Month: July 2012

Fifty young ‘Tree-preneurs’ from the Luphisi community, just outside Nelspruit were recently treated to an educational trip at the nearby Mthethomusha Nature Reserve. The trip forms part of Wildlands’ Ubuntu Earth initiative that rewards ‘Tree-preneurs’, ‘with fun, learning experiences that give the individuals an opportunity to develop their life skills and interact with the natural environment.

Tree-preneurs are people who have been selected to participate in Wildlands’ livelihoods support programme because of the challenges they face in their lives. They are given starter kits and taught how to grow indigenous trees.  Once the trees reach a certain height they can trade these trees for food, clothes, bicycles and education support (including school and university fees).  One young tree-preneur has even bought a laptop with his trees! This project was catalysed through funding from Old Mutual South Africa and is now made possible through Bonitas Medical Fund.

Those who reach planting targets, such as 250, 500 and 1000 trees, are rewarded with the Ubuntu Earth experiences.  Manqoba Sabela, Assistant Manager of the Ubuntu Earth initiative says Wildlands is nurturing ‘green leaders’ through these activities. “We see Green leaders as people who take responsibility for their communities and their environment.  They can be of any age, or from any background, but they are making a positive contribution to the world and showing others how to do the same. We see our top tree-preneurs as emerging green leaders”, he said.

On this particular trip, the tree-preneurs took part in activities that challenged their communication skills and their ability to work in a team and helped them reflect on their existing leadership qualities, which Sabela believes we all have.  All in the beautiful bushveld of Mthethomusha.

“The highlight for most was a game drive in the 4×4 game drive vehicle, courtesy of Bongani Mountain lodge,” commented Sabela. “This was a first time experience for most of the Tree-preneurs, who ironically have never even been inside the Nature Reserve, even though they live only 3km’s away.”

“I really enjoyed this experience but my favourite part was the games. I did not know I could have that much fun while learning at the same time,” exclaimed tree-preneur Sipho Mhlanga. “I learnt about biodiversity, invasive alien plants, recycling and climate change. I also learnt how to look after nature, not only for myself but the whole world. I wish that I can have opportunities like this again in the future.” The highlight of the trip for tree-preneur Swanky Nkosi was the Game Drive, “This trip made me so happy I want to have a career in protecting the environment.”

Educational Officer at Mthethomusha Nature Reserve, Thabo Zulu, thinks experiences like this with the local youth is very valuable. “It helps to get the youth involved in conservation through actually experiencing nature,” says Zulu. “I am very grateful to Wildlands for programs like this. These activities also benefit the reserve, because a better understanding of nature means a better treatment of nature.”

MTN Qhubeka treated 89 children, between the ages of 5 and 10 years old, to a day outing to the Good Food and Wine Show held at the CTICC (Cape Town International Convention Centre) earlier this year.

MTN Qhubeka has a longstanding relationship with Wildlands, through their partnership in the provision of bicycles to reward and motivate green-preneurs. However, on this particular day they decided to address matters of the heart by coordinating an outing for several underprivileged children to the “big city.”

The children, consisting of some of our budding tree-preneurs and orphans from Blikkiesdorp, Eerste Rivier and Kalkfontein communities, were fetched from their homes in the morning and transported to the CTICC for the day, where they received a goodie bag and enjoyed a show entitled “Mr Maker,” which taught them how to make useful items from waste.

“For many of the children it was their first outing beyond their community boundaries and of this magnitude,” commented Wildlands Project Manager in the Western Cape, Lesley Joemat. “The children were treated like royalty by the MTN staff, taken to the VIP lounge at the CTICC and served refreshments and snacks throughout the day. For some of these children this was their first decent meal in days. Shame, a lot of them didn’t want to go back home.”

The children even wrote to MTN Qhubeka thanking them for the fun day outing, a novelty a lot of them would never get to enjoy under normal circumstances.

Some of the letters read:

• Thank you MTN for the nice day. We had lots of fun.
• The bus ride to Cape Town was fun, the big welcome from MTN and goodie bags. You did good for all of us and we were in a world we have never seen before. We all talk about the day still and especially that we got to drive past the airport and see it for the first time!
• I love you MTN!

At the AGM of the KZN Seedgrowers Association held in February 2012, Wildlands Conservation Trust presented an overview of their community livelihoods projects where the KZN Seedgrowers agreed they wanted to support this work. This has led to a donation of more than 600 bags of certified seed potatoes which Wildlands has distributed to Green-preneurs throughout communities in Zululand (namely Mzimela, eSikhawini, KwaMbonambi, Khula and Tembe) with more bags to follow for planting areas in the Midlands, Vosloorus & Nelspruit.

“Green-preneurs” are community members who support their livelihoods by growing indigenous trees or collecting recyclable waste, which is then traded with Wildlands. In exchange, Green-preneurs receive a credit note or voucher to the value of what they have grown or collected, which they can then spend at their nearest SAVE Superstore or Cash & Carry.

