Newsletter March 2015

Bulletin
Newsletter
March 2015
Newsletter of the Greater Cederberg Biodiversity Corridor * Nuusbrief van die Groter Cederberg Biodiversiteitskorridor
In this issue /
In hierdie uitgawe

Koördineerder se oorsig

New species for
Piketberg

Stewardship
implementation GCBC

10 Years of GCBC

GCBC Small Grants

Sandveld
Bewaringskomitee

Sandveld EMF

Frequently asked
questions

Twee River
Rehabilitation Project

Verlorenvlei Protected
Areas Project

Northern Cape
Stewardship Section

Groen Sebenza’s at
work
Koördineerder se Oorsig:
Hierdie is die eerste uitgawe van die
GCBC nuusbrief vir 2015. ‘n Paar nuwe
projekte het die afgelope jaar binne die
GCBC begin en hierdie uitgawe fokus
op die vordering wat reeds gemaak is.
Verskeie rolspelers binne die korridor
van privaat grondeienaars,
gemeenskappe, nieregeringsorganisasies en
Staatsdepartemente dra by om hierdie
projekte suksesvol te maak.
Hierdie samewerking en
betrokkenheid is wat tot die sukses van
‘n landskapbewaringsinisiatief soos die
GCBC bydra. Dit is die mense binne die
korridor wat in vennootskap
saamwerk. Die afgelope tyd was daar
baie nuusberigte oor die konsep “ONS
IS ...”. Ek dink in die geval van die
GCBC sal die uitdrukking “ONS IS
GCBC” baie van pas wees. Ons is almal
deel van hierdie
landskapbewaringsinisiatief en moet
meer hierna verwys in ons gesprekke
met kollegas en ander instansies.
NEW SPECIES FOR PIKETBERG—Rupert Koopman
(CapeNature)
On the 24th of December
the Custodians of Rare and
Endangered Wildflowers
(CREW) team joined Dr.
John Manning from SANBI’s
Compton Herbarium in field
to monitor one of fynbos’s
Gladiolus insolens
summer jewels, Gladiolus
insolens. Gladiolus insolens is listed as Vulnerable on the Redlist of
South African plants and is only known from two populations
close to Zebrakop on the Piketberg mountains.
Two years ago CREW attempted to find this species, one hot day
in December, but it was too early and the search was
unsuccessful. This year, local CREW volunteers Peter and Angela
Langton went on a recce beforehand to check if the plants were in
flower.
The CREW first hand account of the discovery is as follows:
“We met Peter and Johan the farm manager at the farmhouse and
Peter took us directly to the plants. We were completely blown
away by the striking crimson red colour of the flowers. This
species grows along perennial streams. We continued the search
for more Gladiolus insolens at our next stop, when we stumbled
across a strange Tritoniopsis species, which had Dr. Manning
surprised and confused. This was a very good sign and we
immediately started rejoicing because if he did not know it, it had
to be new or very special”.
Dit is met groot hartseer dat ons
verneem het van die afsterwe van
Wessel Pretorius by Oorlogskloof
Natuurreservaat. Hy was een van ons
groot vennote in die Noordkaap. Ons
medeleie gaan uit aan sy famiele,
vriende en kollegas.
A few specimens of the
plant was taken and on
returning to Compton
herbarium later that day
Dr. Manning confirmed it
to be a new species. Based
on the morphology, its
closest relative is
Tritoniopsis parviflora.
John Manning will be
describing and publishing
the species during 2015.
Johan Burger
Koördineerder: GCBC
“Many thanks to the
volunteers for helping
CREW find the Gladiolus
insolens, which led to the
discovery of a new species, and to Dr. Manning for spotting the
Tritoniopsis and making the field trip all the more worthwhile”.
Tritoniopsis sp.
CORRIDORS and STEWARDSHIP
GCBC STEWARDSHIP PROGRAMME IMPLEMENTATION—Johan Burger (CapeNature)
Corridors play a key role to allow for the movement of species in a changing climate and to support the exchange of genetic material that helps protect the
variety of life which underpins biodiversity. Corridors include protected areas as well as productive agricultural land. Our corridors support sustainable
livelihoods and it is important to engage with key stakeholders and private landowners to help support implementation and maintenance of corridors.
The Greater Cederberg Biodiversity Corridor covers an area of 1,8
million ha and is divided into core corridors for management
purposes (see map). The numbers below indicate the landowners
that have signed stewardship agreements with the conservation
authorities to formally include their properties into the GCBC:
Cederberg Core Corridor:
Groot Winterhoek Core Corridor:
Bokkeveld Core Corridor:
Sandveld Core Corridor:
