Biodiversity Crimes Awareness Initiatives in the South Landscape

CapeNature is a managing authority that protects naturally occurring plant and animal life (biodiversity) in the Western Cape. Awareness and capacity-building initiatives were conducted in collaboration with local stakeholders in the respective landscape units. On Monday, the 3rd of April, the Landscape Support Phindile Gazu, together with Gillian Paranzee, the chairperson of Nur Ture Colab and Deputy Secretary of the People & Parks - South Landscape, hosted community members on a guided walk on open land opposite Gwarrie Camp (an informal settlement in Barrydale), showcasing edible and medicinal plants in the area. The proceedings included a #CombattingBiodiversityCrime presentation facilitated by Phindile Gazu and concluded with an interesting Q&A session with the audience. The session inspired community members to landscape public spaces such as the local park in Barrydale to improve its current state.

The Overberg Landscape Unit collaborated with the Overberg Education District and Dyer Island Conservation Trust (DICT) to host a 4-day holiday programme. The programme was hosted at four different locations, including the De Hoop Nature Reserve (Koppie Alleen section) and the Walkerbay Nature Reserve Complex (De Kelder's section). Each day, the audience was treated to an anti-bullying session with a BADISA official, as well as demonstrations from the Fire & Rescue and the K9 unit. Each live demonstration came with showcasing of the equipment used, including sniffer dogs from the K9 unit. Each day, ahead of the demonstrations, the Overberg Stakeholder Engagement Officer, Phunyuzwa Xhegwana, facilitated a #CombattingBiodiversityCrime presentation detailing biodiversity crimes (e.g., the implications of unauthorized faunal/floral harvesting and unlicensed entry into protected areas, as well as starting fires). Thereafter, solutions-based discussions were held, covering topics such as the importance of permits and avoiding unwanted fires.