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Although the term conservation is generally understood to
encompass the protection of wildlife and keeping nature in a
pristine state, the definition of pristine state has come under
close scrutiny by conservation scientists in recent times. The
previous notion of keeping things the same over space and time
has been replaced by an appreciation of the importance of change.
Today, the maintenance of biodiversity is seen as the key to
successful conservation and this ultimately means the maintenance
of ecosystem function by allowing the processes that have shaped
ecosystems to continue to operate as they always have.
Unfortunately, areas set aside for conservation purposes
are invariably remnants of fragmented ecosystems and the processes
important to ecosystem function invariably operate at spatial
scales that do not match the size of most conservation areas.
Hence, the influence on ecosystem behaviour of many ecological
processes has been disrupted by the transformation of landscapes
through human activity and development. Clearly, conservation
areas cannot exist in isolation as islands within a sea of conflicting
land use practices, and strategies to conserve biodiversity
have to stretch beyond the boundaries of protected areas.
Fortunately, the Waterberg remains a relatively unspoiled
region and as such, Welgevonden is not so much an island itself
but is rather part of a bigger island comprising the adjoining
Marakele National Park and the Waterberg Biosphere Reserve.
However, socio-economic pressures are ever increasing and rather
than wait until these pressures erode the landscape until only
fragmented islands remain, the management of Welgevonden opted
to look for a way to extend its conservation reach beyond the
boundaries of the reserve.
Socio-economic development
is obviously important for rural communities such as those living
in the Waterberg region and rather than resist that which is
both inevitable and necessary, the management of Welgevonden
felt that the most meaningful benefits for long-term conservation
would be achieved by engaging with the local communities to
promote an appreciation of conservation as an opportunity to
improve one’s own personal environment and thus circumstances.
Recognizing its limitations with respect to the resources and
skills required to effectively achieve this, the Welgevonden
management investigated options with regards to partnering with
specialists in this field. The
Endangered Wildlife Trust’s Rural EcoWarrior (REW) Programme
was identified as the most exciting and appropriate choice.
At the first meeting with the EWT, it quickly emerged
that there was a strong meeting of minds on the possibility
of establishing a REW Programme in the Waterberg, and with funding
from Welgevonden, the EWT has very rapidly set about making
this a reality. The first challenge was to identify a suitable
individual to be appointed in the position of the Rural EcoWarrior.
The EWT’s REW Programme Coordinator, Sam Phakathi, and the Conservation
Leadership Group’s Sinegugu Zukulu conducted an intensive selection
process towards the end of 2007, and after a rigorous process,
Theko Tlailana emerged as the preferred candidate. Theko has
subsequently been appointed by the EWT and has undergone intensive
training, including a trip with Sam to experience first hand
some other established REW programmes. Theko returned to the
Waterberg at the end of December 2007 trained and equipped to
breath life into the Waterberg REW programme in the new year.
Welgevonden is proud to be associated with this programme
and with the EWT and is extremely excited about the prospects
this programme holds for the future as a mechanism to engage
with the surrounding communities on conservation and environmental
issues. Welgevonden’s Conservation Manager, André Burger, will
be working closely with Theko to provide support and assistance
where required and to make Welgevonden available as an outdoor
classroom to promote awareness of hands-on conservation issues.
Update December 2009:
By Sibusiso Vilane
The Rural Eco warrior officer Theko Thlailana has been looking
forward to the finishing of the Library at Mokolo Primary school
as this will afford him a small office to operate from. This
last month positive developments were noticed and the roofing
has been done, only a few touch ups and finish up then the library
will be finished.
Since August 2009 I have been more
involved with Theko to try and help him with projects. He has
been running the rural programs well and with a lot of energy.
During Arbor week he initiated the planting of trees at various
schools in Vaalwater and that was received well by all the schools.
Theko got the department of agriculture to sponsor some of the
trees which were used to demonstrate and teach the learners
how to plant and nurture trees. The rest of the trees to the
schools were sponsored by Welgevonden Game reserve and will
be planted this week.