Olifantsberg Core Corridor:
14
2
7
10
1
Innovation to assist the expansion of protected areas included
initiating a freshwater corridor in Groot Winterhoek through WWF/
TMF funding and up scaling it to a new Twee River project to
address rehabilitation of an entire catchment. The Skimmelberg
Contract Nature Reserve in the Olifantsberg Core Corridor and the
Grootwinterhoek Protected Environment on the property Visgat
was recently declared by the Minister of Environmental Affairs and
Development Planning. This is also the first Protected Environment
to be declared in the Western Cape.
Maintenance of established stewardship sites remain a priority.
This includes annual audits, Bio-blitzes and extension to
landowners. A Sandveld Bio-blitz was held on six stewardship sites
in the Sandveld during the 2014 flowering season. See page 4 for
an explanation on the Bio-blitz.
10 YEARS OF GCBC—Johan Burger (CapeNature)
During 2014 the Greater Cederberg Biodiversity Corridor (GCBC) celebrated
its 10th year of existence. The concept of a landscape initiative or corridor
was first workshopped with stakeholders from the Greater Cederberg Region
in May of 2003. This was done following a brief from Cape Action for People
and the Environment (CAPE) and funding from the Critical Ecosystem
Partnership Fund (CEPF), the World Bank and the United Nations
Development Programme (UNDP) to set up a Biodiversity Corridor. This
landscape level intervention would be piloted to address the issues of climate
change, biodiversity conservation and at the same time supporting
sustainable livelihoods.
During this workshop and the following year, a vision, mission and six
strategic directions were developed for the GCBC. A coordinator was
appointed and a Steering Committee of stakeholders elected that would
oversee the further planning and implementation of this landscape initiative.
A planning report, spatial technical reports, economic pre-feasibility studies,
community engagement strategies and a constitution was developed that
would help the GCBC to addresses its six strategic directions. Implementation
of the six strategic directions started in 2006 around expansion of protected
areas, industry engagement, providing benefits to people through local
economic development and human wellbeing projects. Coordination through
awareness raising efforts and the Steering Committee was envisaged.
Currently 33% of the total planning domain of 1,8 million ha is under some
form of better Environmental Management with some innovative concepts
piloted under the CapeNature Stewardship Programme. The Potato, Rooibos
and 4x4 Industries were engaged to incorporate biodiversity best practice
into industry systems and also delivering benefits to landowners. Around
R 11,5 million have been spent on the rehabilitation of the Verlorenvlei
wetland and its catchment to clear alien invasive plants and build structures
to stop further erosion. To date 80% of this system has been cleared offering
job opportunities to 53 people from poverty nodes along the West Coast.
Various outreach programmes have been developed and implemented with
schools, communities and farm workers around biodiversity, landscape
initiative concepts and climate change. Numerous awareness raising
materials have also been developed including an educational booklet for
schools that was translated into Afrikaans, English and Xhosa.
The GCBC Steering Committee is now just over 10 years old and serves as a
platform for all stakeholders, Government organisations, NGO’s, communities
and landowners to learn and share ideas around projects that help to address
the six strategic directions. This is also the only forum in the region where all
these partners can get together on a regular basis. Currently the GCBC is
focused on making Small Grants available to stakeholders within the corridor.
This project is but one of the funded projects by the Table Mountain Fund
and WWF that the GCBC is currently implementing.
GCBC Steering Committee
CAPACITY BUILDING
GCBC SMALL GRANTS—Johan Burger (CapeNature)
The GCBC Small Grants is a joint partnership between The Table Mountain Fund (an associated Trust of WWF South Africa), CapeNature and the GCBC. A
successful application by the GCBC to the Table Mountain Fund for hosting a small grant facility meant that funding will be available from January 2014 to