In Zululand, to date 12 tons of seed potatoes have been traded with Green-preneurs in return for some 12,300 trees grown – at a cost of 20 trees for one 25kg bag of quality seed. 1 bag of seed will easily feed a large household and provide surplus that can be sold for additional income. Wildlands uses the trees collected from Green-preneurs to plant out in their various forest restoration, township greening and carbon farming projects. So essentially potatoes are supporting the growing and planting of trees back into the environment – a surprising link! Wildlands trainer & Agricultural Extension officer by training, Ncamisile Hlatshwayo, provides a potato planting demonstration and propagation advice in the various communities on how to propagate seed potatoes at a homestead garden-scale.

PMB Market agents, GW Poole, with the backing of Msunduzi Municipality have also assisted by kindly allowing the seed to be stored on their market floor. From the Market the seed was collected by Time Freight in June 2012 and transported to the various Wildlands projects free of charge, thanks to the generous support of Time Freight, who have donated logistical support to Wildlands this year.

Grateful thanks are extended to the following producers who have contributed seed, namely Gavin Hill (Stud Spuds), Colin Francis (Eversley Farming), Cliffie Egbrink (Vrystaat Farming), Mike Greene (Mighty Mzambane), John Armstrong Farming, Kamberg Valley, JJ Van Der Velde (Zuiwer Goud), and Desmond Hyman (SIS Estates).

The Maputaland-Pondoland-Albany biodiversity hotspot, which stretches across 275 000 square kilometers through parts of Mozambique, Swaziland and South Africa, is one of the 34 biodiversity hotspots identified around the globe as Earth’s most biologically rich yet threatened areas. Its status as a hotspot, as well as the unique biological, economic and cultural importance of the region, led the Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF) to create a conservation strategy for the entire hotspot.

The CEPF small grants (maximum grant amount of R160 000) program supports a number of innovative community projects that combine biodiversity conservation and the capacity building of civil society. The small grant mechanism ensures that communities participate in and, directly manage their conservation initiatives while building their capacity to manage the CEPF priority ecosystems effectively. Wildlands, together with CEPF, allocate these funds in the form of “small grants” to community projects around the country, and engage with communities and civil society.

Some of the organisations contributing significantly to conservation through these funds include: The South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI); SAWC (South African Wildlife College); GRAA (Game Rangers Association of Africa) and CORC (Community Organisation Resource Centre).

SANBI, who completed their project in August 2011, focused their project around planning an integrated approach to improve conservation and management of the MPAH priority sites and through this workshop ultimately sparked several other small grant projects, including that of the South African Wildlife College (SAWC).

SAWC are using their grant to facilitate a workshop that will determine the human capacity needs for the Lubombo TFCA (transfrontier conservation area). Through this, training needs will be highlighted and ways of addressing capacity building in the area will be explored. SAWC’s Clive Poultney commented on the project, “The College will have accessed and collated a Training Plan for the Lubombo TFCA which, if supported through the subsequent larger grant application, will have a tremendous positive impact on the beneficiary communities and their ability to develop alternate livelihoods and make a sustainable living within the TFCA, but more importantly, on the conservation of biodiversity in the TFCA.”

The GRAA aim to use their grant for capacity building and improved management in the Umgeni Valley Nature Reserve in KZN, through the development and implementation of the protected Area Management System (PAMS).  “Our project at Umgeni Valley Nature Reserve is still a work in progress,” comments GRAA’s Peter Thompson. “A team of 7 members of the GRAA are working with the staff of the reserve to develop and implement a Protected Area Management System (PAMS) for the reserve, which belongs to the Wildlife and Environment Society of Southern Africa (WESSA). The team is happy with progress so far and with the involvement of the Umgeni Valley staff and support from WESSA management. The outcome will be improved and sustainable management of the reserve through a structured system that is designed for continuity. It involves all staff and provides them with a better understanding of protected area management,” concluded Thompson.

CORC – The Community Organisation Resource centre, who administered their grant on behalf of the Alliance for Rural Communities (ARC), focused their grant funds on the Environmental School Awareness Program, involving 11 schools in the Pondoland region. This project, completed in March this year, aimed to create environmental awareness amongst young learners – in the hope that they will in turn transfer their knowledge onto their families and community members. It envisaged that a broader understanding of environmental issues would safeguard the community against unsustainable development and exploitation of natural resources. This project is viewed as a huge success with 270 learners in 6 high schools and 8 educators having been educated in areas with high levels of poverty.

The above mentioned projects are all contributing significantly to maintaining biodiversity conservation and the capacity building of civil society. These organisations (SANBI; SAWC; GRAA & CORC) are inspiring in that they are making the important link between human existence and our natural resources, and reminding us that we are inextricably connected to our habitat.

Last week a team of some of the most well respected professionals in conservation, made their way to Somkhanda Game Reserve to embark on a rhino darting experience, aimed at improving security and surveillance measures around our threatened rhino population.

