Mooiplaas Wines recently became the first World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Conservation Champion in the Bottelary ward of Stellenbosch. This outstanding achievement follows the submission of their latest IPW-audit (Integrated Production of Wine), which acknowledges the environmental responsibility of their production practices. The audit includes factors such as carbon … [Read more...]
Western Cape to increase the Protected Area network
Innovative work is taking place across the Western Cape to increase the Protected Area network, and in turn help reach global Protected Area targets. And more importantly, they’re being driven through pioneering conservation models, funded by the Table Mountain Fund (an associated Trust of WWF-South Africa). According to Kevin McCann of conservation non-profit organisation, … [Read more...]
Yes to the Princess, No to the Mall
Imagine a people’s park where we can come together to picnic, enjoy nature, be creative and listen to great music? Help us make this happen at Princess Vlei. Come and enjoy: Spectacular live bands including the internationally acclaimed John Wizards and Isongo Livingstone High Jazz Band and our favourite DJ, Rozzano Great food on sale, or bring your own Pony rides … [Read more...]
Breathing new life into Platbos Forest
Recently, our team spent a relaxing weekend at the 1000 year old Platbos Indigenous Forest, near Gansbaai. We slept in huts made from wood and canvas, and heated up the geyser by making a fire beneath it. Discovering the southernmost remnant of the ancient Afromontane forest which once covered almost the whole of Africa was a journey to our roots in a series of significant … [Read more...]
Waste transformed into heirloom furniture
It is time that we drop the word ‘waste’ from our dictionaries. That’s where you find this noun explained as ‘squandering and careless spending’, relating also to the verb’s meaning of ‘expending needlessly and destroying completely.’ I believe that one day the past 100 years will be known as the Era of Waste –and our grandchildren will live to tell the tale of our … [Read more...]
Fynbos fire project gets underway
South Africa has been granted US$3.5m for a three-year project to implement integrated fire management programmes in the Fynbos biome. The grant was made available through the Global Environment Facility Special Climate Change Fund, established to support adaptation and technology transfer in developing countries party to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate … [Read more...]
Wine drinkers help protect Cape environment
Drinking wine is one of life’s great pleasures, but there’s even more pleasure when you know that your favourite tipple is not harming the environment. Through the WWF-SA Biodiversity Wine Initiative (BWI), a pioneering partnership between nature conservation groups and some of the country’s wine producers, savouring wine is more environmentally friendly than ever. So highly … [Read more...]
“No” to forestry in fynbos areas
It may no longer make economic or environmental sense to pursue forestry endeavours using conifers in the Western Cape. If local plantations are to be maintained, invasive pine trees will continue to spread, the Cape’s water supply will continue to dwindle and the unique natural diversity of the fynbos region will be changed forever. This is the opinion of two of South … [Read more...]
Hotel fights aliens to save fynbos and water
On Earth Day one of Cape Town’s greenest hotels gathered together staff, guests and friends to clear alien vegetation in the Silvermine Valley in the Table Mountain National Park during their 45th Adopt-a-Spot initiative. The Vineyard Hotel & Spa in Newlands, Cape Town, were assisted by three Miss Earth SA finalists, Nayha Gautam, Lara Potgieter and Luanne … [Read more...]
Organic farm spreads the green message
This month Waverley Hills organic farm near Wolseley, in association with Cape Nature started a community environmental education programme. The aim was to provide children in the local community with a sense of pride and to create a 'greener' environment. Over 150 children participated from 6 schools - Drostdy Primary, Twee Jong Gezellen, Montrouge VGK Primary, Steinthal … [Read more...]
Trees for tourism
Trees are becoming almost sacred in a world constantly battling against carbon emissions and their resultant climate change with its dire ripple effects on every sphere of our planet's functioning. Nothing represents life, growth and vigour like an ancient, sturdy tree. Hidden on the slopes of the Baviaanskloof hills, just beyond Gansbaai, is 70ha of indigenous forest. A … [Read more...]
Farmers set to follow nature
Pressures on our natural capital, such as alien plant species, water pollution and overuse of resources, have caused a chain reaction of negative effects threatening our agricultural sector. Whether it is visible like sedimentation in our dams, or less visible such as fewer effective pollinators, the impact is enormous. This was said at the CAPE Partners' Conservation and … [Read more...]
Owls and silver trees reward biodiversity champion
The Uitkyk wine estate is the newest winery to become a Biodiversity & Wine Initiative (BWI) Champion and the 20th to do so. The estate is at 591 ha one of the largest in the Stellenbosch area. Uitkyk has set aside more than 312 ha of virgin veld, or 52% of the total property for conservation! The standard requirement for championship status is 10 ha of virgin … [Read more...]