June 2016. Six small grants of up to R 20 000 each will be made available per year over this period to civil society partners which could include local
communities, landowners, non-governmental organisations and other civil society partners that help address the six strategic directions of the GCBC. The
funding aims to ensure civil society engagement in biodiversity conservation.
Each grant awarded will help to strengthen the GCBC’s six strategic directions through promoting innovative private sector and community involvement in
biodiversity conservation, whilst ensuring action towards a common vision. The six strategic directions are:
1. Support civil society involvement in landscape conservation actions especially the consolidation and expansion of protected areas.
2. Support the mainstreaming of biodiversity conservation within key business sectors.
3. Support local economic development through innovative biodiversity conservation approaches.
4. Promote human well-being through innovative biodiversity conservation approaches.
5. Raise biodiversity awareness and information sharing.
6. Promote coordination to ensure lasting partnerships are built throughout the corridor.
A “call for proposals” was communicated to the GCBC partners and Steering Committee
members. Fundraising training was also provided to community stakeholders within the
GCBC following several enquiries and project proposal that was received. The training
helped to conceptualize project proposals, helped with writing of proposals and to
address the GCBC’s needs. The training was attended by 25 participants and positive
feedback was received following the training. This training helped to capacitate civil
society to look for funding opportunities and submit well conceptualized project
proposals.
Various enquiries have been received about the small grants since its launch. One of the
successful small grant project proposals that was approved came from the Greater
Cederberg Fire Protection Association and was called “Safeguard and protect the lives
and livelihoods of communities living on the Nieuwoudtville Plateau against mega wild
fires”. This project focused on capacity building in the community around fire
preparedness and provided them with basic fire knowledge and equipment to help fight
fires.
Basic fire training Nieuwoudtville
SANDVELD BEWARINGSKOMITEE—Jan Smit (Departement van Landbou Wes-Kaap)
In die Weskus Distrik was Grondbewaringskomitees tot in die negentigs in byna al die munisipale areas aktief. Hierdie komitees was vir lank die skakel
tussen die landbouers en die regering. Hulle het die plaaslike voorligtingskantore ondersteun in hul taak en help om te verseker dat landboupraktyke en
landbouontwikkeling volhoubaar toegepas word. Die samestelling van hierdie komitees het egter meegebring dat verteenwoordiging nie meer
versoenbaar met die nuwe Grondwet was nie en befondsing vir hierdie komitees is dus deur die regering gestaak.
In afwagting op die voorgestelde wysiging van die Wet op die Bewaring van Landbou Hulpbronne (CARA), het die Hoof van die Departement van Landbou
Wes-Kaap tesame met die destydse minister van Landbou vir die Wes-Kaap, in 2013 goedkeuring verleen om weer Bewaringskomitees in die Wes-Kaap
provinsie te stig. Die voorgestelde wysiging van CARA se eerste oogmerk is om die land se natuurlike landbou hulpbronne in publieke trusteeskap te plaas.
Hierdie voorgestelde trusteeskap van vrywillige gemeenskapsgebaseerde Bewaringskomitees rapporteer dan aan ‘n verkose Distrikskomitee wat dan op sy
beurt weer sal rapporteer aan die Provinsiale komitee. So kan verseker word dat die hulpbronne reeds op grondvlak bestuur word en die departement
beter skakeling met al die grondgebruikers het.
In die Sandveld, as westelike gedeelte van die GCBC, word die beskerming van ‘n biodiversiteit verbinding tussen die
kus en die hoërliggende berge as ‘n oogmerk gestel. Die Sandveld is egter ‘n ontwikkelende landbou gebied wat ‘n
belangrike rat in die ekonomie is en waar landbou bydra tot ongeveer ‘n kwart van die werksgeleenthede in die Distrik.
Dit bring mee dat daar nou ‘n wedywer na beskikbare hulpbronne ontstaan het.
Dit is dus insiggewend dat juis hiër ‘n vrywillige gemeenskapsgebaseerde Bewaringskomitee onder leiding van Jacobus
Smit tot stand gekom het. Daar is ongeveer 10 lede waarvan sommige die Boereverenigings,
Waterverbruikersvereniging en ook gemeenskapsforums soos die van Verlorenvlei verteenwoordig. Boereverenigings