This was made possible by Jacqui Hadingham and Filippo Faralla, a Durban couple with an overflowing passion for conservation, who bid on the package at a fundraising auction held at Christies in London last year, giving them an experience of a lifetime in witnessing the conservation efforts of Wildlands up close and personal with live rhino, as well as the opportunity to share it with 4 of their friends, namely, Wendy and Jan Lombard and Leigh and Phil Lidgey.

Trackers, from Wildlife ACT Fund, set out on foot first thing in the morning to find the rhino, once located the helicopter was dispatched, flown by pilot Vere Van Heerden (Helicon) and accompanied by Veterinary specialist Dave Cooper (KZN Wildlife). Dave darted the rhino from the air and a race to the animal then ensued. “The rhino needs to be ‘under’ for as short a time as possible while the team work on fitting satellite tracking devices, to either its horn or by means of a foot collar,” mentions Dave Cooper, who keeps a watchful eye on the rhino at all times and ensures the process is as quick and comfortable for the animal as possible.

The aim of this experience was to contribute to the conservation of our rhino populations in KZN and forms part of Wildlands’ Project Rhino KZN endorsed, Tracker project. The fitting of tracking devices to as many rhino as possible is to allow for them to be monitored in real-time by field rangers and anti-poaching units. It also builds a better understanding of the rhino’s movement patterns and ensures rangers can pick up any irregularities in their behaviour and ultimately respond more efficiently to any threats.

On this specific trip rhino were fitted with tracking devices, containing the latest GPS technology allowing for real time tracking of these rhino. The rhino were also ear notched, to better identify individual animals within the population.

DNA samples are also taken from each of the rhino captured, contributing to a national database of unique DNA signatures of rhino around the country. Wildlands’ Strategic Manager Kevin McCann, who is currently overseeing this entire project, explains why this is important, “this, together with the micro-chipping of the rhino horn, has recently become a legal requirement and ensures that in the event that a rhino horn is confiscated, it can be matched to the DNA sample in the database so we know where and which rhino it originated from. This knowledge will enable authorities to be more successful in clamping down on poaching syndicates.”

Filippo commented on the 3 day adventure, “It’s difficult to describe this experience in a way that truly encapsulates what it meant to me and my friends. It’s sad that we have to go to these lengths in order to ensure the safety of our rhino, but it was amazing to be that close to these incredible creatures in such a beautiful part of the world, and be directly involved in the very process that aims to conserve them.”

“Wildlands would like to thank Filippo and Jacqui for their amazing support and contribution to the conservation of KZN’s rhino population; With the unfailing support from activists like Filippo and Jacqui we can really make a difference in curbing rhino poaching statistics,” states McCann.

For those individuals that want to contribute to the cause, in the confidence that your money will be invested in protecting our rhino from extinction, visit www.localhost/import-data-post and click on donate now

At the Mail & Guardian Greening the Future Awards the eThekwini Municipality was recognised for governance excellence for their leadership in the development and implementation of the Durban CEBA initiative.

The Mail & Guardian Greening the Future Awards are widely recognised as South Africa’s premier environmental and sustainability awards and celebrate innovation and leadership in response to the challenges and opportunities of sustainability.

The Durban CEBA Initiative (Community Ecosystems-Based Adaptation) was conceptualised in partnership with the Wildlands Conservation Trust ahead of COP 17/CMP 7 held in November/December last year, and is a key legacy project of this event.

The project will also help to enhance the city’s Climate Change adaptation efforts by restoring an important part of the uMbilo River catchment, underwriting the welfare of these communities, reducing our collective vulnerability to climate change and by creating ‘green jobs’ for those employed in the project.

The initiative is supported by eThekwini Municipality, Bonitas Medical Fund and the KZN Provincial Government through the Integrated Greening Programme.

Dr Debra Roberts, Deputy Head of the Municipality’s Environmental Planning and Climate Protection Department, said “the ‘green-preneur’ model encourages local community members to take ownership of their earning potential by growing trees or collecting waste in exchange for essential goods.  This eliminates the need to exchange money and it means that green-preneur activities are directly exchanged for items that are most needed in these very poor households.”

Jobs have also been created for community members who clear alien plants through the Working for Ecosystems programme that is implemented for the eThekwini Municipality by WESSA, and Wildlands Restoration Teams are planting indigenous trees in these cleared areas.

Dr Andrew Venter, CEO of the Wildlands Conservation Trust said of the partnership, “We are very excited to be working with eThekwini Municipality on this pilot implementation project.  eThekwini Municipality are world leaders in the development and implementation of Climate Change adaptation work and the Durban CEBA represents a very real contribution to the field of Climate Change adaptation and introduces tools and methodology that can and will be utilised in cities and developing nations throughout the world. I’d particularly like to thank Mayor James Nxumalo and Dr Debra Roberts for their visionary leadership,” he said.

The greening judges praised the CEBA ‘green-preneur’ model as a cutting edge intervention saying, “COP17 was not a low-carbon event, but the offsets and particularly CEBA are world-class, long-term ecosystems adaptions.”