Establish and manage the Garden Route Botanical Garden and Southern Cape Herbarium, collecting & showcasing the under-researched Southern Cape Flora.
Develop an "Afrocentric" research centre and methodologies, building on the unique Indigenous knowledge held in the region to the benefit of all. Ensuring development and conservation are sensitive to and fully conscious of indigenous "worldviews" and traditional landscapes and beliefs.
Provide training and empowerment for all levels of staff and volunteers especially those previously disadvantaged, ensuring better qualified and motivated staff from the ground up.
Become financially viable and sustainable, while not compromising on social responsibilities.
Executive Summary
The Southern Cape Herbarium and the Garden Route Botanical Garden play a pivotal role as a repositories of locally indigenous live plants and herbarium specimens, plus information and data about them. Thus ensuring a high profile for conservation of the natural environment and biodiversity as a whole, and leading to more effective protection of endangered and critically endangered species.
The southern Cape Herbarium offers support and services to conservation & biodiversity organisations and private initiatives in the Southern Cape and functions as an identification and information resource, thus ensuring the availability of reliable information to conservation bodies leading to better management of existing protected areas. It also makes available better and easily accessed information for consultants working on EIA’s, as well as watchdog groups and individuals.
By forming strong partnerships we wish to ensure strong and effective lobbying for consolidation of existing and potential conservation corridors. Data about species within these corridors are extremely important and not readily available at present so we wish to consolidate data to support appropriate land use and policy decisions – the herbarium collections and data are ultimately essential for identification and confirmation of plant species in any planning or assessment in conservation projects or initiatives.
The rate of development in the Southern Cape is escalating at such an alarming rate that neither environmental assessment consultants nor local government bodies are able to obtain botanical data and identification of rare or threatened keynote species from other sources – it is critical that GRBG be empowered to fulfil this role and thereby support civil society initiatives to integrate biodiversity concerns into policy and local government procedures.
Bring together and collate information about all role players in the environmental and conservation scene to help achieve better coordination among a wide range of institutions, parastatals, NPO’s and private individuals.
The Botanical Garden is looking great after all the rain in 2006!
The Botanical Garden is looking great after all the rain in 2006! Fencing is desperately needed however as senseless vandalism is rife (most often scholars from affluent schools drinking and drugging at night!).
01/08/2005
Schools Environmental Expo blossoms in 2005
The annual Schools Environmental Expo addresses showcases the wonderful work being done by local schools that provide their learners with environmental education. Every year the event also aims to reach the largest number of young learners possible with an exciting and relevant message stressing the vital importance of conserving the rich biodiversity of the region.
24/06/2005
Blowing our own trumpet!
The Garden Route Botanical Garden is taking a much needed winter break! No, we are not closing the garden itself – this remains open every day during daylight, and costs nothing at all to visit and spend time soaking up the wonderful flora and mountain views.
What are you Good for?
I'm Good for Money!
The quickest and easiest way to donate is with money. Click here to donate to this cause.