is genader vir nominasies en die Het-Kruis Boerevereniging het reeds lede genomineer.
Daar word in die vooruitsig gestel dat die Sandveld Bewaringskomitee ‘n sleutel
rol in die uitvoering van Fase II van die Sandveld Omgewingsbestuursraamwerk
kan speel. Fase II handel oor die gesamentlike ondertekening van
plaasontwikkeling en –bewaringsplanne.
LandCare glo dat hierdie vrywillige Bewaringskomitee ‘n groot bydra in
volhoubare benutting van die Sandveld se hulpbronne kan maak en ‘n sleutelrol
kan speel in die aanstelling van ‘n verteenwoordigende Bewaringskomitee vir
die Weskus Distrik.
INDUSTRY ENGAGEMENT and Q&A
SANDVELD ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT FRAMEWORK—Johan Burger (CapeNature)
The Sandveld Environmental Management Framework (EMF) is an initiative that is seeking a proactive approach to deal with the challenges of
reducing the cost and length of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) processes, whilst protecting the natural resource base of the Sandveld.
It also seeks to proactively manage conflict between agricultural expansions and protection of the natural resource base in the Sandveld.
The first Sandveld Environmental Management Framework reference group meeting was hosted in early 2014 by Department of Environmental
Affairs and Development Planning and Department of Agriculture. The meeting was attended by the Potato and Rooibos Industries including
landowners from the Sandveld and relevant Government Departments, to explain the project that was to be implemented over a 18 month
period. The consulting company Mott MacDonald PDNA was appointed to draft the EMF. During subsequent meetings, the draft Situation
Analysis Report (SAR) was presented to the reference group. The study indicated that 13% of the critical biodiversity areas within the Sandveld
area have been lost since the original mapping was done in 2008.
The draft SAR was presented at landowner focus group meetings throughout the study area as part of the Public Participation Process. Potato
SA helped to arrange focus group meetings with landowners to verify the land use maps that were created as part of the SAR. The EMF covers
an area of 10 100 km². The maps that were displayed in the first round of public participation indicated developed areas. These maps were
corrected during this process.
Areas with a potential for future agricultural expansion was predicted by using available information. These areas have also been overlaid with
critical biodiversity areas that were identified. A botanist was used to verify plant species composition within these critical biodiversity areas. An
expected outcome of the EMF is maps that will indicate present and possible future agricultural expansion including areas of conservation
importance where further agricultural development and expansion is not advised.
The SAR is currently being finalised and the framework document will be completed soon. The ultimate goal is to inform government and
landowners around future development applications. In future it will be possible to reduce the costs and time frames associated with the EIA
application process. Following on the EMF being finalised a further phase two will look at more detailed farm planning. As part of the farm
planning landowners will need to commit towards safeguarding areas with threatened biodiversity on their properties.
Frequently Asked Questions
The GCBC Bulletin will be running a Frequently Asked Questions feature each quarter, whereby readers
are given opportunity to ask questions.
Q: What is a Bio-blitz?
A: Bio-blitz is an intense period of biological surveying in an attempt to record all the living species within a designated area. During September of 2014 the GCBC completed a Bio-blitz on stewardship sites in
the Sandveld. September is the best month to conduct a Bio-blitz as most of the bulbs and other Fynbos
flowers are blooming this time of year just after winter. Three days were set aside to conduct the Bioblitz with six stewardship sites visited including Bo-Kruisfontein, Redelinghuys, Vleikraal, Venterklip,
TweeKuilen and Aan de Klipheuwel. The process was led by CapeNature’s botanist Rupert Koopman. The
Bio-blitz also created awareness with landowners and farmworkers about the diverse array of species
occurring within their properties. Landowners participated on the field trip to explore and learn more
