Apr 19, 2021 | Position papers
The Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa (WESSA) would like to express its concern about the now well-documented decline (more than 50%) of the rhino population in the Kruger National Park (KNP) over the last 10 years and the subsequent low number of these animals now remaining in the park.
We note the SANParks press release explaining the rationale for personnel shifts in the KNP and the security issues pertaining to these. However, considering the statement about the rhino population decline over the last ten years, WESSA advocates strongly for the deployment of staff in a way that logically confronts the scale of the challenge, not as an HR exercise.
We acknowledge the excellent work already done by the dedicated SANParks staff to protect this iconic species and encourage the organisation to continue to use staff skills, resources and expertise in the most strategic way possible to decrease the rate of poaching in the park. It is our view that protection of the remaining populations of black and white rhino should be a matter of priority and that all operational plans and conditions of service for critical staff should be adapted in a manner that ensures the greatest possible protection for these remaining animals.
WESSA would also like to acknowledge the Department of Environment, Fisheries and Forestry (DEFF) for the presentation of critical rhino population figures in the South African National Parks Annual Report 2019/20. We would like to encourage the department to continue to provide regular updates on the total population figures of rhino in the KNP to the public. The accuracy of these is obviously a key concern.
Poaching, trafficking, and over-exploitation of wildlife, small and large, terrestrial, and marine, continues to plague our country and has indeed now become not only a threat to our wildlife species but also to national security. The extent of organised criminality, threats to border integrity, impact on institutional functionality and our economy, as well as the perceptions of the international community are all factors which make this issue a threat to national security. It is critical that, together with steps to disrupt wildlife trafficking syndicates, we also take urgent and decisive steps to root out corruption at all levels. WESSA would like to strongly endorse the call already made by many organisations, for the urgent approval and implementation of the National Integrated Strategy to Combat Wildlife Trafficking as a means to ending the relentless onslaught on our wildlife heritage.
For more information please contact:
Patrick Dowling
Chairperson – WESSA Environmental Governance Committee
084 966 1249
www.wessa.org.za
Feb 19, 2021 | Archives
At our graduation ceremony held in Simonstown on Friday, 16 previously unemployed Western Cape
youth graduated from the Tourism Blue Flag Project. Funded by the National Department of Tourism
(NDT), and implemented by WESSA, the TBF Project is a youth skills-training programme. Mr Jonga
Kuhlane of the NDT spoke of how the project aimed to create 200 learnership opportunities over two
years in the tourism sector for unemployed, disadvantaged youth. The placement of these youth, called
Beach stewards, with host institutions also aimed to support municipalities managing the Blue Flag
status beaches and marinas. The project also supported private tourism companies working to build
back better from the severe impact of Covid-19 lockdown restrictions.
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Representing WESSA at the event, Sustainable Tourism General Manager, Mr Vince Shacks, indicated
that of the 23 youth who entered the Programme in March 2020, 16 were graduating after a year of
being placed with local hosts to gain marketable skills and work experience. These include beach
environmental monitoring, visitor surveying, arranging activities and events for beach goers,
administration, guiding, reception, social media updating, enviro-education and visitor services. Of
these stewards, 75% were young women and 2% were disabled youth, all who are being given an
opportunity to enter the tourism economy. Our host organisations included: the Overstrand Local
Municipality, Whale Coast Tourism, Old Harbour Museum, Kleinmond Tourism, Harbour Island Marina,
Shark Spotters, Seaforth Penguin Monitors, Gravity Adventures, African Eagle Day Tours, City of Cape
Town, Shark Warrior Adventures, Edith Stephens Wetland Park, SANCOBB, and the Two Oceans Aquarium.
