NGOs launch EU-funded water conservation project in SA
To coincide with National Water Week 2014, nongovernment organisations (NGOs) the Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT), the Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa (Wessa) and Conservation South Africa (CSA) have launched a European Union-funded project that will focus on natural resource conservation and management for the generation of a water-linked green-economy in the Eastern Cape and southern KwaZulu-Natal.
EWT Source to Sea Programme manager Bridget Corrigan explained in a statement that the project would address challenges around water security, poverty alleviation and the value of freshwater investment scenarios in three priority sites – the Amathole, uMzimvubu and uMzimkulu catchments.
“Our key objectives are to improve natural resource protection and management, empower communities to value the natural resources under their custodianship and encourage communities to enter the green economy through the development of sustainable alternative livelihoods.
“We are certain that this alliance of three local NGOs with such in-depth knowledge and understanding of the issues in the region will ensure the success of the project,” she commented.
The project would build on continuing work in the catchments and upscale conservation efforts already under way at these sites.
Specific outcomes for the next four years included securing at least 6 000 ha of critical wetlands and riparian zones in selected priority sites under formal stewardship status for key biodiversity and water service functions.
The project also aimed to place at least 20 000 ha of degraded rangeland and riparian zones in the selected priority sites under improved natural resource management.
Some 2 400 ha of land – already cleared of invasive alien plants – would be maintained through follow-up treatment within community stewardship agreements, while at least eight households would receive regular income through beekeeping initiatives
“Four households would receive yearly income through the employment of community-driven ecorangers, while at least 80 households would benefit from invasive alien plant clearing and rehabilitation employment.
“In addition, 16 schools will participate in an ecoschools programme and will undertake environmental learning and contextual action projects,” Corrigan noted.
The project would work closely with schools, school-leavers, municipalities, communities, industry and various tiers of government to educate the youth in environmental issues, provide skills development for adult learners, capacitate local municipalities and develop sustainable microenterprises to enable communities to join the green economy.
“Within the uMzimvubu catchment, CSA is working with traditional authorities and municipalities to enable local communities to realise the protection of thousands of hectares of National Freshwater Ecosystem Priority Area wetlands that are a source of water for two-million people downstream.
“Communities are showing huge interest in becoming custodians of wetlands, while clear benefits, such as job creation through the clearing of invasive vegetation, are tied to these agreements,” said CSA uMzimvubu Green Economy Demonstration site manager Sinegugu Zukulu.
Wessa programme manager Laura Conde-Aller added that the focus of the partnership was to enhance human capacity and capability for improved catchment management and stewardship through various education processes and interventions.
“We are extremely excited about this partnership and project because it is a concerted, large-scale and focused response to the increasingly alarming water situation in these catchments.
“We are approaching the project holistically and are confident that real changes will be made in terms of habitat rehabilitation, species preservation and community development,” noted Corrigan.
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