WESSA - 90 Years of People Caring for the Earth

on to the next decade in the REGIONS

membership working across the REGIONS

enable them to pay for assistance in funding some projects, for marketing and other materials as needed. These regions are Northern Areas, Western Cape, Eastern Cape, Lowveld, Kwazulu-Natal and Northern Cape. The Free State region is now dormant and WESSA hopes and believes that members will take the lead in re-establishing the regional committee in this important grassland region.

In 2014 changes came about in the WESSA structure as the professional staff support of regional membership was taken over by the regional membership structures in each area. These regional committees are now in place and along with their branches, Friends groups and members form the launching pad for WESSA’s regeneration with a strong “people caring for the earth” presence on the ground. Funds were allocated to these regional structures in 2014 to an example of one of the regions NORTHERN AREAS The Northern Areas, which covers Gauteng, North West, Limpopo and the Mpumalanga Highveld, has been very active over the past few years and have been a major contributor in the initiating group of the newly registered Magaliesberg Biosphere. This region realised that looking for green answers to green problems is no longer adequate and gone are the days that nature reserves can reserve nature as conserving the environment is increasingly in conflict with the needs of rural people. For those who cannot find work and are hungry, reserves are potential sources of grazing for livestock, fire wood and poaching. It follows that local communities need to be invited to participate in using environmental resources in sustainable ways and so create a balance where environmental needs are in harmony with social needs, especially to create jobs. The Northern Areas Committee has embarked on a number of projects that addresses this challenge: 1. In order to conserve the wildlife of the Magaliesberg Biosphere, the snaring of wild animals needs to be prevented. This region is funding a Tshwane University of Technology, Department of Nature Conservation, B Tech research project which aims to gain a better understanding regarding the snaring and utilisation of wildlife obtained from the Magaliesberg. The information gathered through this research will be used to formulate mitigating actions in order to decrease the threats faced by the wildlife through community engagement and conservation education programmes aimed at changes in attitudes and behaviour. 2. The Save Magaliesberg Species activities include leopard research and regular excursions to remove snares from the Magaliesberg region. 3. In a move to produce healthy food in an environmentally friendly way, a Permaculture Pilot Project was launched in the Reboile township in Groot Marico. A group of ex ‘Working for Water’ participants, now unemployed, and who had established the African Pride Nature Conservation Association, were interested in learning

Gauteng, North West, Limpopo and the Mpumalanga Highveld

how to grow food in an environmentally friendly way. Training started in April 2016 at the Tikologo Training Centre near Groot Marico. The group has already turned an area of about 300 m2 into a permaculture vegetable garden, in between indigenous trees, bushes and aloes. The trainer monitors and mentors the group regularly to enhance learning. A daily journal was started to keep a record of the project. 4. This region is also working with the University of Johannesburg Izindaba Zokudla (Conversations about Food) Innovation in the Soweto Food System; a multi- stakeholder engagement project that aims to create opportunities for urban agriculture in a sustainable food system in Soweto. The Action for the Responsible Management of Our Rivers (ARMOUR), was created last October when the continuing release of untreated sewage fromthe Johannesburg Northern Works into the Jukskei River reached a tipping point. Members of the public, including WESSA NAR, said “enough” and submitted a petition to the Minister of Water and Sanitation. Consequent to this a public meeting was held in November 2015, attended by officials from Johannesburg Water and the Department of Water and Sanitation. Johannesburg Water officials admitted to a multiplicity of causes at the Northern Sewage Works and their plans to address these. It was clear that necessary maintenance had been neglected over many years. The officials agreed to give monthly report back to ARMOUR on progress towards stabilising and improving the management of the sewage problems. Armour’s approach is firstly to ensure that there is management accountability and that action is being taken, then to support and challenge officials in this. Secondly, to monitor effective solutions and that the corrective action is appropriate and sustainable. WESSA NAR has formed an association with ARMOUR with a focus on broadening to include all rivers running into the Hartbeespoort Dam. Other projects include growing the Friends groups and working with schools in environmental education.

38 | 90 years of people caring for the earth

39 | 90 years of people caring for the earth

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