The graduating Beach Stewards received their certificates of competency for their year-long accredited
tourism guiding training. WESSA TBF Project Manager, Morgan Griffiths shared his concern of how the
tourism industry had significantly contracted due to Covid-19 impacts; however he was encouraged at
how these stewards graduating today have earned for themselves a place in the blue economy, helping
to develop a more sustainable future for themselves and for their local communities. A key element of
their training, which continued virtually over lockdowns, was how to start their own small businesses to
create innovate tourism products. Of the youth who exited the programme over the course of the year,
a number left to start their own small businesses or took up full-time employment. Beach Steward Carol-
Ann Jantjies congratulated her fellow stewards on persevering over the long lockdown periods, and to
take encourage and action from all they had learnt about tourism, networking and creating their own
small businesses.
WESSA is proud to implement this highly impactful youth development programme, and together with
our stakeholders, the NDT, municipalities, and private host institutions, will induct a new group of 104
Tourism Blue Flag Beach Stewards in early March 2021.
For more information please contact:
TBF Project Manager, Morgan Griffiths: Email: morgan.griffiths@wessa.co.za : 072 417 5793
WESSA Group HR, Marketing and Communications Manager: sarah@wessa.co.za : 076 213 9873
www.wessa.org.za
Nov 28, 2020 | Archives
WESSA (The Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa), the National Operator for Blue Flag officially launched the 2020/21 Blue Flag Season in Durban, Kwa-Zulu Natal.
The ceremony for this prestigious environmental award was held at Ushaka Marine World on the 27 November 2020. In recognition for excellence in safety, amenities, cleanliness and environmental standards, 58 Blue Flags will be proudly flown at 48 beaches, 6 marinas and by 4 sustainable tourism boats around South Africa over the forthcoming 2020/21 South African Blue Flag season. The season officially opens on the 1st December 2020.
The Blue Flag programme also allows for new sites to participate in the Pilot programme in an effort to get themselves up to full Blue Flag status in future. Nineteen Pilot sites received recognition for their efforts in working towards the minimum requirements for Blue Flag Status.
This year, Blue Flag South Africa is celebrating its 20th Anniversary. In 2001, South Africa was the first country outside of Europe to join the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) on the Blue Flag programme. Since then, many countries outside of Europe have followed South Africa’s example and joined Blue Flag, giving the programme its international recognition. Today the Blue Flag programme is active at 4671 sites in 47 countries.
Attending the launch, eThekwini Mayor Mxolisi Kaunda stated the commitment of eThekwini to improving and increasing the number of Blue Flag beaches along the coastline in order to encourage and attract both domestic and international tourism to all their beaches, over and above the Blue Flag sites. The Mayor went on to say that eThekwini, with over 100km of coastline with tourist attractions and the busiest port in the continent, brings economic benefit to the people of eThekwini and the entire continent.
The keynote speaker at the event was the MEC for Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs, Mr Ravi Pillay. The MEC referred to the COVID-19 pandemic and how it has devastated communities and disrupted the economy, however was proud and positive that even with the estimated 10 to 26 % decrease in holiday makers, the Province still achieved more than the traditional base of 600 000 visitors during the 2020 season. He went on to say “the Province is quietly confident about attracting some 750 000 domestic visitors who come to KwaZulu-Natal to experience it all – the natural backdrops, diverse cultures, the taste of our unique range of cuisine, the myriad of attractions and – of course – our glorious Blue Flag and many other stunning beaches, for which KwaZulu-Natal is so widely renowned.’’
Grotto Beach in the Overstrand Municipality and Humewood Beach in Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality received a special award on the day to recognize the achievement of 20 consecutive years of Blue Flag awards for these two popular South African beaches.
WESSA is committed to continue working together with local municipalities and tourism operators to grow the Blue Flag programme in South Africa. The programme provides an excellent international standard for municipalities and tour operators to strive toward. Sites flying the Blue Flag are showing their commitment to conserving our fragile marine and coastal environment, raising environmental awareness and increasing sound environmental practices.
