Koördineerder se Oorsig:

Hierdie is die eerste uitgawe van die GCBC nuusbrief vir 2015. ‘n Paar nuwe projekte het die afgelope jaar binne die GCBC begin en hierdie uitgawe fokus op die vordering wat reeds gemaak is. Verskeie rolspelers binne die korridor van privaat grondeienaars, gemeenskappe, nie-regeringsorganisasies en Staatsdepartemente dra by om hierdie projekte suksesvol te maak.

Hierdie samewerking en betrokkenheid is wat tot die sukses van ‘n landskapbewaringsinisiatief soos die GCBC bydra. Dit is die mense binne die korridor wat in vennootskap saamwerk. Die afgelope tyd was daar baie nuusberigte oor die konsep “ONS IS ...”. Ek dink in die geval van die GCBC sal die uitdrukking “ONS IS GCBC” baie van pas wees. Ons is almal deel van hierdie landskapbewaringsinisiatief en moet meer hierna verwys in ons gesprekke met kollegas en ander instansies.

Dit is met groot hartseer dat ons verneem het van die afsterwe van Wessel Pretorius by Oorlogskloof Natuurreservaat. Hy was een van ons groot vennote in die Noordkaap. Ons medeleie gaan uit aan sy famiele, vriende en kollegas.

Johan Burger

Koördineerder: GCBC

NEW SPECIES FOR PIKETBERG—Rupert Koopman (CapeNature) On the 24th of December the Custodians of Rare and Endangered Wildflowers (CREW) team joined Dr. John Manning from SANBI’s Compton Herbarium in field to monitor one of fynbos’s summer jewels, Gladiolus insolens. Gladiolus insolens is listed as Vulnerable on the Redlist of South African plants and is only known from two populations close to Zebrakop on the Piketberg mountains. Two years ago CREW attempted to find this species, one hot day in December, but it was too early and the search was unsuccessful. This year, local CREW volunteers Peter and Angela Langton went on a recce beforehand to check if the plants were in flower. The CREW first hand account of the discovery is as follows: “We met Peter and Johan the farm manager at the farmhouse and Peter took us directly to the plants. We were completely blown away by the striking crimson red colour of the flowers. This species grows along perennial streams. We continued the search for more Gladiolus insolens at our next stop, when we stumbled across a strange Tritoniopsis species, which had Dr. Manning surprised and confused. This was a very good sign and we immediately started rejoicing because if he did not know it, it had

to be new or very special”. A few specimens of the plant was taken and on returning to Compton herbarium later that day Dr. Manning confirmed it to be a new species. Based on the morphology, its closest relative is Tritoniopsis parviflora. John Manning will be describing and publishing the species during 2015. “Many thanks to the volunteers for helping CREW find the Gladiolus insolens, which led to the

discovery of a new species, and to Dr. Manning for spotting the Tritoniopsis and making the field trip all the more worthwhile”.

In this issue /

In hierdie uitgawe

Koördineerder se oorsig

New species for

Piketberg

Stewardship

implementation GCBC

10 Years of GCBC

GCBC Small Grants

Sandveld

Bewaringskomitee

Sandveld EMF

Frequently asked

questions

Twee River

Rehabilitation Project

Verlorenvlei Protected

Areas Project

Northern Cape

Stewardship Section

Groen Sebenza’s at

work

Newsletter

March 2015 Bulletin Newsletter of the Greater Cederberg Biodiversity Corridor * Nuusbrief van die Groter Cederberg Biodiversiteitskorridor

Gladiolus insolens

Tritoniopsis sp.

GCBC STEWARDSHIP PROGRAMME IMPLEMENTATION—Johan Burger (CapeNature)

Corridors play a key role to allow for the movement of species in a changing climate and to support the exchange of genetic material that helps protect the variety of life which underpins biodiversity. Corridors include protected areas as well as productive agricultural land. Our corridors support sustainable livelihoods and it is important to engage with key stakeholders and private landowners to help support implementation and maintenance of corridors. The Greater Cederberg Biodiversity Corridor covers an area of 1,8 million ha and is divided into core corridors for management purposes (see map). The numbers below indicate the landowners that have signed stewardship agreements with the conservation authorities to formally include their properties into the GCBC: Cederberg Core Corridor: 14 Groot Winterhoek Core Corridor: 2 Bokkeveld Core Corridor: 7 Sandveld Core Corridor: 10 Olifantsberg Core Corridor: 1 Innovation to assist the expansion of protected areas included initiating a freshwater corridor in Groot Winterhoek through WWF/TMF funding and up scaling it to a new Twee River project to address rehabilitation of an entire catchment. The Skimmelberg Contract Nature Reserve in the Olifantsberg Core Corridor and the Grootwinterhoek Protected Environment on the property Visgat was recently declared by the Minister of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning. This is also the first Protected Environment to be declared in the Western Cape. Maintenance of established stewardship sites remain a priority. This includes annual audits, Bio-blitzes and extension to landowners. A Sandveld Bio-blitz was held on six stewardship sites in the Sandveld during the 2014 flowering season. See page 4 for an explanation on the Bio-blitz.

