From left to right: Aviwe Nyakaza (EO Impact Management – Namakwa), Samantha de la Fontaine (District Ecologist – ZFM & JTG), Lucille Karsten (EO Waste Management – Namakwa), Dineo Kgosi (DD: Waste Management), Peter Cloete (District Ecologist – Namakwa), Mmakhumo Jaola (EO Impact Management – Frances Baard), Martha Molokwane (EO Waste Management – ZFM).
From 19 to 22 August 2025, seven officials from the Department of Agriculture, Environmental Affairs, Rural Development and Land Reform (DAERL) joined environmental professionals from across the country at the IAIAsa Annual Conference, hosted this year at the Alpine Heath Resort in the breathtaking Northern Drakensberg Mountains.
This year’s theme: “Integrated Environmental Management in the Ever-Changing Sustainability Sphere”, highlighted the urgent need for adaptive, holistic strategies that fuse environmental, social, and governance (ESG) criteria with sustainability practices and technological innovations.
Our delegation included officials from Programme 8: Impact and Waste Management and Sub-programme 5.1: Research, all registered with either EAPASA or SACNASP; credentials that reinforce their professional credibility and ensure our department meets national standards in environmental governance.
Why the Conference Matters
IAIAsa’s flagship event brings together environmental assessment professionals, developers, specialists, government officials, and academics. Beyond presentations, it’s packed with panel discussions, workshops, and networking sessions, providing a unique space to build capacity, exchange ideas, and explore solutions in complex, fast-evolving environmental spaces.
This year, two officials from the Research Unit presented compelling talks aligned with the conference theme:
- Samantha de la Fontaine presented “Using Biodiversity Permits and Spatial Analysis to Guide Land-Use Policy – A Northern Cape Example with National Relevance.”
- Peter Cloete presented “Cumulative Impact Assessment Guide for Renewable Energy, Northern Cape, South Africa.”
Both presentations illustrated practical, data-driven approaches to land-use and renewables’ management, precisely the kind of integrated strategies the IAIAsa 2025 theme sought to amplify.
Looking Ahead
IAIAsa 2025 reaffirmed the importance of bridging science, policy, and practice to meet modern sustainability challenges. For the DAERL officials, the conference proved an opportunity to align work with emerging interdisciplinary frameworks, strengthen networks, and bring back insights that will drive sustainable development across the Northern Cape.