator value (i.e. the indicator value that is expected to be achieved and maintained once the improvement interventions have been completed); the end-state (i.e. a description of how the affected environment is likely to differ from the described base-state once the sustainable target indicator value has been achieved); and whether the good practise guideline for standard 2E2I intervention success indicators was used to collect the required data for the indicator and, if not, what were the departures from the guideline.

When non-standard indicators are used, detail is provided on: the indicator title (i.e. a title for the indicator that clearly describes the desired intervention outcome that is being measured – e.g. species richness, wetland health, ambient air quality, etc.); indicator definition; purpose/importance; source/collection of data (a description of what data is used to calculate the indicator and how this data is collected, generated and/or accessed and verified); method of calculation; references to any published work on the indicator, its use, efficacy and/or utility; data limitations and uncertainties; the reporting cycle (e.g. daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly, seasonally, annually or at longer time intervals); indicator provenance (i.e. whether the indicator has been used before (where, when, by whom) or whether this is the first time that this indicator is to be used); desired performance (i.e. whether a higher indicator value is more desirable than a lower value); indicator responsibility (i.e. the person, persons or


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organisation that is responsible for calculating and reporting the indicator; base-state indicator value; sustainable target indicator value; and end-state.

9.9 Intervention Partners

Detail is provided on all the people and organisations involved in the design, implementation and/or maintenance of the 2E2I including: the partner’s name and contact details (e.g. individual, organisation, company, department, etc.); description (e.g. consultancy, rehabilitation contractor, NGO, farmer, CBO, state-owned enterprise, etc.); role and/or responsibility (i.e. a description of the partner’s role and/or responsibility in the design, implementation and/or maintenance of the intervention); contribution (e.g. indigenous and/or local knowledge, specialist knowledge, experience, skills and expertise; funding; human resources / labour; project management; progress monitoring and/or reporting; independent review and/or audit; research interest; etc.):,

9.10 Intervention Sustainability and Custodianship

Detail is provided on how the planned improvements are to be sustained and/or enhanced in the 25 years following achievement of the target success indicators and who is responsible for the required 2E2I sustainability reporting.

This detail includes information on how the intervention is to be protected, if at all (e.g. Special nature Reserve declaration; National Park declaration; Marine Protected Area declaration; Provincial Nature Reserve declaration; Municipal Nature Reserve declaration; State Forest declaration; Protected Environment declaration; Conservancy registration; Stewardship registration; etc.)

Detail is also provided on any financial provisions for maintenance (e.g. trust fund; green bonds; on-going payments; etc.).

Full contact details for the custodian (see 12.4 below) is provided as well as detail on how the intervention custodian has been made responsible and accountable for the maintenance of the intervention outputs for, at least, the required 25 years.

9.11 Intervention Co-Benefits

With reference to 7 above, detail is also provided on the possible additional benefits that may be accrued by the intervention.

9.12 Other documents

The register also provides access to all documents submitted as part of the 2E2I application including: the detailed 2E2I budget / cost breakdown; photographs; project implementation plan in the form of a Gantt Bar Chart; maps of the area; etc.

All progress and other reports are also accessible, as are all the required repeat photographs.

10 2E2I Valuation

Although the formal financial value of a 2E2I is the estimated, and then audited, cost of the intervention, other forms of value-add, or return on investment, measurements may be used to calculate the value or benefits of individual 2E2Is.

Such valuations may include the estimated value of the sustainable improvement of the degraded natural environments or environmental media using, for example, the United Nations’ evolving System of Environmental Economic Accounts (SEEA).

However, in some instances this value may be equalled or exceeded by value estimates for other 2E2I co-benefits including, among others:

Income earned by new job holders;

Reductions in public health costs;

Expenditure in rural communities;


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The value of improved supply of ecological goods and services;

The value of carbon sequestered;

Reduced extreme weather damage costs;

Value of conservation estate expansion;

Value of private sector investments;

Value of foreign currency investments;

Value of improved water quality and quantity (where water is not already the principle objective);

The value of improved livestock farming productivity; etc.

11 2E2I Monitoring, Reporting and Verification

11.1 2E2I Progress and Success Indicators

In order for a 2E2I to conform to the definition in 5 above, the “measurable improvement” aspect is fundamental.

To this end, the implementer proposes one (1), but no more than three (3), indicators that are used to measure 2E2I progress and success. Indicators are not activity or input indicators but must provide a broadly acceptable measure of the quality or ecological state the 2E2I has been designed to improve.

The baseline, or pre-project value of the proposed indicator(s) must be established or accurately estimated and included in the Registration Form (see 8.1 above) as must the desired end of project state, i.e. the desired indicator value once the most significant intervention components have been completed and the desired measurable and sustainable improvements of the degraded natural environments or environmental media have been achieved.

The proposed indicator(s) must be based on data that can be collected for use in all 2E2I reports (see 11.3, 11.4 and 11.5 below).

The use of indicators contained in a standardised 2E2I indicator set that is published and updated from time to time is encouraged, but is not required.