CORRIDORS and STEWARDSHIP

10 YEARS OF GCBC—Johan Burger (CapeNature) During 2014 the Greater Cederberg Biodiversity Corridor (GCBC) celebrated its 10th year of existence. The concept of a landscape initiative or corridor was first workshopped with stakeholders from the Greater Cederberg Region in May of 2003. This was done following a brief from Cape Action for People and the Environment (CAPE) and funding from the Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF), the World Bank and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to set up a Biodiversity Corridor. This landscape level intervention would be piloted to address the issues of climate change, biodiversity conservation and at the same time supporting sustainable livelihoods. During this workshop and the following year, a vision, mission and six strategic directions were developed for the GCBC. A coordinator was appointed and a Steering Committee of stakeholders elected that would oversee the further planning and implementation of this landscape initiative. A planning report, spatial technical reports, economic pre-feasibility studies, community engagement strategies and a constitution was developed that would help the GCBC to addresses its six strategic directions. Implementation of the six strategic directions started in 2006 around expansion of protected areas, industry engagement, providing benefits to people through local economic development and human wellbeing projects. Coordination through awareness raising efforts and the Steering Committee was envisaged. Currently 33% of the total planning domain of 1,8 million ha is under some form of better Environmental Management with some innovative concepts piloted under the CapeNature Stewardship Programme. The Potato, Rooibos and 4x4 Industries were engaged to incorporate biodiversity best practice into industry systems and also delivering benefits to landowners. Around

R 11,5 million have been spent on the rehabilitation of the Verlorenvlei wetland and its catchment to clear alien invasive plants and build structures to stop further erosion. To date 80% of this system has been cleared offering job opportunities to 53 people from poverty nodes along the West Coast. Various outreach programmes have been developed and implemented with schools, communities and farm workers around biodiversity, landscape initiative concepts and climate change. Numerous awareness raising materials have also been developed including an educational booklet for schools that was translated into Afrikaans, English and Xhosa. The GCBC Steering Committee is now just over 10 years old and serves as a platform for all stakeholders, Government organisations, NGO’s, communities and landowners to learn and share ideas around projects that help to address the six strategic directions. This is also the only forum in the region where all these partners can get together on a regular basis. Currently the GCBC is focused on making Small Grants available to stakeholders within the corridor. This project is but one of the funded projects by the Table Mountain Fund and WWF that the GCBC is currently implementing.

GCBC Steering Committee

GCBC SMALL GRANTS—Johan Burger (CapeNature)

The GCBC Small Grants is a joint partnership between The Table Mountain Fund (an associated Trust of WWF South Africa), CapeNature and the GCBC. A successful application by the GCBC to the Table Mountain Fund for hosting a small grant facility meant that funding will be available from January 2014 to June 2016. Six small grants of up to R 20 000 each will be made available per year over this period to civil society partners which could include local communities, landowners, non-governmental organisations and other civil society partners that help address the six strategic directions of the GCBC. The funding aims to ensure civil society engagement in biodiversity conservation. Each grant awarded will help to strengthen the GCBC’s six strategic directions through promoting innovative private sector and community involvement in biodiversity conservation, whilst ensuring action towards a common vision. The six strategic directions are: 1. Support civil society involvement in landscape conservation actions especially the consolidation and expansion of protected areas. 2. Support the mainstreaming of biodiversity conservation within key business sectors. 3. Support local economic development through innovative biodiversity conservation approaches. 4. Promote human well-being through innovative biodiversity conservation approaches. 5. Raise biodiversity awareness and information sharing. 6. Promote coordination to ensure lasting partnerships are built throughout the corridor. A “call for proposals” was communicated to the GCBC partners and Steering Committee members. Fundraising training was also provided to community stakeholders within the GCBC following several enquiries and project proposal that was received. The training helped to conceptualize project proposals, helped with writing of proposals and to address the GCBC’s needs. The training was attended by 25 participants and positive feedback was received following the training. This training helped to capacitate civil society to look for funding opportunities and submit well conceptualized project proposals. Various enquiries have been received about the small grants since its launch. One of the successful small grant project proposals that was approved came from the Greater Cederberg Fire Protection Association and was called “Safeguard and protect the lives and livelihoods of communities living on the Nieuwoudtville Plateau against mega wild fires”. This project focused on capacity building in the community around fire preparedness and provided them with basic fire knowledge and equipment to help fight fires.

