Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa - Western Cape (WESSA)
Mission Statement
Our mission is to promote public participation in caring for the earth. Believing that all human activity and life in general depends on the integrity of the earth's ecosystems we strive to reduce the threats to sustainability by encouraging people to be critically aware of the links between decision making and the environment as well as the importance of their involvement irrespective of their position in society. We set out to achieve our mission through education, advocacy and exemplary action projects that show the benefits to people and the environment.
Executive Summary
In the Western Cape WESSA has been active for more than 60 years while the national body is over 80. While it relies heavily on the involvement of volunteers, civil society activists, community-based organizations and Friends Groups to be the eyes and ears, hands and feet on the ground, it also has employed staff who, over the years, have initiated and managed many projects and activities. These include being involved in the development of local, provincial and national environmental legislation ,especially with regard to spatial planning, water, environmental justice, waste, marine and coastal management, energy and biodiversity. Another important aspect of our work is environmental education and training where we initiate or support programmes across ages and sectors. Current involvements include training of coastal workers, helping with curriculum delivery in the succulent Karoo and planning environmental learnerships for municipal and provincial employees.
All three Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa - Western Cape (WESSA)- managed and DEA &T sponsored coastal projects are now underway in Hout Bay, the Olifants Estuary region and the Yzerfontein to Paarden Eiland coastal stretch. The coast is benefiting through clean-ups and rehabilitation projects and team members are enjoying a varied training programme to help them with longer-term job prospects.
16/05/2006
Keyser River Restoration Project (KRRP)
The Keyser River is a small river that flows from the Steenberg slopes of the Table Mountain Chain to False Bay near Muizenberg, about 10 kilometres away. In past times, it would have flowed through vleis and wetlands, but over the last fifty years the area has been radically changed and what remains is a managed watercourse. It now winds its way to the sea through forests, past vineyards, under a freeway and roads, past a shopping mall and through an industrial zone next to a railway line.
01/03/2006
EnviroKids
EnviroKids magazine started as Toktokkie in 1972, so for over 30 years it has been South Africa's best children's environmental magazine. The aim of the magazine is to promote awareness and an interest in the environment and to encourage children to 'Help care for the Earth'
01/03/2006
Mondi Wetlands Project
The Mondi Wetlands Project (MWP) is a joint project of South Africa’s two largest NGO conservation organisations, the Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa (WESSA) and WWF - South Africa, together with two corporate sponsors, the Mazda Wildlife Fund and the Mondi Forestry company.
01/03/2006
Wessa Adopts Win Win Plan For Communities And The Environment
WESSA has joined Dr. Lynn Hurry, Uplands College and others in supporting the Thembalethu Trust in its aim of improving the lives of communities in the whole of the Nkomazi district. Part of the project is to set up a Craft Shop at Thembalethu in the Shongwe area where local wood carvers will be able to create and sell their wares.
Report back
12/04/2007
Unallocated funds of this sort are always welcome
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