Stewardship practitioners tackle mining, municipal and agricultural interfaces at annual CapeNature Stewardship Workshop
The 23rd Annual CapeNature Stewardship Peer Learning Workshop was held between 29 and 30 October 2026 under the theme "Stewardship Interface: Connecting with Key Stakeholders – Where, How and Why." The workshop brought together 75 delegates representing 26 organisations and provided a valuable platform for knowledge sharing, networking, and capacity building among stewardship practitioners.
Designed to strengthen practitioners' understanding of how biodiversity stewardship intersects with sectors that influence conservation outcomes, the workshop focused on improving collaboration and strategic engagement with key stakeholders, including the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources, local government, the agricultural sector, environmental authorisation practitioners, and private landowners.
Day one explored these critical interfaces through presentations, case studies, roundtable discussions, practical tools, and interactive sessions. Delegates examined the implications of mining and prospecting activities on stewardship sites, considered conservation opportunities within the West Coast landscape, and gained practical guidance on responding to prospecting and mining applications.
The session on local government highlighted the important role that municipal planning frameworks play in biodiversity stewardship. Discussions focused on Municipal Spatial Development Frameworks (SDFs), Integrated Development Plans (IDPs), Environmental Management Plans (EMPs), municipal zoning schemes, stewardship categories, and practical strategies for engaging municipalities on proposed stewardship sites. Participants also explored a range of tools available to support local government engagement.
The agriculture-focused session examined the relationship between stewardship and agricultural land management. Presentations explored the influence of the Conservation of Agricultural Resources Act (CARA) on stewardship processes, the use of agricultural information layers in site identification and prioritisation, approaches to securing in-principle support from agricultural authorities and recent developments relating to the Preservation and Development of Agricultural Land Act (PDALA).
Day two focused on reactive stewardship and the growing use of stewardship commitments as conditions of environmental authorisations. Discussions considered whether stewardship is an appropriate mitigation measure in all circumstances, how meaningful and effective stewardship outcomes can be achieved, and the perspectives of practitioners involved in Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) processes.
The workshop concluded with an engaging session on the stewardship-landowner interface, highlighting the human dimension of conservation stewardship. Through interactive role-play exercises and a landowner panel discussion, participants gained valuable insights into landowner expectations, effective communication approaches, and lessons for strengthening stewardship relationships and outcomes.
The workshop reinforced the importance of collaboration across sectors and equipped participants with practical knowledge, tools, and shared experiences to navigate the complex interfaces between conservation stewardship and key stakeholders. By strengthening these relationships, stewardship practitioners are better positioned to enhance the effectiveness, sustainability, and long-term impact of biodiversity stewardship initiatives across the Western Cape.
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