CAPACITY BUILDING

SANDVELD BEWARINGSKOMITEE—Jan Smit (Departement van Landbou Wes-Kaap)

In die Weskus Distrik was Grondbewaringskomitees tot in die negentigs in byna al die munisipale areas aktief. Hierdie komitees was vir lank die skakel tussen die landbouers en die regering. Hulle het die plaaslike voorligtingskantore ondersteun in hul taak en help om te verseker dat landboupraktyke en landbouontwikkeling volhoubaar toegepas word. Die samestelling van hierdie komitees het egter meegebring dat verteenwoordiging nie meer versoenbaar met die nuwe Grondwet was nie en befondsing vir hierdie komitees is dus deur die regering gestaak. In afwagting op die voorgestelde wysiging van die Wet op die Bewaring van Landbou Hulpbronne (CARA), het die Hoof van die Departement van Landbou Wes-Kaap tesame met die destydse minister van Landbou vir die Wes-Kaap, in 2013 goedkeuring verleen om weer Bewaringskomitees in die Wes-Kaap provinsie te stig. Die voorgestelde wysiging van CARA se eerste oogmerk is om die land se natuurlike landbou hulpbronne in publieke trusteeskap te plaas. Hierdie voorgestelde trusteeskap van vrywillige gemeenskapsgebaseerde Bewaringskomitees rapporteer dan aan ‘n verkose Distrikskomitee wat dan op sy beurt weer sal rapporteer aan die Provinsiale komitee. So kan verseker word dat die hulpbronne reeds op grondvlak bestuur word en die departement beter skakeling met al die grondgebruikers het.

In die Sandveld, as westelike gedeelte van die GCBC, word die beskerming van ‘n biodiversiteit verbinding tussen die kus en die hoërliggende berge as ‘n oogmerk gestel. Die Sandveld is egter ‘n ontwikkelende landbou gebied wat ‘n belangrike rat in die ekonomie is en waar landbou bydra tot ongeveer ‘n kwart van die werksgeleenthede in die Distrik. Dit bring mee dat daar nou ‘n wedywer na beskikbare hulpbronne ontstaan het. Dit is dus insiggewend dat juis hiër ‘n vrywillige gemeenskapsgebaseerde Bewaringskomitee onder leiding van Jacobus Smit tot stand gekom het. Daar is ongeveer 10 lede waarvan sommige die Boereverenigings, Waterverbruikersvereniging en ook gemeenskapsforums soos die van Verlorenvlei verteenwoordig. Boereverenigings is genader vir nominasies en die Het-Kruis Boerevereniging het reeds lede genomineer. Daar word in die vooruitsig gestel dat die Sandveld Bewaringskomitee ‘n sleutel rol in die uitvoering van Fase II van die Sandveld Omgewingsbestuursraamwerk kan speel. Fase II handel oor die gesamentlike ondertekening van plaasontwikkeling en –bewaringsplanne. LandCare glo dat hierdie vrywillige Bewaringskomitee ‘n groot bydra in volhoubare benutting van die Sandveld se hulpbronne kan maak en ‘n sleutelrol kan speel in die aanstelling van ‘n verteenwoordigende Bewaringskomitee vir die Weskus Distrik.

Basic fire training Nieuwoudtville

INDUSTRY ENGAGEMENT and Q&A

Frequently Asked Questions

The GCBC Bulletin will be running a Frequently Asked Questions feature each quarter, whereby readers are given opportunity to ask questions.

