The Department of Environment (DoE) is established under section 8 of the EPA 2002. It is responsible for:
• The administration of the environmental protection legislation;
• The design and development of environmental guidelines and standards;
• Acting as a national focal point for information and research on all environmental matters;and assisting other Ministries and government agencies in their task of protecting and enhancing the quality of the environment.
The DoE, managed by a Director of Environment, is comprised of 8 divisions:
(1) Review and update environmental policy documents;
(2) Formulate policies on key environmental issues;
(3) Liaison/coordination in connection with national, regional and international environmental issues;
(4) Prepare periodic state of environment report and other associated reports;
(5) To act as secretariat to the National Environment Commission;
(6) Environmental planning;
(7) Provide technical support for the National Network for Sustainable Development
Environmental Assessment Division
Roles of Division:
To process applications for environmental impact assessment (EIA) licence.
To process applications for Preliminary Environmental Report (PER) approval.
To process applications received from the Morcellement Board.
To process land conversion permit applications.
To prepare sectoral guidelines on the contents of EIA’s and PER’s.
To prepare TOR for EIA’s including consultants expertise and qualifications.
To assist in post EIA and PER monitoring.
To attend appeals lodged at the Environmental Appeal Tribunal and other Court cases.
To prepare Environmental Guidelines.
INFORMATION AND EDUCATION DIVISION
Roles of Division:
1. Promote Public Awareness and Environmental Education using various communication means (talks, mass media, Internet, website, Resource Centre).
2. Preparation of resource material (Posters, Pamphlets, Leaflets, Fact Sheets, radio/TV Spots, Audio Visual materials, Activity Books).
3. Prepare Newsletters.
4. Load environmental Information on the Ministry’s website.
5. Organise events such as World Environment Day, Clean-Up the World and other activities geared towards sensitization and environmental education.
6. Organise Awards to enhance participation and collaboration of all stakeholders in environmental protection.
7. Host NGO desk and Resource Centre.
8. Organise training of trainees programmes for various target groups (Example Youth, Women, Teachers, Community Leaders).
9. Develop and review environmental indicators for the Environmental Information System.
10. Cooperate and participate on environmental education issues at regional, sub-regional and international level (SADC, IOC, UNESCO, UNEP).
Integrated Coastal Zone Management Division
Roles of Division:
1. Develop an integrated coastal zone management plan.
2. Coordinate regional and international projects and Multilateral Environmental Agreement in relation to coastal zone.
3. Monitor coastal water quality and coastal resources, including wetlands.
4. Conduct and recommend studies on beach erosion and propose measures for its control.
5. Conduct assessment for Coastal Development Projects.
6. Make recommendations for the upgrading of recreational facilities.
7. Coordinate the management of islets and outer islands.
8. Develop guidelines for coastal constructions.
9. Review and update National Oil Spill Contingency Plan and sensitivity mapping.
10. Make recommendations to the Minister on the management and protection of the coastal zone.
11. Assist in drafting of regulations providing for the management, protection and enhancement of the environment in the coastal zone and the prevention, reduction and control of pollution in the coastal zone; and
12. Process clearances related to development on the coastal zone.
COORDINATION AND PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION DIVISION
Roles of Division:
(i) To coordinate and implement environmental projects under National Environmental Strategies (NES)/Environment Investment Programmes (EIP 2).
(ii) To coordinate projects implemented by enforcing agencies and by regional and international organizations.
(iii) To assist other ministries in the formulation and implementation of environmental projects.
(iv) To prepare Terms of Reference and tender documents as well as contract agreements for environmental projects.
(v) To be responsible for the technical and financial planning of projects in consultation with relevant divisions/organizations and ensure their proper implementation.
(iv) To identify, initiate and formulate environmental protection projects in consultation with relevant divisions within the Department of Environment and relevant stakeholders and to submit these project proposals for funding either locally and/or international donor agencies.
(vii) To implement the Montreal Protocol on substances that deplete the ozone layer.
(viii) To implement the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
(UNFCCC).
Pollution Prevention & Control Division
Roles of Division:
To carry out vehicle emissions, noise and odour monitoring programmes and develop pollution control programmes.
To ensure enforcement and compliance of standards and regulations.
To advise industrialists and the public on appropriate abatement measures.
To attend to court cases in respect of complaints regarding pollution problems.
To carry out post EIA/PER monitoring.
To implement the Industrial Waste Audit Regulations.
Environmental Law Division
Roles of Division:
To develop and review standards, guidelines as a well as new regulations under the Environment Protection Act as required for the protection of the environment.
Update the existing Environment Protection Act.
To consolidate environmental laws applicable to a resource or sector.
To draft legislation to make specific provisions for environmental conventions to be adhered to into law.
To implement the recommendations of the National Implementation Plan prepared under the Stockholm Convention.
To facilitate the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) process.
To act as secretariat to the coordination of implementation of multi-lateral environmental agreements (MEAs).
To review and update information on National Legal Database.
To coordinate national activities under the UNEP Mercury Programme
