42 GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 7 JUNE 2004 No. 26436 Act No. 10,2004 NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT: BIODIVERSITY ACT. 2004 Bioregions and bioregional plans ~~ ~ 40. (1) The Minister or the MEC for environmental affairs in a province may, by notice in the Gazette( a ) determine a geographic region as a bioregion for the purposes of this Act if that region contains whole or several nested ecosystems and is characterised 5 by its landforms, vegetation cover, human culture and history; and ('b) publish a plan for the management of biodiversity and the components of biodiversity in such region. (2) The Minister may deteyine a regionas a bioregion and publishbioregional a plan for that region either' 10 ( a ) on own initiative but after consulting the MEC for Environmental Affairs in the relevant province; or (b) at the request of a province or municipality. (3) The MEC for environmental affairs may determine a region as a bioregion and publish a bioregional plan for that region only with the concurrence of the Minister. 15 (4) Any person or organ of state may, on the request of the Minister or MEC for Environmental,Affairs, assist in the preparation of a bioregional plan. (5) The Minister( a ) may enterinto an agreement with aneighbouringcountryto secure the effective implementation of the plan; and 20 ( b ) must submit to Parliament a copy of any agreement entered into in terms of paragraph (a). Contents of bioregional plans 41. A bioregional plan must( a ) containmeasures for the effective management of biodiversity and the 25 components of biodiversity in the region; ( b ) provide for monitoring of the plan: and (c) be consistent with(i) this Act; (ii) the national environmental management principles; 30 (iii) the national biodiversity framework; and (iv) any relevant international agreements binding on the Republic. Review and amendment of bioregional plans 42. (1) The Minister or the MEC for Environmental Affairs in the relevant province, as may be appropriate, must review a bioregional plan published in terms of section 35 40(l)(b) at least every five years, and assess compliance with the planand the extent to which its objectives are being met. (2) The Minister or MEC for Environmental Affairs may, when necessary, by notice in the Gazette, amend a bioregional plan or the boundaries of the bioregion. (3) The MEC forEnvironmental Affairs may amendabioregional plan or the 40 boundaries of the bioregion only with the concurrence of the Minister. Biodiversity management plans 43. (1) Any person. organisation or organ of state desiring to contribute biodiversity to management may submit to the Minister for his or her approval a draft management plan for45 (a) an ecosystem(i) listed in terms of section 52; or (ii) which is not listed in terms of section 52 but which does warrant special conservation attention; (b) an indigenous species50 (i) listed in terms of section 56; or