Q: What is a Bio-blitz? A: Bio-blitz is an intense period of biological surveying in an attempt to record all the living species with-in a designated area. During September of 2014 the GCBC completed a Bio-blitz on stewardship sites in the Sandveld. September is the best month to conduct a Bio-blitz as most of the bulbs and other Fynbos flowers are blooming this time of year just after winter. Three days were set aside to conduct the Bio-blitz with six stewardship sites visited including Bo-Kruisfontein, Redelinghuys, Vleikraal, Venterklip, TweeKuilen and Aan de Klipheuwel. The process was led by CapeNature’s botanist Rupert Koopman. The Bio-blitz also created awareness with landowners and farmworkers about the diverse array of species occurring within their properties. Landowners participated on the field trip to explore and learn more about the plant species occurring on their properties. There is a definite pattern of species within Leip-oldtville Sand Fynbos and Graafwater Sandstone Fynbos however each property had some of their own unique species. Q: Do the NEMBA regulations affect you? A: Invasive species are controlled by the National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act, 2004. Alien and Invasive Species regulations became law on 1 October 2014. The regulations list 4 different categories of invasive species that must be managed, controlled or eradicated from areas where they may cause harm to the environment, or that are prohibited to be brought into South Africa. The four categories are: Category 1a: Invasive species which must be combatted and eradicated. Any form of trade or planting is strictly prohibited. Category 1b: Invasive species which must be controlled and wherever possible, removed and destroyed. Any form or trade or planting is strict-ly prohibited. Category 2: Invasive species, or species deemed to be potentially invasive, in which a permit is required to carry out a restricted activity. Cate-gory 2 species include commercially important species such as pine, wattle and gum trees. Category 3: Invasive species which may remain in prescribed areas or provinces. Further planting, propagation or trade, is however prohibited. More info on the lists of species is available at www.invasives.org.za

SANDVELD ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT FRAMEWORK—Johan Burger (CapeNature)

The Sandveld Environmental Management Framework (EMF) is an initiative that is seeking a proactive approach to deal with the challenges of reducing the cost and length of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) processes, whilst protecting the natural resource base of the Sandveld. It also seeks to proactively manage conflict between agricultural expansions and protection of the natural resource base in the Sandveld. The first Sandveld Environmental Management Framework reference group meeting was hosted in early 2014 by Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning and Department of Agriculture. The meeting was attended by the Potato and Rooibos Industries including landowners from the Sandveld and relevant Government Departments, to explain the project that was to be implemented over a 18 month period. The consulting company Mott MacDonald PDNA was appointed to draft the EMF. During subsequent meetings, the draft Situation Analysis Report (SAR) was presented to the reference group. The study indicated that 13% of the critical biodiversity areas within the Sandveld area have been lost since the original mapping was done in 2008. The draft SAR was presented at landowner focus group meetings throughout the study area as part of the Public Participation Process. Potato SA helped to arrange focus group meetings with landowners to verify the land use maps that were created as part of the SAR. The EMF covers an area of 10 100 km². The maps that were displayed in the first round of public participation indicated developed areas. These maps were corrected during this process. Areas with a potential for future agricultural expansion was predicted by using available information. These areas have also been overlaid with critical biodiversity areas that were identified. A botanist was used to verify plant species composition within these critical biodiversity areas. An expected outcome of the EMF is maps that will indicate present and possible future agricultural expansion including areas of conservation importance where further agricultural development and expansion is not advised. The SAR is currently being finalised and the framework document will be completed soon. The ultimate goal is to inform government and landowners around future development applications. In future it will be possible to reduce the costs and time frames associated with the EIA application process. Following on the EMF being finalised a further phase two will look at more detailed farm planning. As part of the farm planning landowners will need to commit towards safeguarding areas with threatened biodiversity on their properties.

Moraea cf. neglecta

FRESHWATER RESOURCES

VERLORENVLEI PROTECTED AREAS PROJECT—Samantha Schröder (Bridlife SA)

The Verlorenvlei estuary, near Elands Bay on the West Coast of the Western Cape, is one of South Africa’s Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBA), hosting over 200 bird species including significant populations of many threatened and migratory bird species, as well as threatened and endemic fish. The estuary is also a proclaimed Ramsar site, and thus recognised as a wetland of international importance. The area has amazing biodiversity, including plants and animals that occur nowhere else in the world, namely the Verlorenvlei Redfin fish (Pseudobarbus verloreni) and the Diascia caitliniae flower which is listed as Endangered. The area is also historically rich in terms of its cultural heritage, which dates back to the Stone Age, evidence of which can be seen in numerous deflation hollows containing stone implements and rock art.Verlorenvlei is also considered one of ten primary wetland areas for migratory and resident waders in the South Western Cape. However the IBA and Ramsar statuses do not infer formal protection or conservation action at the site, and a new project is attempting to bridge this gap by protecting both the estuary and its principal water catchment area, the Moutonshoek Valley. BirdLife South Africa, in partnership with the Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa (WESSA), was recently granted funding from the WWF-Nedbank Green Trust to implement the Verlorenvlei Protected Areas Project. The Verlorenvlei Protected Areas Project commenced in February 2014, with the goal of working with CapeNature and local landowners in the Moutonshoek Valley and Verlorenvlei Estuary to create protected areas and maintain a productive, yet sustainable agricultural landscape. This is being achieved through the establishment of Protected Environments and other similar management models focused on the environment.