For more information please contact:
WESSA Group HR, Marketing and Communications Manager
sarah@wessa.co.za : 076 213 9873
www.wessa.org.za
Nov 20, 2020 | Archives
Orion Engineered Carbons S.A. (NYSE: OEC), a worldwide supplier of specialty and high-performance carbon black, today announced that it has funded The Orion Eco Schools Project in South Africa. This program provides opportunities for teachers to grow and improve their teaching and learning methods through hands-on and experiential practices in teaching climate change-related content in the classroom. "Our commitment to sustainability and being a good citizen in the communities we serve is a core value of Orion. Funding this project is a perfect opportunity to support educators in South Africa tasked with improving school curricula related to environmental learning, enabling students to achieve their full potential and a sustainable future," said Corning Painter, Chief Executive Officer of Orion Engineered Carbons.
The Orion Eco Schools Project is part of the Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa (WESSA) International School Programmes. WESSA is a South African environmental organization which aims to initiate and support high-impact environmental and conservation projects to promote participation in caring for the Earth. For over 90 years the organization has proactively engaged with the challenges and opportunities presented by South Africa’s unique natural heritage, and the social and economic systems that depend on it. The Orion Eco-Schools Project helps teachers to develop critical thinking methods and problem-solving skills in students with a goal to improve the quality of life in their communities.
In commenting on the funding, Donavan Fullard, WESSA School Programme General Manager, said, “The WESSA International School Programme team extends a heartfelt thank you to Orion Engineered Carbons for making the Eco-Schools Programme so successful. We thank you for making the sound choice of investing in teacher empowerment and education for sustainable development. Orion funding is impacting whole school development in ten schools. Orion Engineered Carbons is truly appreciated by WESSA.”
For more information please contact:
Donavan Fullard
GM: WESSA Schools Programme
Phone: 076 790 4989
Donavan.fullard@wessa.co.za
Orion Engineered Carbons S.A.
Investor Relations
Wendy Wilson, +1 281-974-0155
Investor-Relations@orioncarbons.com
Jul 29, 2020 | Archives
Tourism Green Coast Youth Graduate into the Tourism Economy Four successive graduation ceremonies were held on the Wild Coast, Eastern Cape between the 15th and 24th July 2020, during which 118 youth from the Eastern Cape graduated from the Tourism Green Coast (TGC) Learnership programme. This youth development programme is funded via the Expanded Public
Works Programme (EPWP) by the Department of Tourism (DT) and implemented by the Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa (WESSA). Tourism Green Coast is a youth learnership and skills-training programme which has been implemented in 21 Wild Coast communities in the Eastern Cape over the past two years. The TGC Learnership is a component of the Department of Tourism ‘Working for Tourism’ programmes.
Tourism Green Coast created 120 learnership opportunities in the environmental and sustainable tourism sectors for unemployed, previously disadvantaged youth between the ages of 18 and 35 living in Wild Coast communities. The Green Coast stewards have been hosted by a range of tourism businesses and organisations during the 2 year programme. This enabled them to apply their newly acquired knowledge and skills in the workplace, while being mentored by experienced industry professionals. The comprehensive training programme includes the accredited Tourism Guiding qualification as well as practical modules covering ecological monitoring, environmental education, child protection in the travel and tourism industry, entrepreneurship development and professional development. The programme is designed to increase the employability of youth wishing to enter the tourism economy and to stimulate the development of youth owned community-based tourism enterprises at Green Coast pilot sites. Together with our Green Coast Stewards, it is WESSA’s hope that the outcomes of this programme will have positive and far reaching impacts, despite current challenges facing the tourism sector due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The programme commenced in May 2018 and 118 participants have now graduated after 2 years of being placed with a local tourism host organisation gaining marketable skills and work experience. Hosts included: Imonti Tours, Lucolo Palace, Areena Riverside Resort, Buccaneers Lodge and Backpackers, Emerald Vale Brewery, Haga Haga Hotel, Great Kei Local Municipality, Morgan Bay Hotel, Mitford Hotel, Yellowwood Forest, Kei Mouth Guesthouse, Kei Mouth Golf Course, Neptune’s Cove, Kei Mouth Revival, Trennerys Hotel, Mazeppa Bay Hotel, Nqabara Eco-Lodge, Dwesa Reserve, Bulungula Lodge, Wild Lubanzi, Hole in the Wall Hotel, White Clay Resort, Coffee Shack Backpackers, Friends Backpackers, Coram Deo, Ocean View Hotel, Mdumbi Backpackers, Freedom O Clock, Hluleka Reserve, Silaka Reserve, Port St John’s Tourism Info Centre, Pholela Lodge, Spotted Grunter, Amapondo Backpackers, Bamba Lodge, Outspan Inn and Mbotyi River Lodge.
