Month: June 2012

Last night the Wildlands Conservation Trust was awarded the TOP PARTNERSHIP AWARD at the 2012 6^thFNB KZN Top Business Awards. A highlight on the KZN business calendar, the glamorous awards evening was attended by an esteemed list of dignitaries and leaders from various government departments, municipalities, organisations and businesses across the province. An award is given in each economic sector to businesses and organisations that are making a contribution to the sustained economic growth of KwaZulu-Natal.

The Partnership award was the top accolade of the evening and reflects the importance of effective inter-agency collaboration and partnerships. The Integrated Greening Programme (IGP), led by the Office of the Premier and co-ordinated by the Department of Public Works, is aimed at stimulating local economic development while nurturing the establishment of vibrant, self – motivated communities that are clean, green and driven by inspired “Green-preneurs”.

“This is an incredible achievement and we are extremely proud to have been presented with this award. Through the Integrated Greening Programme between April 2011 and March 2012, 3167 work opportunities were created, 118625 green person days were created, 1 073095kgs of waste was recycled and 277891 trees were planted.  This partnership would not have been possible without the vision and drive of Premier Dr Mkhize, who challenged us personally to develop and rollout this program and backed us every step of the way,” comments Dr Andrew Venter, CEO of the Wildlands Conservation Trust.

FNB KZN Regional Chairman Preggie Pillay concluded, “The KZN Top Business Awards allow businesses in various categories to be recognised and awarded in the region. We congratulate all the winners and nominees. We further applaud them for their hard work and efforts in adding great amounts of value to the KZN region and we look forward to seeing more businesses taking part in these great awards.”

Who would have thought a tree would be the link to small business potential and communication?

In April 2012, 2 groups of Wildlands’ tree-preneurs from Khula and Kwajobe, in Kwazulu-Natal, received a “business in a box.” This box contained – a starter kit from Jabba Mobile, inclusive of a cellular phone, vendors bib, cap, bag, R200 airtime and 100 starter packs, to enable these community members to start selling airtime and pre-paid electricity from their new cell phones. However, what makes this micro-enterprise initiative so special, is that these 24 community members paid for these Jabba Starter Kits with trees!

Through the Integrated Greening Programme, a partnership between the Provincial Government of Kwazulu-Natal, the Wildlands Conservation Trust and Business SA, community members in several communities across SA are able to grow indigenous trees at their homesteads or collect recyclable waste in exchange for a range of basic goods, including food, educational support and building materials – with JABBA starter kits & air time being the latest addition to this list. The first Jabba starter kit distribution through a Wildlands project was piloted in September 2011 with a group of Wildlands tree-preneurs in eSikhawini, near Richards Bay.

Jabba Mobile is the brand behind venture catalyst company ‘LikeMinds’ Pty Ltd, founded in June 2010 by Craig Ireland and Roger Gerrish. The objective of ‘LikeMinds’ is to create a prepaid distribution network selling prepaid products and services through community-based sales and marketing channels, and win-win partnerships. ‘LikeMinds’ are intent on enabling communities to generate sustainable forms of income, an objective shared with Wildlands, making a partnership between ‘LikeMinds’ and Wildlands a natural fit. There is a great need to distribute airtime and electricity in underserviced communities that are far from major towns and cities. By enabling respected members of the local community to become field agents for airtime and electricity, not only are small businesses being established, but community members are being spared public transport costs to the nearest town to buy such pre-paid products.

There are a number of ways in which Jabba field agents benefit. For every starter pack sold that is activated and used, the agent earns R10, and a profit of 5% & 1% respectively is earned on all airtime & electricity sales. Profit generated is paid directly back to the agent’s “virtual wallet” on their phone, which acts like an electronic float and enables them to sell more airtime and electricity. A field agent can top up their float by making a deposit at an ABSA bank, and will soon include PEP stores. The value of the ‘LikeMinds’-Wildlands partnership is that buying the starter kit (valued at R800) using trees or recyclable waste is a lot easier for these rural community members, than having to find the cash.