about the plant species occurring on their properties. There is a definite pattern of species within Leipoldtville Sand Fynbos and Graafwater Sandstone Fynbos however each property had some of their own
unique species.
Q: Do the NEMBA regulations affect you?
Moraea cf. neglecta
A: Invasive species are controlled by the National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act, 2004.
Alien and Invasive Species regulations became law on 1 October 2014. The regulations list 4 different categories of invasive species that must be
managed, controlled or eradicated from areas where they may cause harm to the environment, or that are prohibited to be brought into South
Africa.
The four categories are:
Category 1a: Invasive species which must be combatted and eradicated. Any form of trade or planting is strictly prohibited.
Category 1b: Invasive species which must be controlled and wherever possible, removed and destroyed. Any form or trade or planting is strictly prohibited.
Category 2: Invasive species, or species deemed to be potentially invasive, in which a permit is required to carry out a restricted activity. Category 2 species include commercially important species such as pine, wattle and gum trees.
Category 3: Invasive species which may remain in prescribed areas or provinces. Further planting, propagation or trade, is however prohibited.
More info on the lists of species is available at www.invasives.org.za
FRESHWATER RESOURCES
TWEE RIVER REHABILITATION PROJECT—Zanné Brink (CapeNature)
Should you be exploring the Kouebokkeveld Mountains between Citrusdal and Ceres, you might chance upon an unique
valley, the Twee River, in which breathtaking scenery with pristine areas and numerous fruit and mixed vegetable farms
are to be found. Within this river system, the Twee River Redfin (Barbus erubescens), widely acknowledged as one of
South Africa’s most threatened freshwater fish species, as well as the Twee River Galaxias (Galaxias sp. currently in
process to be described), can be found.
In April 2014, the WWF Nedbank Green Trust launched a three-year project in partnership with CapeNature and cofunder, SANBI: Working for Wetlands. The main goal of the project is to rehabilitate the Twee River catchment area
through clearing alien vegetation and alien fish from the Twee River system thereby conserving the habitat of the
endangered Redfin and the Galaxias. A secondary goal is to assist the WWF Soft Fruit Initiative to improve farm-level
management practices and increase the local awareness and participation of local communities and farmers.
Twee River Redfin (Barbus erubescens)
The announcement of the project had elicited very positive and enthusiastic responses from the local farming community as the project assists with job creation, ensuring
work for two contracting teams and allows for assistance to landowners through alien vegetation eradication on their properties. The two contracting teams are made up of
24 employees, mainly of the local Citrusdal community.
The project informs and draws from various other projects, as there is invaluable information regarding freshwater
conservation available. More information is still to be determined and to be shared for long term sustainability. Two
students are currently registering research proposals to allow for studies to be conducted on specifically toxicology of
heavy metals and herbicide widely used in normal farming activities in the Twee River catchment area.
As mentioned, a large part of the project is aimed at job creation and the eradication of alien vegetation from the
mountain and riverine catchment areas. Thus far a total of 325 ha of privately owned farm land have been cleared of
predominantly pine and eucalyptus species. Soon the two teams will be trained to also capture and remove alien fish
from the many farm dams.
Through close partnership with the WWF Sustainable Fruit Initiative and the outcomes of the research being conducted,
an informed design of better and improved sustainable farming practices can be implemented to ensure more
environmentally compatible farming practices.
VERLORENVLEI PROTECTED AREAS PROJECT—Samantha
Schröder (Bridlife SA)
The Verlorenvlei estuary, near Elands Bay on the West Coast of the
Western Cape, is one of South Africa’s Important Bird and Biodiversity
Areas (IBA), hosting over 200 bird species including significant
populations of many threatened and migratory bird species, as well as
