MAKONDE - An estimated 100 000 jobs are to be created by the Bee Foundation's project launched by the Deputy Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, Ms Rejoice Mabudafhasi, at Makonde Village near Thohoyandou, last Saturday.

The programme has been initiated by the Bee Foundation, a company concerned with job creation in rural areas and the conservation of the bee population, as well as the welfare of our natural resources.

The launch formed part of the weeklong celebrations in South Africa to mark Environment Week, building up to the World Environment Day on Saturday, June 5.

The province of Limpopo was chosen for the launch of this project because of its rich vegetation, which is sustainable for the survival of the bee population. The production of honey depends largely on areas where bees can get the necessary nectar, water and the "beepower" to protect their hives.

Ms Mabudafhasi said people must prevent pollution and ecological degradation, promote conservation, secure ecologically sustainable development and use of natural resources, while promoting justifiable economic and social development.

"My department has ensured since 1999 that the Poverty Relief Programme rests on a triangle of independent goals of growing the tourism market share and investment, protecting and conserving South Africa's environment, and building the nation," she said.

"The Environmental Department and the Bee Foundation entered into partnership to ensure that our biological, cultural and natural resource bases provide the goods and services which our people could depend on," Mabudafhasi added.

She said this project would be used to combat poverty and contribute to socio-economic development in Africa. She condemned the burning of beehives for survival by communities. These acts lead to their exterminating our bees and setting fire to our forests, which eventually destroys our natural heritage. According to her, this project also aims to create awareness amongst our people about the conservation of bees, not only for the sweet honey they produce, but also for their ability to create income in the rural communities.

Mr Jean Marie Julienne, the CEO of the Bee Foundation, said that when the honey is ready for harvesting, staff of the Bee Foundation will harvest the honey, and re-secure the hive. "The bee farmer will then be paid R16 per kilogram of honey collected," he said. "Using a very conservative yield of 20 kilograms of honey per hive per year, the bee farmer will generate a gross income of R16 000 per year," Mr Julienne added.