Theko has formed an environmental
club which is made up of young matriculants to try and help
raise environmental awareness at the schools and community.
Projects that they have undertaken and facilitated since, has
been the establishment of Eco-gardens at two schools which Theko
has been using to give lectures at these schools. One of these
projects has won the school a bronze certificate in recognition
of their excellent work.
Other community projects that
Theko and the environmental club have been working on are:
Cleaning campaign in Vaalwater
The removal of illegal
dumping sites around Vaalwater, the cleaning will be done this
week Tuesday 8 December. This is aimed at teaching the community
to be even more responsible for their surrounding.
Tower
gardens
The environmental club has been allocated a piece
of land at Massetsetla secondary school to use for expanding
their garden and vegetable growing projects, Welgevonden management
helped by introducing Theko to tower gardens and linked him
up with a couple Harry and Peggy who helps with demonstrations
and putting up these impressive gardens. Theko and the club
became interested which lead to Harry and Peggy spending valuable
time with Theko and the club where they taught and explained
in detail about the gardens. We have since put up a couple at
Massetsetla and the environmental club is fully involved and
will be building more of these in the future to benefit the
club and the community with fresh vegetables. These gardens
are ideal for dry places like Vaalwater since you can also use
dirt water from your dish washing.
Update September 2009:
Arbour Day in Leseding
Theko, our local Waterberg Rural EcoWarrior, recently collaborated
with the Department of Agriculture to plant trees on arbour
day in certain of the schools in Leseding.
This will be an ongoing project whereby trees will be planted
in all the schools to “green” their grounds. Sibusiso Vilane
was on hand to take some photos and reported that the children
who were in attendance enjoyed the day thoroughly and received
a lot of useful and good information on environmental issues.
Well done Theko!
Update September 2009:
We are extremely proud that our very own ecowarrior, Theko,
was the feature attraction on the EWT’s latest advert. And a
good job he is doing too!
Welgevonden recently hosted Samson Phakathi from the EWT
and their most recent recruit, Amos, during their visit to the
Waterberg to assist and support Theko’s efforts in the local
community. Theko is currently establishing an environmental
club in the community and we look forward to reporting back
on his progress in this regard. .
Update August 2009:
Welgevonden is extremely proud to have as a member of its
staff, albeit on a temporary basis, the intrepid mountaineer,
explorer, motivational speaker and patron of the Endangered
Wildlife Trust’s Conservation Leadership Group, Sibusiso Vilane.
Sibusiso’s list of achievements, from summiting Mount Everest
(twice) to trekking unaided to the South Pole, is truly remarkable
and is testimony to the potential of the human spirit. Sibusiso
also boasts 11 years experience working in the conservation
sector and he is assisting Welgevonden with furthering the local
Waterberg Rural EcoWarrior Programme, and the implementation
of the
WEI programme.
In addition, Theko Tlailana, our local Rural EcoWarrior,
recently returned brimming with confidence and energy from a
3-week environmental education training programme run by the
Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa (WESSA) in
KwaZulu–Natal. The training programme focused on identifying
environmental problems and how to address these involving the
correct engagement with community stakeholders. Theko is keen
to apply his new found knowledge, and under the astute guidance
and mentorship of Sibusiso Vilane, we anticipate exciting developments
with the Waterberg REW programme.
Update August 2008:
Endangered Wildlife Trust Media
Release - Conservation Leadership Group scoops 2 Kudu Awards
The Endangered Wildlife Trust’s Conservation Leadership
Group (CLG) was recognised for its outstanding work in capacity
building, environmental education, and its contribution to conservation
in rural communities, at the prestigious Kudu Awards ceremony
on 26 June 2008.
The CLG received this award for its
four educational programmes: the Rural Eco-Warriors, the Tracker
Training Programme, the Leadership Training Programme and the
Conservation Training Programme.
In addition, on 5 June
this year, the CLG Rural Eco-Warriors also won the Mail & Guardian’s
Greening the Future Awards, in the category of ‘Water Care’.
Click
here to download full media release.
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