“After the day of Jabba Mobile training, provided by ‘LikeMinds’, Wildlands provides the field agents with another day of basic business skills training, thanks to the Enterprise Development funding support provided by The Foschini Group (TFG),” commented Training and Capacity Building Manager Susan Viljoen of Wildlands.  “Equipping community members with knowledge on topics such as record keeping, calculating profit, marketing and customer care is essential for ensuring they make a success of their new business. We must thank ‘LikeMinds’ and TFG for their contribution and support – the knowledge and business sense that you are instilling in communities around the country is truly priceless.”  For more information on how to become a Jabba Mobile agent, contact Roger Gerrish (083 3260313) or Nick Mosikidi (071 073 8585) or visitwww.likeminds.co.za.

The KZN Integrated Greening Programme (IGP) is an exciting partnership between the Kwazulu-Natal Provincial Government, the Wildlands Conservation Trust and Business SA and was recently highlighted by the Honourable Ravi Pillay (MEC) of the Department of Public Works, during his 2012/2013 Budget Speech.

The programme, led by the Office of the Premier and co-ordinated by the Department of Public Works, aims to harness the collective energy of its partners to develop and implement a wide range of community-based greening activities. These stimulate local economic development whilst nurturing the establishment of vibrant, self-motivated communities that are clean, green and driven by inspired ‘green-preneurs,’ a term piloted by Wildlands.

“This programme is an ideal Public Private Partnership (PPP) which involves the Wildlands Conservation Trust, Department of Agriculture and Environmental Affairs, Public Works, Economic Development and Tourism, Human Settlements and Msunduzi and eThekwini Municipalities,” commented Pillay. “The programme provides for: “Tree-preneurs” – growing and planting indigenous and edible plants; “Waste-preneurs” – collecting recyclable waste; “Green-preneurs” – trading bicycles, water tanks, solar energy devices; Reforestation projects, restoring community forest assets;”

Through this programme community members are given the opportunity to barter what they have collected or grown for items they need such as food, bicycles, building materials, JoJo Tanks, school fees, etc.

“An amount of R7 513 719 was spent on stipends between April 2011 and February 2012. The programme was initially earmarked to be piloted in Msunduzi and uMngeni Municipality, however it had to be extended to other Districts due to more stakeholders coming on board,” stated Pillay.

“What a fantastic, positive outcome from a programme led by our Government,” commented Dr Andrew Venter, CEO of Wildlands Conservation Trust. “Its success has seen several stakeholders jump at the opportunity to get involved and the programme is now active in uMgungundlovu, Sisonke, Uthungulu, Umkhanyakude, Zululand and the eThekwini Metro.”

Since the ‘Integrated Greening Program’ (IGP) started on the 1^st of April 2011 in uMkhanyakude, it has been nothing but successful, sparking the interest of hundreds of community members and growing every day.

From 1 April 2011 until the end of March 2012, 1090 people have been employed through Wildlands Conservation Trust to work in the uMkhanyakude area in the field to facilitate the growing and collection of trees, 224 633 trees have been propagated and 137 400 trees have been planted. The Department of Communications & Public Works recognises this as an amazing achievement for this community and thought it only fitting to visit Tree-preneurs based in uMkhanyakude to personally express their support.

The Tree-preneur concept is a play on words, pioneered by Wildlands, that encapsulates the mix of entrepreneurial skills and the planting of trees. Tree-preneurs grow and look after indigenous trees, Waste-preneurs collect recyclable waste and Food-preneurs grow organic vegetables – as a collective they are referred to as Green-preneurs.  Green-preneurs then barter what they have grown or collected for items they need, such as food, bicycles, building materials, JoJo tanks, school fees, school uniforms and books, for example.