The Verlorenvlei Protected Areas Project is therefore taking a proactive approach to solving the conservation issues affecting the Verlorenvlei estuary by looking upstream to additionally protect the Moutonshoek catchment, which supplies 60% of the water to the estuary. Without this water flow, the estuary will cease to be a safe-haven for its incredible biodiversity. The project is progressing well with a very positive response from landowners in the Moutonshoek valley and the process is well underway to declare a Protected Environment in this area. The focus is now expanding towards Verlorenvlei and the Project Manager has initiated meetings with the landowners in this area and begun investigating their needs and concerns with regards to conservation and environmental sustainability. Contact the Project Manager Samantha Schröder on samantha.schroder@birdlife.org.za or on 082 069 9671 for further information. http://www.birdlife.org.za/conservation/important-bird-areas/verlorenvlei-protected-area.

“a proactive approach to solving the

conservation issues affecting the

Verlorenvlei estuary”

TWEE RIVER REHABILITATION PROJECT—Zanné Brink (CapeNature)

Should you be exploring the Kouebokkeveld Mountains between Citrusdal and Ceres, you might chance upon an unique valley, the Twee River, in which breathtaking scenery with pristine areas and numerous fruit and mixed vegetable farms are to be found. Within this river system, the Twee River Redfin (Barbus erubescens), widely acknowledged as one of South Africa’s most threatened freshwater fish species, as well as the Twee River Galaxias (Galaxias sp. currently in process to be described), can be found. In April 2014, the WWF Nedbank Green Trust launched a three-year project in partnership with CapeNature and co-funder, SANBI: Working for Wetlands. The main goal of the project is to rehabilitate the Twee River catchment area through clearing alien vegetation and alien fish from the Twee River system thereby conserving the habitat of the endangered Redfin and the Galaxias. A secondary goal is to assist the WWF Soft Fruit Initiative to improve farm-level management practices and increase the local awareness and participation of local communities and farmers. The announcement of the project had elicited very positive and enthusiastic responses from the local farming community as the project assists with job creation, ensuring work for two contracting teams and allows for assistance to landowners through alien vegetation eradication on their properties. The two contracting teams are made up of 24 employees, mainly of the local Citrusdal community.

The project informs and draws from various other projects, as there is invaluable information regarding freshwater conservation available. More information is still to be determined and to be shared for long term sustainability. Two students are currently registering research proposals to allow for studies to be conducted on specifically toxicology of heavy metals and herbicide widely used in normal farming activities in the Twee River catchment area. As mentioned, a large part of the project is aimed at job creation and the eradication of alien vegetation from the mountain and riverine catchment areas. Thus far a total of 325 ha of privately owned farm land have been cleared of predominantly pine and eucalyptus species. Soon the two teams will be trained to also capture and remove alien fish from the many farm dams. Through close partnership with the WWF Sustainable Fruit Initiative and the outcomes of the research being conducted, an informed design of better and improved sustainable farming practices can be implemented to ensure more environmentally compatible farming practices.

Twee River Redfin (Barbus erubescens)

Moutonshoek Catchment

Moutonshoek landowner meeting

NORTHERN CAPE STEWARDSHIP SECTION: Bokkeveld core corridor—Mandy Schumann (DENC)