threatened and endemic fish. The estuary is also a proclaimed Ramsar
site, and thus recognised as a wetland of international importance.
The area has amazing biodiversity, including plants and animals that
occur nowhere else in the world, namely the Verlorenvlei Redfin fish
(Pseudobarbus verloreni) and the Diascia caitliniae flower which is
listed as Endangered. The area is also historically rich in terms of its
cultural heritage, which dates back to the Stone Age, evidence of
which can be seen in numerous deflation hollows containing stone
implements and rock art.Verlorenvlei is also considered one of ten
primary wetland areas for migratory and resident waders in the South
Western Cape.
However the IBA and
“a proactive approach to solving the
Ramsar statuses do not
conservation issues affecting the
infer formal protection
Verlorenvlei estuary”
or conservation action at
the site, and a new
project is attempting to bridge this gap by protecting both the estuary
and its principal water catchment area, the Moutonshoek Valley.
BirdLife South Africa, in partnership with the Wildlife and Environment
Society of South Africa (WESSA), was recently granted funding from
the WWF-Nedbank Green Trust to implement the Verlorenvlei
Protected Areas Project. The Verlorenvlei Protected Areas Project
commenced in February 2014, with the goal of working with
CapeNature and local landowners in the Moutonshoek Valley and
Verlorenvlei Estuary to create protected areas and maintain a
productive, yet sustainable agricultural landscape. This is being
achieved through the establishment of Protected Environments and
other similar management models focused on the environment.
The Verlorenvlei Protected Areas
Moutonshoek Catchment
Project is therefore taking a
proactive approach to solving the
conservation issues affecting the
Verlorenvlei estuary by looking
upstream to additionally protect
the Moutonshoek catchment,
which supplies 60% of the water
to the estuary. Without this water
flow, the estuary will cease to be a
safe-haven for its incredible biodiversity.
The project is progressing well with a very positive response from
landowners in the Moutonshoek valley and the process is well underway
to declare a Protected Environment in this area. The focus is now
expanding towards Verlorenvlei and the Project Manager has initiated
meetings with the landowners in this area and begun investigating their
needs and concerns with regards to conservation and environmental
sustainability.
Contact the Project Manager Samantha Schröder on
samantha.schroder@birdlife.org.za or on 082 069 9671 for further
information. http://www.birdlife.org.za/conservation/important-birdareas/verlorenvlei-protected-area.
Moutonshoek landowner meeting
COORDINATION and HUMAN WELLBEING
NORTHERN CAPE STEWARDSHIP SECTION: Bokkeveld core corridor—Mandy Schumann (DENC)
The Northern Cape Department of Environment and Nature Conservation (DENC) stewardship section, as part of its mandate to assist landowners
with managing important biodiversity on their property, has been instrumental in various projects.
DENC partnered with The Endangered Wildlife Trusts Drylands Conservation Programme, CapeNature and landowners to establish the Cape Critical
Rivers Project (funded primarily by SOS Save Our Species). The project aims to improve the conservation of Fynbos rivers, their indigenous fish
species and promote sustainable water usage. The project has three focus areas: the Koue Bokkeveld, Barrydale and the Bokkeveld Plateau, which
has the Oorlogskloof River transecting it and flowing through the Oorlogskloof Nature Reserve. The threat of alien and invasive fish has been
repeatedly identified as one of the greatest threats to indigenous fish survival, with the Oorlogskloof Nature Reserve section of the river also having
been invaded by banded tilapia. The challenge now is to ensure that no other invasive alien fish species are introduced from surrounding farms or
Nieuwoudtville. Extension has been conducted with landowners and locations of alien fish have been identified, as well as the high risk dams and
invasion routes.
Funding was sourced from The World Wildlife Fund and Leslie Hill Succulent Karoo Trust to do a
detailed botanical assessment and map of the Akkerendam Nature Reserve, owned by the
Hantam Municipality. This is the first detailed botanical work done in the reserve and Dr Helga
van der Merwe conducted surveys and assessments over 18 months, completing the project in