The Department of Communications & Public Works chatted to some of the community members about the ‘Integrated Greening Program.’ 64 year old Mkhoyisile Mngomezulu from Khula Village is proud to be associated with this project, “Before this project I used to rely on my pension money to look after me and 8 grandchildren. I have traded more than 3000 trees and have used my trees to get 3 of my grandchildren driver’s licenses. I will keep growing trees as I hope to help my grandchildren further their studies. Growing trees has given my life purpose.”

Lucia Masango from Mtubatuba has traded over 7000 trees and has almost completed building herself an 8 bedroom house; “Having a house that belongs to me has always been my dream and now this project has made my dream come true!”

Led by the Office of the Premier, other stakeholders showing their support for this project include the Department of Public Works, Department of Agriculture, Department of Economic Development, Department of Tourism, Department of Housing and the Municipality.

“This project is so much more than just growing trees,” comments Project Director at Wildlands Roelie Kloppers.  “It is uplifting communities and igniting their spirit, promoting a team effort, bringing infrastructure into poverty stricken areas, up-skilling people and ultimately benefiting our economy as a whole.”

An International press conference was held in Frankfurt Germany yesterday to discuss progress and the way forward for South African based projects aimed at stemming the rhino poaching tide. Local Wildlands CEO, Dr Andrew Venter was invited to comment on Rhino, poaching and strategies to curb the poaching statistics, along with Professor Manfred Niekisch and the Frankfurt Zoological Society. The conference was co-ordinated by The Global Nature Fund (GNF – www.globalnature.org) and aimed to voice international concern around the rapid decline in our rhino populations.

The Global Nature Fund (GNF) is a non-profit organisation with the goal of protecting the environment and nature. The foundation is actively engaged in African countries, including South Africa, where they are partnered with the Wildlands Conservation Trust in an attempt to curb rhino poaching statistics.  “We have already lost 235 rhino in 2012. To save the rhino population we need to improve surveillance measures in our national and private reserves,” comments Venter.  “Through our partnership with GNF we will be able to fit tracking & monitoring devices to all the rhino in the Somkhanda Community Game Reserve.”

The GPS transmitters are either inserted into the horns of living rhino or attached through foot collars, enabling active surveillance of the animals. The hope is that this will not only prevent an animal being killed, it will also scare off other potential poachers, whose chances of being caught now increase.

Director of Frankfurt Zoo, Professor Manfred Niekisch recognises the need to educate the East, “We have to stamp out the belief that ground rhino horn heals cancer or increases virility.” Trading of the much desired horn is a lucrative business for gangs worldwide. “On the black market one kilo of ground rhino-horn is worth around $40, 000, almost as much as gold,” reported Venter.

People have suggested controlled trade of rhino horn or legalising the trade is the answer, with the potential to lower prices and reduce poaching incidents. “The surveillance systems and measures taken to protect the rhino have to be explicitly improved before we can think of legally trading rhino-horns,” mentions Venter. “These standards have to be met, so that a watertight system of tracking and surveillance of the trade flows can be guaranteed. Even if it works in South Africa, it will be much more challenging to implement a system for a regulated and controlled trade in other countries.”

Besides technical measures, Wildlands, GNF and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development have started a new project aimed at developing Somkhanda Community Game Reserve into a benchmark example of how Africa’s communities can conserve its unique and seriously threatened wildlife. This reserve is owned by the Gumbi Community and situated in one of the most poverty stricken areas in South Africa.

Through this project displaced African wild dogs will be reintroduced while the White and Black Rhinos that have already been introduced will receive increased protection. The project will also support the development of a diversity of community based eco-tourism initiatives, aimed at improving the sustainability for the reserve.

“The project connects the economic concerns of the Gumbi Community and nature conservation. The introduction of Wild Dog and protection of the Rhino will improve the areas tourism appeal, and the community will benefit from the increasing tourist visits on site,” commented Stefan Hörmann, program manager at GNF. International partnerships are critical in order to leverage environmental concerns, as well as improve funding for projects such as Wildlands’ Project Rhino Tracker (GPS tracking & monitoring) & Project Rhino Aerial Support (helicopter and fixed wing surveillance) projects, which both involve significant upfront capital outlay.