Indicators that align with the department’s evolving NDP 2030 indicators and evolving UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) indicators are also encouraged.

11.2 Repeat Photography

Apart from the traditional data collection methodologies that are likely to be associated with progress and success indicators, the use of repeat photography as a monitoring tool is required in order to build a powerful visual record of effective environmental improvements.

11.3 Annual Progress Reports

Once a 2E2I is formally recognised (see 8 above), the implementer is required to submit Annual Progress Reports to the 2E2I Unit until the principle intervention components have been completed and/or the desired measurable and sustainable improvements of the degraded natural environments or environmental media have been achieved.

Annual Progress Reports contain a brief summary of progress in respect of the tasks detailed in the Registration Form, provide updated contact information and recent photographs and provide up to date and annotated progress and success indicator values.

During this period, the 2E2I Unit and 2E2I Pool of Experts members (see 12.2 below) may undertake scheduled or ad hoc site visits to audit and verify reported progress.

11.4 Final Project Report

Within one (1) year of the principle intervention components having been completed and/or the desired measurable and sustainable improvements of the degraded natural environments or environmental media have been achieved, the implementer compiles and submits a Final Project Report.


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This report contains a brief summary of project activities with an emphasis on lessons learned, provides updated contact information and provides information on the progress and success indicator values at the time of reporting.

Within six (6) months of receipt of the Final Project Report, the 2E2I Unit and 2E2I Pool of Experts members may undertake a scheduled site visit to audit and verify reported progress.

11.5 Sustainability Reports

Every two (2) years following the submission and acceptance of the Final Project Report, the 2E2I custodian (see 12.4 below) arranges for the compilation and submission of a 2E2I sustainability report.

Should the 2E2I be demonstrably well established and maintained, the custodian may request the 2E2I Unit to allow longer periods, up to five (5) years, between sustainability reports.

This report contains a brief summary of developments, both positive and negative, that have impacted on the products of the principle intervention over the preceding 5 years with an emphasis on lessons learned. The report also provides updated contact information recent photographs and provides information on the progress and success indicator values at the time of reporting.

Within six (6) months of receipt of a Sustainability Report, the 2E2I Unit and 2E2I Expert Panel members may undertake a scheduled site visit to audit and verify reported status.

12 2E2I Structures, Actors and Stakeholders

12.1 Who implements 2E2I

In order for a 2E2I to conform to the definition in 5 above, a 2E2I must be implemented by an organisation that: (a) has the skills, expertise, knowledge and experience to efficiently and effectively implement an intervention that will result in a measurable and sustainable improvement of degraded natural environments or environmental media; or (b) has confirmed access to, and use of, the required skills, expertise, knowledge and experience.

With this, a 2E2I may be implemented by, among others –

Government, including national departments (e.g. national public works programmes), provinces (e.g. provincial parks and conservation authorities) and municipalities (e.g. parks and recreation);

State Owned Entities including, but not limited to nature conservation bodies and water utilities;

Academic and research institutions;

Private sector including, but not limited to, environmental rehabilitation companies and companies specifically established to implement 2E2I;

Non-Government Organisations (NGOs) including, but not limited to, broad-based and special interest conservation organisations; and

Community-based Organisations (CBOs) and cooperatives.

12.2 The 2E2I Pool of Experts

In order to enhance and maintain the scientific value and integrity of the 2E2I system, the technical aspects of 2E2I are guided and informed by a pool of recognised experts in the field of improving degraded natural environments or environmental media. Attempts are made to ensure a balance of expertise and the pool is fully representative of all key interested and affected parties.

The department publishes a call for nominations once every four (4) years and the pool is constituted from experts nominated by members of the public.

Although members of the pool of experts are not remunerated for their services, the department covers all out of pocket expenses associated with an expert’s work as a member of an expert panel (see 12.2.1 below).

12.2.1 Expert Panels

The 2E2I Unit (see 12.3) hosts an expert panel meeting at least once every quarter unless there are no applications or reports to consider.


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The panel is responsible for evaluating 2E2I applications and for providing expert opinion to the 2E2I Unit, especially in respect of progress reports and site visits.

Panellists are drawn from the pool of experts (see 12.2 above) based on availability and the nature of the applications or reports to consider.

The Pool of Experts is kept informed of all expert panel meetings and their proceedings and are given adequate opportunity to comment on any decisions of an expert panel.

12.3 The 2E2I Unit

In order to manage the 2E2I, a 2E2I Unit has been established within the Environment Programmes Branch of the Department of Environmental Affairs.

The 2E2I Unit is responsible for, among others –

In respect of the 2E2I Expert Panel –

o Facilitating and managing the establishment and maintenance of the panel; o Acting as the panel secretariat; o Managing all panel-related logistical arrangements; and o Compiling all panel reports.

In respect of general 2E2I management –

o Establishing, operating, maintaining and periodically reviewing the 2E2I national database, website and 2E2I Register.

o Preparing annual 2E2I reports.