The Northern Cape Department of Environment and Nature Conservation (DENC) stewardship section, as part of its mandate to assist landowners with managing important biodiversity on their property, has been instrumental in various projects. DENC partnered with The Endangered Wildlife Trusts Drylands Conservation Programme, CapeNature and landowners to establish the Cape Critical Rivers Project (funded primarily by SOS Save Our Species). The project aims to improve the conservation of Fynbos rivers, their indigenous fish species and promote sustainable water usage. The project has three focus areas: the Koue Bokkeveld, Barrydale and the Bokkeveld Plateau, which has the Oorlogskloof River transecting it and flowing through the Oorlogskloof Nature Reserve. The threat of alien and invasive fish has been repeatedly identified as one of the greatest threats to indigenous fish survival, with the Oorlogskloof Nature Reserve section of the river also having been invaded by banded tilapia. The challenge now is to ensure that no other invasive alien fish species are introduced from surrounding farms or Nieuwoudtville. Extension has been conducted with landowners and locations of alien fish have been identified, as well as the high risk dams and invasion routes. Funding was sourced from The World Wildlife Fund and Leslie Hill Succulent Karoo Trust to do a detailed botanical assessment and map of the Akkerendam Nature Reserve, owned by the Hantam Municipality. This is the first detailed botanical work done in the reserve and Dr Helga van der Merwe conducted surveys and assessments over 18 months, completing the project in December 2014. The stewardship project helped facilitate the integration of the Bokkeveld Plateau into the northern most extension of the Greater Cederberg Fire Protection Association, in partnership with the Nieuwoudtville Farmers Association. Being the northern extension of the Greater Cederberg Biodiversity Corridor and Fynbos biome, it made sense to incorporate this small community. A Working on Fire team has already been established and is clearing fire breaks on the plateau. Much needed training of 60 community members took place in 2014. A stewardship team from the Northern Cape attended the Land Reform Biodiversity Stewardship Learning exchange in Pietermaritzburg in February. All the provinces were present, making for a great knowledge exchange and learning networking experience. “We were fortunate to also have our partners represented. Rufus Hein from Conservation South Africa and a community member from Leliefontein, Steinkopf and the Bokkeveld Plateau”. For some it was their first flight and it turned out to be a nerve wracking one, as the plane aborted its landing and was forced to circle in thick cloud and turbulence for 40 minutes, due an incident which had blocked the runway! The plane landed to lots of cheering and nervous laughter. All from the Northern Cape agreed, we are definitely people of the earth and like our feet planted squarely on it. Flying is for the birds! Thanks to the team for representing the Northern Cape, and to all our partners and funders who have supported the above initiatives over the past year.

GROEN SEBENZA’S AT WORK—Dumisane Jula (CapeNature)

The Groen Sebenza programme is a pilot project that was initiated by the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) as a means to fill the skills development gap amongst previously disadvantaged graduates and those learners that have completed matric. The project is funded by the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) and its main objective is to employ 800 individuals that were previously unemployed. CapeNature is one of the 43 host organisation that has taken in a number of the pioneers to help them gain meaningful experience and acquire the necessary skills to make the pioneers employable in the future. The pioneers in the Groen Sebenza programme placed at CapeNature have been exposed to a vast array of experiences in the different components of biodiversity conservation. CapeNature started off with a total of 32 Groen Sebenza pioneers in 2013 and due to the success of the programme and the high quality of skills training the pioneers are exposed to, this has resulted in a number of the pioneers finding permanent employment within the organisation and at other conservation agencies. Being one of the Groen Sebenza pioneers who is currently plying his trade with CapeNature as a Programme Coordinator for Landscape Conservation Dumisane Jula said “I feel this has been an eye-opening experience and an opportunity that has allowed me to grow as an individual both professionally and personally. I initially arrived at the organisation as a graduate straight out of university and had no prior exposure to the working environment”.

Dumisane continued to say: “The way in which fellow staff members welcomed me into the organisation was heart-warming which made me feel at ease and allowed me to easily integrate into the flow of things around the office and my new surroundings. I had a challenge in adapting to the local language. My understanding of Afrikaans has drastically improved in the last year that I have been with the organisation which has allowed me to come out my shell more. This employment opportunity has allowed me to travel the Western Cape and explore its beautiful Fynbos. There is still a lot more that I have to learn in order for me to be a true steward of biodiversity conservation. My tenure as a pioneer has deepened my understanding of conservation to an unprecedented level and thus I owe that to the colleagues that I am surrounded by on a daily basis”.

“I feel this has been an eye-

opening experience ”

COORDINATION and HUMAN WELLBEING

WIE IS JOU

GROENIE?

The Bokkeveld Plateau

CapeNature Groen Sebenza pioneers

CapeNature / GCBC Project Management Unit

Location:

72 Voortrekker Street, Porterville

Postal Address:

P.O. Box 26

Porterville

6810

Tel: 022 931 2900

Fax: 022 931 2913

E-mail: gcbc@capenature.co.za

Website: www.cederbergcorridor.org.za

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