In times of crisis, people need to pull together.  Rhino conservation is no different and partnerships are key to ensuring the end to the on-going poaching crisis in our country today. Save the Rhino, is an international Non-profit organisation based in the UK that raises funds for Rhino conservation globally. Save the Rhino recently partnered with local NPO the Wildlands Conservation Trust to hold the second ‘Rhino Trek’ –  a hiking adventure taking trailists through the heart of Zululand in support of Wildlands Rhino conservation initiatives.

Four friends of Save the Rhino participated in the Rhino Trek held in May 2012 in Zululand, KwaZulu-Natal. Jo Paulson, Paul Paulson, Renata Loj and Yvette Chamberlain walked more than 60km over 5 days through Somkhanda Game Reserve and Zululand Rhino Reserve, both very important properties with key rhino populations. The aim of the Rhino trek was to allow people who raised money for rhino conservation to participate in an extreme wilderness trail through big 5 country, sleeping under the stars, viewing rhino and elephant up close, and enjoying the remote areas our rhino populations inhabit.

The Rhino Trek was led by experienced trail guides from Zululand Walking Safaris, which is a small freelance guided trails walking company based at Leopard Mountain Game lodge in the Zululand Rhino Reserve. Their small team of guides pride themselves in being able to offer clients unforgettable wildlife experiences and personalized service, which was definitely the case during the 2012 Rhino Trek.

In walking from the Somkhanda Game Reserve through to Zululand Rhino Reserve in the middle of the Trek, the participants walked through the Mandlakazi community and ended off their epic journey with  a night of luxury at the Leopard Mountain Lodge in the Zululand Rhino Reserve.

”We really appreciate the support from Save the Rhino,” said Wildlands Strategic Leader for Stewardship, Kevin McCann, who joined the trekkers in the evenings during their expedition, “I hope the trailists had a life-changing experience, and will take the message back to the UK, making many more people aware of the plight of our rhino populations.”

Funds go towards Wildlands Wildlands Project Rhino Tracker and Project Rhino Aerial Support projects which aim to increase surveillance in KZN’s community and private reserves.

Wildlands Conservation Trust has been one of the official Comrades charities for 12 years through their Bonitas ReLeaf Campaign, which supports a range of conservation projects around South Africa. This year Wildlands took their partnership with Comrades to the next level and made their first appearance along the Comrades Marathon route. Their presence along the route was two fold in that they were responsible for collecting and recycling all the waste within 30km’s of the start of the ultimate human race, as well as located at TABLE 9 (the ‘71km’s to go’ mark) along the route, manning 12 refreshment tables.

The Wildlands team, together with volunteers from ACT (African Conservation Trust) and Green Office made up a team of 40 people who enthusiastically set up and distributed refreshments to 19 524 runners, despite having to be bright eyed and bushy tailed at the Wildlands spot at 4am. Setting up 50 banners, 12 tables and over 3000 refreshments is not for the feint hearted, but once the area had been set up the team were geared up to quench the very real thirst of many a Comrades runner.

One Wildlands staff member received significantly more attention from the runners than everyone else…the reason being that she was dressed in a RHINO suit. Through this fun character, Nompumelelo the Rhino, Wildlands hoped to raise awareness around the endangered rhino populations as well as the rhino conservation projects that they are so actively involved in. Nompumelelo interacted with some of the participants and the rest of the volunteers enthusiastically egged the runners on with support, motivation and much needed refreshments.

When the last runner had passed through the Wildlands’ refreshment spot the cleaning up process began, and for Wildlands’ this extends further than just packing up and throwing away. Each table, between the Pietermaritzburg City Hall and Cato Ridge areas, had clearly labelled boxes for spectators and volunteers to dispose of their waste wisely.  Recyclable waste streams to choose from included plastic, PET, tetrapak, cardboard, glass and cans.

