Schools rewarded for recycling efforts

On the evening of the 27th of February, local NGO, the Wildlands Conservation Trust, held the second annual Schools Recycling Awards Ceremony for their Wildlands Recycling initiative.  The function was held at Deccan Road Primary School in Raisthorpe.  Deccan Road Primary collected a staggering 35 628kg’s of recycling during 2011, to win them top position out of the 92 schools involved in the project, from the uMgungundlovu district.

The Wildlands Recycling initiative started in 2010 with funding from the National Lotteries Distribution Trust Fund (through the African Conservation Trust) and Unilever South Africa.  It now supports a network of more than 92 schools, which together with a number of businesses, residential complexes, charities and ‘waste-preneurs’, collected in excess of 2, 500 000 kg’s of recycling in 2011.

Deccan Road Primary was awarded the Wildlands Recycling floating trophy for 2011, as well as a cheque to the value of R8270.00 for their contribution (40% of the income from the sale of the recyclables is given back to each school).  The school’s Principal, Mr Siv Gounden, said the school was driven by the educational, intrinsic value of the project rather than the reward, “We believe that learning should manifest in the behaviour of our learners”, he said. “It has been a team effort with the governing body, staff, parents and learners all getting involved, and their hard work has paid off.”

Mrs Sharon Naidoo, Deputy Principal and head of the recycling initiative at Deccan Road Primary, explained how they managed to tip the scales: “Each day of the week, different grades bring in their recycling. We have recycling monitors in each class who then help sort the recycling.  Monitors also record which children bring their recycling in and classes are encouraged to compete against each other.  We are also open all weekend so parents [and community members] who can’t come during the week, can also bring their recycling”.

Ten year old recycling monitor Viyuktha Deoparsad, in Grade 6, said on her schools win: “ It doesn’t matter to me that we won, it’s just important that we keep our environment safe.”

Other schools in the top performers included Kharina Secondary in 2nd place, with 29 412kg’s collected and Michaelhouse in 3rd with 28 041kg’s collected in 2011. W.A. Lewitt Primary, St Johns DSG, Epworth High, Treverton, St Anne’s and Russel High School also collected more than 10 000 kg’s in the year.

Dr Andrew Venter, CEO of the Wildlands Conservation Trust said it was exciting how the initiative had linked the schools with their communities and surrounding ecosystems: “ For me it’s so rewarding to see how the schools have embraced the project and that communities are working together to protect the ecosystems in this area.  We rely on these ecosystems for survival, and it’s our children who are inheriting them”.

Caption: From left: Dr Andrew Venter, CEO, Wildlands Conservation Trust with Mr Siv Gounden, Principal, Deccan Road Primary, Mrs Sharon Naidoo, Deputy Principal, Deccan Road Primary and Mrs Urvashi Haridass, Relationship Manager, Wildlands Recycling. Deccan Road Primary received the Wildlands Recycling floating trophy for the second year running, earning their school a total of R8270.00.

KZN Green Economy Conference

The provincial Department of Economic Development and Tourism hosted its first Green Economy Research Conference at the Durban ICC on the 24th and 25th of February, with the aim of promoting economic activities that promote sustainability whilst protecting the environment. A range of knowledgeable speakers from civil society, government, business and academia gave presentations. Acting HOD at the Department of Economic Development and Tourism Sibusiso Myeza stated that the world is changing and that the next economic wave would focus on innovation in energy, food, transport and waste management amongst other priorities. Catherine Sutherland of the UKZN School of Development studies emphasized that “The costs and risks associated with business-as-usual is becoming too high, and South Africa is following leading global economies in embracing a greener economic paradigm.” Frikkie Brooks, from the KZN Planning Commission, said the province had put plans in place for a growth and development strategy for 2030 that would push to achieve seven goals around a green economy including job creation, environment sustainability and human and community development. Brooks said now that the developed world was exploring technology and other areas for a green economy. He said the country had the potential to come up with solutions that could also assist other African countries.

