National Conservancy Conferences & Awards

NACSSA General Meeting November 2006

 

The NACSSA general meeting held at Sandveld in the Free State was well attended by both Government officials and private representatives.  NACSSA would like to welcome our new members

 

 

Fourth NACSSA Conservancy Conference June 2006

Hosted by the

 

C.A.P.E. PARTNERS CONFERENCE 6th t0 8th June

“COPING WITH CLIMATE CHANGE” 

This was a unique opportunity to attend 2 conferences. The C.A.P.E. Conference informed us of the range of projects being implemented across the Cape Floral Kingdom. Business and biodiversity was a particular focus.

The NACSA Conference informed and debated issues regarding Climate Change (with practical solutions) for landowners. Assembled were world leaders in their field.

Speakers and Topics

• Guy Midgley - Impact of Climate Change on natural resources
• Francis Steyn - Provincial Agricultural perspective and response to Climate Change and policy
• Richard Cowling - Biodiversity planning perspective and response To Climate Change
• Jan Vlok - A Naturalist’s perspective in maintaining the Biodiversity Web of Life in the face of Climate Change
• Liz Eglington - A Landowner’s experience and response to the effects of Climate Change
• Eugene Moll - Summary: Living with Climate Change. Some practical solutions.

 

Aardvark Provincial Award 2006

Award for best Performing Province

Sculpture by artist Steven Rici

This kind of initiative has an important impact as an incentive to the provincial civil society groups facilitating and leveraging land owner investment into biodiversity conservation. Each and every Province has done outstanding work to promote community conservation in South Africa, leading to more focus on biodiversity.

NACSSA Executive committee decided that awards Gold, Silver and Bronze for the best - performing province would give the provincial associations an incentive to carry on with their excellent work.

A detailed list of activities from each province was given to the judges.  The Judges were “The team” at the Endangered Wildlife Trust, Willeen Olivier from DEAT and Marianne Forsythe Environmentalist and invertibrate specialist.

Prof Brian Huntley, Director of the National Botanical Institute of South Africa handed the awards to the winning provinces at the NACSSA AGM held in June 2006 in the Western Cape

 

Gold: Gauteng  Conservancy Association

This association has not been going for a very long time and yet has demonstrated a steady growth in its membership and activities. The association is involved in a very wide variety of projects, including environmental education, biodiversity monitoring, capacity building with members, alien invasive removal and awareness, working with the local council and department, pollution clean ups etc. The GDACE Roll of Honour is a particularly good example of the latter, as is their excellent working relationship with this department. The Tag-a-Dumper project is innovative and fresh! Communication to members and beyond is exemplary with a web site and regular newsletters. The GCA’s efforts to support other fledgling associations, and to further the cause of conservancies throughout South Africa is to be applauded.

 

Ivan Parlkes and Prof Brian Huntley

 

Silver: Kwa Zulu Natal Conservancy Association

This large association has established many wonderful innovative projects and activities, including the Adopt-a-Highway project. The involvement of all members, local schools and members of the public is excellent. They have shown particular success in the area of alien invasive removal and indigenous plant promotion. Their support of rural conservancies and their work to train people and build capacity is also exemplary. This association is a great example to the other fledgling associations of what can be done with commitment and passion!

 

Prof Brian Huntley and Malcolm Stainback

 

Bronze: Mpumalanga Conservancy Association

This association has shown a steady growth and covers a large, important area. There is strong participation from members and inclusion of a wide diversity of stakeholders in their activities. Community projects add a worthy and important aspect to the associations’ work.

Perhaps as the association matures, measures of conservation success will enable them to eventually win this category!

Wilma Drodsky and Prof Brian Huntley

 

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