To end off the cleaning process the Wildlands’ Recycling vehicles drove along the route, with a team of 33 recycling staff, including the Wildlands’ CEO Andrew Venter, collecting all the waste.

“We could have never anticipated the enormity of the Comrades Recycling Challenge that we took on,” commented Wildlands’ Recycling Initiative Manager Urvashi Haridass, “however despite the long distances and the manual collection of huge amounts of waste, the team still did the work with smiles and laughter, right until the end of our 15 hour day. I am honoured to be part of a team that looks at every challenge, exclaiming – nothing is impossible! On behalf of the Recycling Team I would also like to thank all the people that gave of their time so willingly to help us conquer the Comrades Recycling Challenge.”

The amount of waste collected within a 30km radius amounted to an astronomical 6160kgs, but the good news is that all of this waste will be recycled, thanks to Wildlands, whose main concern is building a sustainable future for all.

On the 30^th of May 2012 the first of 30 000 trees was planted during an inspirational event at Paradise Valley Nature Reserve in Pinetown. The event was held by the Wildlands Conservation Trust and forms part of the Bonitas ReLeaf Campaign linked to the Comrades Marathon. Wildlands has been one of the official Comrades charities for more than 11 years. Funds raised by sponsors, Bonitas Medical Fund, and Comrades runners (‘Green Champs’) every year, go towards supporting a range of conservation projects around South Africa. The Trust works with communities to restore and conserve our natural ecosystems.  The mass tree planting, held over the 4 days leading up to the Comrades Marathon, is in support of the Durban CEBA (Community Ecosystem Based Adaptation) Initiative, and is also supported by the Province of Kwazulu-Natal through the KZN Integrated Greening Programme.

The Durban CEBA Initiative was conceptualised in partnership with eThekwini Municipality ahead of COP 17/CMP 7 in November/December last year, and forms part of the municipality’s commitment to offsetting the local carbon footprint associated with the 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, and by creating jobs for those employed in the project.

The event this year aimed to highlight the community  members that ultimately make an event such as this possible. “Be the change you want to be in the world” – a well-known quote by Mahatma Gandhi  – was the theme of the day. “The 70 planters here today and the thousands of facilitators, planting teams  and tree-preneurs we work with around the province are really living this mantra and we want Wildlands friends and partners to be inspired to do the same”, said Wildlands CEO, Dr Andrew Venter.

Wildlands have recruited and trained community members around the country to become tree-preneurs and grow trees, for their personal benefit and that of the environment. Tree-preneurs grow trees and can barter them at Wildlands’ Green Future Stores for items they need such as food, building supplies, JoJo tanks and bicycles. Tree-preneurs from Nazareth Island contributed trees to the eThekwini Paradise Valley Initiative and are true examples of people “being the change”.

Peter Mhlongo, a 42 year old tree-preneur from Nazareth loves his new job. “It is a wonderful experience working with trees! This project has also changed my community because it gives them a reason to get up in the morning and they don’t have to do horrible things in order to survive.”

48 year old tree-preneur Margaret Zuma, also based in Nazareth has learnt that you are never too old make a difference, “Doing small things really does count!”

There is also an educational element to the Wildlands’ initiative that 22 year old Nomthandazo Yilo is excited about. “I want to have a career in Environmental Conservation. I have learnt so much about protecting the environment and looking after it and I want to share my knowledge with others,” says Nomthandazo.

56 year old tree-preneur, Nosibusiso Mhlana, summarised the purpose of the Bonitas ReLeaf Campaign and the event perfectly, “If we take a stand and share our knowledge, it will only be a matter of time before every person look after the environment.”

“These are the individuals who inspire us to do what we do”, said Dr Andrew Venter, CEO of the Wildlands Conservation Trust. “The 30 000 little saplings we’re planting here today might not look like much but in 20 years’ time we’ll be standing in an indigenous forest rich with biodiversity. Paradise Valley forms part of an important life supporting ecosystem for the Durban community and we hope that all sectors of society will one day be contributing to restoring and protecting it.”