CapeNature, the conservation agency of the Western Cape Government, and the Grootbos Foundation have established a formal partnership with the aim of promoting economic development and conservation. This collaboration will help address alien vegetation clearing in the Walker Bay Complex, while providing skills training through the Foundation’s Green Futures College.
Skills Training for Local Communities
Several individuals from the local community in Gansbaai have received housekeeping training to help clear invasive plant species from the dunes in the Walker Bay Nature Reserve area. This physically demanding task requires expertise and skills that are being taught at the Foundation’s Green Futures College. The event was attended by MEC Anton Bredell and Michael Lutzeyer, the owner of Grootbos Private Nature Reserve.
Positive Impact on the Environment and the Local Economy
MEC Bredell praised the partnership, emphasizing the private sector’s commitment to investing in conservation, local economic development, and job creation. The newly trained workers will possess valuable skills that will boost their confidence in entering the job market. Moreover, this initiative will contribute to the 12,000 hectares that have already been cleared on CapeNature land in the past year.
Train-The-Trainer Concept
The housekeeping training, provided to 16 CapeNature tourism officials, follows the “train-the-trainer” concept. Each official can now share their training and knowledge at all CapeNature reserves with tourism offerings. In the first year of this initiative, the training reach is projected to extend to an additional 100 employees.
Community Involvement in Conservation
Michael Lutzeyer emphasized the importance of community involvement in conservation, stating that everyone in village communities should understand the value of protecting wild nature. By creating more green jobs, especially for women, all members of society can play a role in conservation and benefit from its outcomes. He expressed gratitude for CapeNature’s support in sharing the responsibility for their people and the planet.
Strategic Partnerships for Conservation
MEC Bredell further emphasized the significance of strategic partnerships like this one, which are critical for CapeNature to achieve its mandate as the custodian of more than a million hectares of conservation estate in the Western Cape. The collaboration between CapeNature and the Grootbos Foundation is a win-win for both the environment and the economy.
The partnership between CapeNature and the Grootbos Foundation is an excellent example of how conservation and economic development can work together. By investing in initiatives that clear invasive vegetation and provide skills training, this collaboration is contributing to the preservation of the environment while empowering local communities with the tools they need to succeed in the job market.