In respect of the 2E2I recognition process –

o Receiving, acknowledging, reviewing and responding to all submitted 2E2I Registration Forms; o Assisting applicants in ensuring that Registration Forms contain relevant, accurate, complete and

current information; o Capturing all properly completed Registration Forms as “new applications” on the 2E2I national

database and website; o Compiling and publishing public comment reports; o Compiling all documentation required for the efficient and effective evaluation of proposals by the

panel; o Compiling and submitting the panel’s evaluation recommendations to the Accounting Officer; o Following up with all applicants on the outcome of the panel evaluations; o Notifying successful applicants of 2E2I recognition; o Migrating all recognised proposals from the “new applications” section of the 2E2I national

database and website to the 2E2I Register; o Managing any required deregistration processes.

In respect of 2E2I valuation –

o Establishing Expert Panels from the Pool of Experts; o With input and review from the Pool of Experts, developing, describing and publishing a set of

standard means and measures that may be used as a comparative measure of key 2E2I co-benefits;

o Continuously reviewing, updating and improving the comparative valuation means and measures.

In respect of 2E2I Progress and Success Indicators –

o Establishing a Progress and Success Indicator technical committee that may include, but is not limited to, the Pool of Experts;

o With input and review from the technical committee, developing, describing and publishing a set of standard indicators that may adopted or adapted for individual 2E2Is;

o Continuously reviewing, updating and improving the standard indicator set.

In respect of monitoring and reporting –


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o Reviewing all Annual Progress Reports and compiling summary analyses and findings for consideration by the panel;

o Undertaking scheduled or ad hoc site visits to audit and verify reported progress during the principle component implementation phase of 2E2Is.

o Reviewing all Final Project and Sustainability Reports and compiling summary analyses and findings for consideration by the panel;

o Undertaking scheduled site visits to audit and verify reported progress following the principle component implementation phase of 2E2Is.

12.4 The 2E2I Custodian

The 2E2I Custodian is the organisation or individual that is responsible (contractually or otherwise) for the maintenance of the improvements of the degraded natural environments or environmental media once the principle intervention components have been completed and/or the desired measurable and sustainable improvements of the degraded natural environments or environmental media have been achieved. Although this could be the 2E2I implementer, it is usually someone who has formally agreed to fulfil this function, e.g. a specific community, land owner, protected area custodian, etc.

12.5 Registered interested parties

Anyone who has an interest in the 2E2I may register their interest with the 2E2I Unit (see 12.3 above) as well as the nature of their interest. Once registered on the 2E2I Unit’s database of registered interested parties, the Unit ensures that parties are kept fully up to date with developments relating to their area of interest.


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Annexure A: 2E2I Registration Form


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Endnotes

i Government of South Africa. (2012). National Development Plan 2030 – Our Future Make It Work. Chapter 1

“Policy Making in a Complex Environment”, Section “The Environment”, page 90 of 485.

ii The Global Commission on the Economy and Climate. (2015). The 2015 New Climate Economy Report:

Seizing the Global Opportunity - Partnerships for Better Growth and a Better Climate. Box 1 “Better Growth,

Better Climate – Key Insights”, page 14 of 76.

iii http://www.footprintnetwork.org/

iv Ecological Footprint is a measure of how much area of biologically productive land and water an individual,

population or activity requires to produce all the resources it consumes and to absorb the waste it generates,

using prevailing technology and resource management practices.

v Biological capacity or biocapacity is the capacity of ecosystems to regenerate what people demand from those

surfaces and is therefore the ecosystems' capacity to produce biological materials used by people and to absorb

waste material generated by humans, under current management schemes and extraction technologies.

vi Cole, M.J., Bailey, R.M. & New, M.G. (2014). Tracking sustainable development with a national barometer

for South Africa using a downscaled “safe and just space” framework. Proceedings of the National Academy of

Sciences of the United States of America (PNAS), www.pnas.org/cgi/doi/10.1073/pnas.1400985111.

vii Driver, A., Sink, K.J., Nel, J.L., Holness, S., Van Niekerk, L., Daniels, F., Jonas, Z., Majiedt, P.A., Harris, L.

& Maze, K. (2012). National Biodiversity Assessment 2011: An assessment of South Africa’s biodiversity and

ecosystems. Synthesis Report. South African National Biodiversity Institute and Department of Environmental

Affairs, Pretoria.

viii Government of South Africa. (2012). National Development Plan 2030 – Our Future Make It Work.

“Overview” Chapter, Sub-section “Building environmental sustainability and resilience”, pages 47 and 48 of

485.

ix Government of South Africa. (2012). National Development Plan 2030 – Our Future Make It Work.

“Overview” Chapter, Sub-section “Building environmental sustainability and resilience”, page 48 of 485. x Without entering into the complex debates around ‘additionality’ this simply means that the intervention is

something that is not a component of the verifiable status quo or baseline state or activities that must be

described in the 2E2I application. Put simply, the 2E2I is not business-as-usual.

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