Sustainable Energy Africa”s Megan Euston-Brown said governments were paying more attention to greener economies now following the recent recession. Economies need to be recharged but without the depletion of further resources. Euston-Brown added that the South African government was very conscious about climate change and the country”s resources, therefore taking the necessary measures. Unilever and the South African Sugar Association explained how their visions could contribute to a green economy. Unilever, which operates in 180 countries, plans to halve its carbon foot print in the next 10 years while doubling its turnover. The company has built its first green manufacturing plant for South Africa. Unilever representative, Ross Plumbley, said the company recycled 60 percent of its waste and was looking at ways to address the 40 percent that goes to landfill sites. The South African Sugar Association has been liaising with several government departments to contribute to the production of renewable energy.

Dr Andrew Venter, CEO of the Wildlands Conservation Trust presented the KZN Integrated Greening Programme which was launched through a unique partnership with the KZN Provincial Government. Since the 1st April 2011 this Programme has created 352 full-time jobs and 2 189 part-time jobs, across the uMgungundlovu, uMkhanyakude, Sisonke, uThungulu and Zululand District Municipalities and eThekweni Metropolitan Municipality. These jobs represent an amazing 81 671person days. In the process 467 414 trees have been grown, 277 891trees planted and 519 723 kg”s of recycling collected – cleaning and greening our communities. In addition presentations on renewable energy, carbon tax, waste management, and agriculture provided much information and provoked thought and discussion. The KZN Department of Economic Development and Tourism plans to continue to engage with all stakeholders in the implementation of a green economy.

Trees and a Community Programme Grow side by side

The KZN Integrated Greening Programme was launched through a unique partnership between the KZN Provincial Government and the Wildlands Conservation Trust on the 1st of April 2011. This partnership was catalysed through the Sukuma Sakhe initiative, which aims to bring the communities of KZN together to “stand up and build” in partnership with the KZN Government, local businesses and civil society.

The Programme is focused on creating local employment opportunities for the poor and unemployed, with emphasis on activities which will clean and green our communities whilst restoring the rivers, grasslands and forests which sustain us.

Since the 1st April this Programme has created 352 full-time jobs and 2 189 part-time jobs, across the uMgungundlovu, uMkhanyakude, Sisonke, uThungulu and Zululand District Municipalities and eThekweni Metropolitan Municipality. These jobs represent an amazing 81 671person days. In the process 467 414 trees have been grown, 277 891trees planted and 519 723 kg’s of recycling collected – cleaning and greening our communities. The majority (78%) of the community members involved in the programme are women (1990). This represents a significant investment in the stability of our communities, as these women are the backbone of our society, nurturing stable homes and the future of our children.

“This Programme is gathering momentum rapidly. By the 31st March 2012, a further 40 000 person days will have been achieved, an additional 60 000 trees grown, 150 000 trees planted and 600 000 kg’s of recycling collected. This is an amazing achievement, demonstrating the collective commitment of all the partners involved in this world class program, to transforming our province through the sustainable upliftment of our communities,” commented Dr Andrew Venter, CEO of the Wildlands Conservation Trust.

 

Rhino Victory

Huge victory in the fight against rhino poaching

Three rhino poachers, who were caught with two freshly chopped rhino horns, an assault rifle, a hunting rifle and an axe in the Kruger National Park, were sentenced this week to 25 years each by the Phalaborwa Regional Court. A SANParks spokesperson indicated that the three, all Mozambicans, were found guilty of illegally hunting rhino in the Kruger National Park in July 2010.

SANParks CEO David Mabunda said the sentence was harsher than it had been in other similar cases. “This is an indication that, as a country, we are taking more stringent measures in the fight against rhino poaching,” he said.

Aselmo Baloyi, Jawaki Nkuna and Ismael Baloy were also found guilty of possessing an illegal firearm (an automatic rifle), possession of a firearm (a hunting rifle) and possession of ammunition.

Mabunda said that last year 232 suspected poachers were arrested, including 26 who died in fights with the authorities. These harsher sentences, together with the extra 150 game rangers being deployed in Kruger, is going to make  massive inroads into the rhino poaching taking place in Kruger, where most of the rhino are poached each year.