Over the past 2 years of the TGC learnership, participants and are now proud recipients of their graduation certificates of competency. With the high youth unemployment rate in South Africa, which is escalating as a result of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, and limited access to skills training, these youth are poised and ready to contribute significantly to the reopening and rebuilding of the Tourism sector in South Africa. WESSA is proud to implement this highly impactful youth development programme together with our stakeholders, DT, municipalities, and our partnering host institutions. This is a programme which supports the Operation Phakisa Coastal and Marine Tourism initiative which together with the Tourism Blue Flag project has created opportunities for 420 learners since 2016 and is deeply aligned towards sustainable development and upliftment of communities.
For more information please contact:
TGC Project Manager, Kerry Mclean: Email: kerry.mclean@wessa.co.za : 078 300 3012
WESSA Group HR, Marketing and Communications Manager: sarah@wessa.co.za : 076 213 9873
May 28, 2020 | Archives
Friday 5th of June marks World Environment Day 2020 which will be celebrated with under the theme Biodiversity #ForNature. The Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa (WESSA) in partnership with United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP SA) will unleash the opportunities technology brings and mobilise youth to engage in a series of activities to enhance their understanding on the importance of nature. Only by knowing nature can we sustainably harness its benefits and preserve diversity of life on Earth. Restoring nature is critical for reversing the loss of biodiversity and sustaining a healthy planet. This will only be possible when we start to appreciate how crucial nature is for our own existence and quality of life. In the words of David Attenborough, “Never has it been more important to understand how the natural world works and how to help it.” This special day allows us to reflect on our dependence on nature — the foods we eat, the air we breathe, the water we drink and the climate that makes our planet habitable. Yet, these are exceptional times in which nature is sending us a message. Nature is showing that we as humanity cannot continue as before. It is time to wake up. To take notice. To reimagine our relationship with nature. It is time to raise our voices to tell the world that we need action now. This World Environment Day, it is time for nature.
WESSA in partnership with UNEP is raising a call to action for youth to engage in creative activities that capture their appreciation of nature, such as writing of poetry, prose, and articles, making videos, and/or taking photos. Youth stand a chance to win spot prices sponsored by supporting partners including the Department of Fisheries, Forestry and Environment and The Western Cape Government for Environment and Development Planning.
Youth are invited to step forward and speak out by recording a 60 second video articulating how they perceive nature and what nature means to them, participants can tag the campaign by using the following handles and hashtags; @WESSA_ZA @UNEP_Africa @UNEP @UNSA #ForNature #PeopleCaringForTheEarth #Worldenvironmentday WESSA in partnership with UNEP SA will host a webinar on the 5th of June in commemoration of WED 2020 and invites youth from all spheres to participate in a robust dialogue on the importance of Nature and the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on our planet. Members of the public are encouraged to follow the social media pages of WESSA and the United Nations to receive more detailed information on how participate in this year’s World Environment Day activities.
The Sustainable Seas Trust is registered as a charitable, non-profit, public benefit institution.
Trust Registration: IT 2203/ 2006 South Africa | NPO Number: 078-120-NPO | PBO Number: 930022444
SOURCES:
https://www.worldenvironmentday.global
Contacts for interviews:
Natania Botha | WESSA Head of Membership | 072 632 8593 | natania.botha@wessa.co.za
Sarah Alcock | WESSA Group HR and Communications Manager | 076 213 9873 |
sarah@wessa.co.za
Cecilia Kinuthia Njenga| UNEP Head Regional Coordinator | 073 180 8730
|cecilia.njenga@un.org
