Month: February 2022

2021 drew to a close and with it, the WILDLANDS’ Rural Sustainable Enterprise Development and Skills Strengthening Programme, funded by the Walmart Foundation.

The programme is a three-year small business skills training grant which WILDLANDS obtained in 2018 from the Walmart Foundation, to upskill and develop the community members from the rural areas in which WILDLANDS work to pursue the Trusts’ vision of a thriving and resilient world.

In the final year of the project, 54 individuals completed 8 Unit Standards of New Venture Creation training. This group consisted of individuals employed doing restoration work through the Natural Resource Management (NRM) programme funded by Department of Fisheries Forests and the Environment (DEFF).

As a final step in their training, the individuals presented their business ideas to the team.  With the support received from the Walmart Foundation, each learner was awarded stock to kick start their businesses within their communities.

“Over the duration of the programme, 180 small business owners have been supported in 6 peri-urban and rural communities: eSikhawini, Kwambonambi, Dukuduku, Sokhulu, KwaJobe and Gumbi. Each small business owner has received training, a start-up stock award and mentorship as they start their business journey. This programme has been a great way to help reinvigorate local community economies and encourage entrepreneurial community members to move forward with their business ideas,” Samantha Smith of WILDLANDS concluded.

Time is running out to protect nature — that is the clear message from the newly launched 30×30 NOW campaign which aims to highlight the severity and urgency of the biodiversity crisis that South Africa and the world is facing and champion the global goal of protecting at least 30% of the world’s land and sea by 2030.

As President Ramaphosa highlighted at the State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Thursday, 10^th February, we live in one of the regions of the world that is most affected by climate change. Globally, species are becoming extinct at a rate 1,000 times above natural levels. This has resulted in nearly 1 million plant and animal species facing extinction, many within the decade, and in Africa 50% of Africa’s bird and mammal species could disappear by 2100, meaning we are potentially entering a sixth mass extinction. If left unchecked, our food, water, and medical sources are at risk, and climate change will be further accelerated.

However, overwhelming scientific evidence shows that conserving at least 30% of our land and sea globally can not only curb this biodiversity loss but also store carbon, tackle climate change, help prevent future pandemics, create jobs, and bolster economic growth – it’s a win-win. Biodiversity protection can and should be part of the new consensus that President Ramaphosa is looking for.

With this in mind, the 30×30 NOW campaign was launched on Friday, 11^th February, exactly 30 days from the start of the UN Convention on Biodiversity’s fourth and final round of negotiations on the new Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF).

Often considered the “little sister” to the UN’s Climate Conferences Of the Parties (the most recent of which was COP26 in Glasgow), the Biodiversity COPs convene the UN Member States from around the world to decide upon a set of goals and targets aimed at halting the further loss of biodiversity. While lesser-known, the decisions made here are no less serious than those made at COP26, and many would argue they are as important if not more urgent. One such goal to be decided at the next biodiversity conference, or COP15, is Target 3 which includes the provision of protecting 30% of the world’s land and sea, especially areas of particular importance for biodiversity through equitably managed, economically representative, and well-connected systems of protected areas.

South Africa is no stranger to the benefits of protected areas. As one of only 17 megadiverse countries globally, both the government and NGOs have been working tirelessly to protect our country’s rich natural heritage while promoting both novel and traditional ways for local communities to live in harmony with nature. We stand in a unique position to be a leader on the African continent; not only have we increased both our marine and mainland areas — standing at an admirable 15.5% and 15.6%, respectively — but South Africa has identified its future protection targets within its National Protected Area Expansion Strategy.

More recently, Minister Barbara Creecy, at a pre-COP15 meeting in October, further clarified that South Africa will increase its terrestrial protection by 0.5% per year until 2036 from almost 16% to 23%. Despite this show of momentum in the direction of protecting 30%, South Africa still lags behind in showing public support for the essential global 30% target and has also yet to join the High Ambition Coalition for Nature and People (HAC) —a group of over 80 countries, more than 20 of which are from Africa —calling for this goal.

The 30×30 NOW campaign aims to highlight the astonishing work already being undertaken by South Africans, demonstrate that we are in a strong position to contribute to this global goal and encourage high-level public support for the 30×30 target. By embracing the global 30×30 target South Africa will be embracing our shared responsibility to one another and acknowledging that, as President Ramaphosa stated, ‘we are all in this together.’

If South Africa speaks up, our country can pave the way for more support across the continent, guarantee the rights and knowledge of our people and local communities are respected and ensure the new GBF is one that is inclusive and effective.

And vitally, South Africa can drive increased funding for the Global South, helping to shape the development of, and commitment to, the financial resourcing mechanisms provided by the global community to support developing nations achieve this critical target.

30×30 NOW believes South Africa is working hard for a better future for nature and people, but it is not enough. We must show the world our leadership by committing to the global 30×30 target. As President Ramaphosa noted in the recent State of the Nation Address “The path we choose now will determine the course for future generations.”

ACTION: To join the 30×30 NOW campaign’s public call to South Africa’s leaders, click this Change.org Link to place your name on an Open Letter to Minister Creecy: https://www.change.org/Support_30x30NOW

As we approach the tax year end, we call on all our friends, fans and family of the WILDTRUST to do your bit and donate to help us create a Thriving and Resilient World. Through our WILDLANDS and WILDOCEANS programmes you can make a difference in the lives of our local communities and the threatened species that we support, both on land and in the ocean. You can support our ongoing operations to conserve, protect, restore and empower, people and planet.

WILDTRUST (registered as the Wildlands Conservation Trust – IT No: 4329/1991/PMB) is a South African Non-Profit (NPO: 004-949), and Public Benefit Organisation (PBO: 130001485) registered in terms of Section 18A of the Income Tax Act.

WILDTRUST is a Level 3 organisation in terms of the B-BBEE Codes which essentially means you or your company can donate up to 10% of your Net Profit after Tax (NPAT) to receive:

• Socio-Economic Development (SED) points on your scorecard
• The maximum SED scorecard points for your donation
• Your donation qualifies you for a Section 18A tax certificate that you can claim when submitting your tax return.
• Enterprise Development points on your scorecard directed to WILDENTERPRISE (Pty) Ltd.

To make your donation, click https://wildtrust.co.za/support-us/ for the payment option of your choice or use the banking details below. Then send your payment confirmation to info@wildtrust.co.za with your required details on the S18A certificate or ED confirmation letter.

Banking details:
Wildlands Conservation Trust
Investec Bank
Account number: 1001 101 4125
Branch code: 580105
SWIFT Code: IVESZAJJXXX
Reference: Your name/company & S18A (for SED) OR Your name/Company & EntDev (for ED)

For more info on our WILD work visit www.wildtrust.co.za or call 033 343 6380

Support the WILDTRUST and play your role in building a thriving and resilient world!