Dear WESSA Members,
As we close the 2025/26 financial year and step further into WESSA’s centenary year, we reflect on a year shaped by collective action, visible impact, and growing momentum. This has not only been a year of staff delivery and organisational progress; it has also been a year in which members, volunteers, Friends Groups, branches, regions, schools, supporters and partners helped carry WESSA’s mission forward in practical, inspiring ways.
Across South Africa, our members and supporters helped turn environmental concern into environmental action. Whether through clean-ups, citizen science, excursions, branch activities, habitat restoration, youth engagement, conservation forums, environmental education, or simply by staying connected and committed to the cause, you have helped ensure that WESSA remains a living movement of people caring for the Earth.
From restoring ecosystems and empowering youth, to strengthening environmental governance, growing membership, and scaling national campaigns, this year has shown what is possible when people work together across generations and geographies. The long-term value of this work lies not only in what was done this year, but in the stronger culture of stewardship, participation and environmental citizenship it is helping to build for the future.
Amplifying our voice, visibility and growing a movement of people caring for the Earth
Membership remains at the heart of WESSA. With 259 new members joining during the year, we enter our 100th year with a strengthened membership base and renewed momentum. More importantly, this growth reflects a strengthening national network of people who are choosing to stand for nature, local action and responsible environmental leadership.
Throughout the year, members and volunteer structures helped animate WESSA’s presence on the ground. Regional and branch activities included beach clean-ups, alien clearing and food garden preparation in the Eastern Cape, biodiversity walks and BioBlitz participation in KwaZulu-Natal, wetland frogging events in the Lowveld, conservation mornings and clean-ups in the Northern Areas, and youth and reading-club activities in the Western Cape. These contributions are deeply valuable because they build local ownership, deepen community connection, and keep environmental care rooted in everyday action.
In parallel, WESSA’s voice continued to grow nationally, with more than 363 media placements and an estimated reach of over 164 million. This growing visibility supports not only the work of the organisation, but also the efforts of our members and supporters by giving wider recognition to the environmental issues, campaigns and local actions that matter most.
This visibility is not just about awareness – it strengthens our ability to influence, advocate, build trust, and mobilise action. It also helps ensure that the commitment of WESSA’s members, branches, volunteers and partners is seen as part of a broader national movement for environmental stewardship.
Our impact at a glance
This past year, WESSA’s work spanned biodiversity protection, pollution reduction and climate action, delivering impact across all three pillars through the combined efforts of staff, members, schools, youth, volunteers and communities.
- 640 schools supported, reaching 28 692 learners directly and more than 70 000 indirectly
- 20 000 youth engaged through the Green Rising Project
- 190 583 kg of waste collected through community and school initiatives
- 100 hectares rehabilitated through Green Rising, with 2 570 trees planted by Eco-Schools
This is impact at scale, but more importantly, it is impact that is increasingly rooted in communities. Behind these figures are members leading outings, volunteers giving their time, branches organising local activities, educators inspiring learners, and supporters helping turn values into action.
Environmental education remains at the heart of WESSA’s work, and membership plays an important role in sustaining this culture of learning and action.
Through Eco-Schools, Green Rising and youth-led initiatives, we are not only building awareness, but also enabling practical environmental leadership. At the same time, many members and supporters continue to reinforce this work through mentorship, local events, branch engagement and community-based environmental action.
- 83 workshops facilitated and 1 267 environmental lessons delivered
- 110 food gardens and 27 biodiversity gardens established
- 95 000 litres of water saved through stewardship projects
These are not just programmes; they are pathways for young people to lead change in their schools, homes and communities. They are also part of a wider intergenerational effort in which WESSA members and supporters help create the space, encouragement and example needed for environmental leadership to grow.
Scaling national environmental action and driving sustainability in tourism
From coastlines to communities, WESSA has expanded its national footprint in coastal conservation and sustainable tourism. Members and volunteers have helped strengthen this footprint too, through local clean-ups, citizen stewardship, nature excursions, monitoring, awareness events and regional participation that keep conservation active and visible beyond formal programmes.
- 97 coastal sites supported across South Africa
- 50 Blue Flag beaches, 5 marinas, 7 tourism boats and 20 pilot sites maintained
- National rollout of the Stop the Strangle campaign, tackling the scourge of ghost fishing gear and marine pollution.
This year also marked a major milestone in inclusive environmental access, with WESSA launching South Africa’s first Braille coastal signage at Blaauwberg Nature Reserve in Cape Town, helping to make nature more accessible to more people. This reflects the kind of future WESSA is working towards: one that is inclusive, participatory and grounded in shared custodianship.
WESSA’s Green Key programme continues to reshape sustainability practices in the hospitality sector:
- 13 certified establishments across 2,310 rooms
- First wine estate accommodation globally certified
- First conference centre in Africa and the Southern Hemisphere certified
- Reduced energy use, water consumption, waste and single-use plastics through better sustainability practice
This is sustainability embedded into everyday guest experiences and operational systems, setting new standards for responsible tourism while contributing to longer-term behavioural change, sector leadership and environmental accountability.
Growing partnerships and funding for impact
This year also saw important progress in building WESSA’s long-term sustainability. This matters not only for the organisation, but for every member and supporter who wants to see WESSA remain strong, relevant and impactful into its second century.
- Over R2 million secured for WESSA’s Legacy Fund, alongside strengthened donor engagement and diversified funding streams
- A strong pipeline of future funding opportunities and strategic partnerships
In our centenary year, these partnerships will be critical in helping WESSA scale impact, deepen resilience and sustain its role as a trusted environmental organisation. They will also help create a stronger platform from which members, volunteers and supporters can continue contributing to change in their own communities.
As we move deeper into our centenary year, we are focused on:
- Expanding national campaigns and partnerships
- Launching legacy initiatives and centenary events
- Strengthening our role as a leading environmental voice in South Africa
None of this work happens in isolation. WESSA’s impact is shaped not only by programmes and projects, but by the energy, commitment and care of the people who stand behind them.
Thank you for being part of this journey. Your membership, volunteerism, advocacy, participation and support are part of what makes WESSA’s impact possible. Together, we are not only responding to environmental challenges – we are growing a stronger movement for environmental stewardship, community action and long-term change.
Because #WeAreAllWESSA.
Kind regards,
Janssen Davies: WESSA Board Chairperson
Cindy-Lee Cloete: WESSA Chief Executive Officer
On behalf of the WESSA Board and Executive Team
People Caring For The Earth