December 2014.
The Bokkeveld Plateau
The stewardship project helped facilitate the integration of the Bokkeveld Plateau into the
northern most extension of the Greater Cederberg Fire Protection Association, in partnership
with the Nieuwoudtville Farmers Association. Being the northern extension of the Greater
Cederberg Biodiversity Corridor and Fynbos biome, it made sense to incorporate this small
community. A Working on Fire team has already been established and is clearing fire breaks on
the plateau. Much needed training of 60 community members took place in 2014.
A stewardship team from the Northern Cape attended the Land Reform Biodiversity Stewardship Learning exchange in Pietermaritzburg in February.
All the provinces were present, making for a great knowledge exchange and learning networking experience. “We were fortunate to also have our
partners represented. Rufus Hein from Conservation South Africa and a community member from Leliefontein, Steinkopf and the Bokkeveld
Plateau”. For some it was their first flight and it turned out to be a nerve wracking one, as the plane aborted its landing and was forced to circle in
thick cloud and turbulence for 40 minutes, due an incident which had blocked the runway! The plane landed to lots of cheering and nervous
laughter. All from the Northern Cape agreed, we are definitely people of the earth and like our feet planted squarely on it. Flying is for the birds!
Thanks to the team for representing the Northern Cape, and to all our partners and funders who have supported the above initiatives over the past
year.
GROEN SEBENZA’S AT WORK—Dumisane Jula (CapeNature)
The Groen Sebenza programme is a pilot project that was initiated by the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) as a means to fill the skills
development gap amongst previously disadvantaged graduates and those learners that have completed matric. The project is funded by the
Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) and its main objective is to employ 800 individuals that were previously unemployed.
CapeNature is one of the 43 host organisation that has taken in a number of the pioneers to help them gain
“I feel this has been an eyemeaningful experience and acquire the necessary skills to make the pioneers employable in the future. The pioneers
opening experience ”
in the Groen Sebenza programme placed at CapeNature have been exposed to a vast array of experiences in the
different components of biodiversity conservation. CapeNature started off with a total of 32 Groen Sebenza pioneers
in 2013 and due to the success of the programme and the high quality of skills training the pioneers are exposed to, this has resulted in a number of the
pioneers finding permanent employment within the organisation and at other conservation agencies.
Being one of the Groen Sebenza pioneers who is currently plying his trade with CapeNature as a Programme Coordinator for Landscape Conservation
Dumisane Jula said “I feel this has been an eye-opening experience and an opportunity that has allowed me to grow as an individual both professionally
and personally. I initially arrived at the organisation as a graduate straight out of university and had no prior exposure to the working environment”.
CapeNature Groen Sebenza pioneers
WIE IS JOU
GROENIE?
Dumisane continued to say: “The way in which fellow staff members welcomed me
into the organisation was heart-warming which made me feel at ease and allowed
me to easily integrate into the flow of things around the office and my new
surroundings. I had a challenge in adapting to the local language. My understanding
of Afrikaans has drastically improved in the last year that I have been with the
organisation which has allowed me to come out my shell more. This employment
opportunity has allowed me to travel the Western Cape and explore its beautiful
Fynbos. There is still a lot more that I have to learn in order for me to be a true
steward of biodiversity conservation. My tenure as a pioneer has deepened my
understanding of conservation to an unprecedented level and thus I owe that to the
colleagues that I am surrounded by on a daily basis”.
CONTACT US
CapeNature / GCBC Project Management Unit
Location:
72 Voortrekker Street, Porterville
Postal Address:
P.O. Box 26
Porterville
6810
Tel: 022 931 2900
Fax: 022 931 2913
E-mail: gcbc@capenature.co.za
Website: www.cederbergcorridor.org.za
PARTNERS