Welcome
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From The Editor
With mid-year already upon us, the unlikely sage words of boxer Muhammad Ali spring to mind: "Don't count the days. Make the days count." And EarthCollective members, Living Land staff and PRESENCE students have tried their best to achieve this in recent months. It has been a bumper quarter - a hive of activity in all spheres with the PRESENCE workshop preparation and execution, EarthCollective annual dialogue, Living Lands indaba, Learning Village educational workshops, diverse stakeholder visits, extended field trips, micro-grant allocation, filming for documentaries, new project beginnings as well as a flurry of research analysis, report writing and proposal preparation. We have done our best to capture the most interesting snippets of these activities in this quarter's newsletter. Please enjoy.
JUST RELEASED: Director John D. Liu has created a short film to celebrate the World Day to Combat Desertification, with "Forests keep Drylands Working". It includes an introduction to the PRESENCE efforts.
VIEW IT HERE!
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Feature Story
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Turning the wheel toward education for sustainability
Many people we have come across in recent times are searching. Looking for new careers, new directions or hoping to find what it is that really inspires them. If they already know what get's them going, then maybe they are now seeking ways to turn this latent passion into reality.
Some people start making the necessary moves. There are those who prefer the gradual transition approach: enrolling in evening or weekend courses, volunteering or applying for new jobs and to flow with an evolving process. Others like to shed skin, weave a cocoon and then throw themselves out there and quickly learn how to fly in their new world. These are people who summon the courage to quit their current job and then immerse themselves in a focused journey seeking new alternatives and new possibilities.
And then there are people like Fedde and Geoff. They pack up and really go. They choose to bike and walk the earth with a message of sustainability.
LEARN MORE... |
Collective News
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Earth Collective
Living Lands Indaba II
After another exciting year, the time for reflection had once again come. Living Lands staff and EarthCollective supporting members were joined by Maura (PhD candidate, Stellenbosch University), Mike (long-time partner in the PRESENCE Network) and Alexander (visiting PhD candidate from Wageningen University) took some time out. The aim of the few days was to firstly reaffirm the outcomes of the last Living Lands Indaba (August 2010) as well as to digest and reflect on recent PRESENCE Workshop outcomes. But mostly the days set out to better understand team dynamics, expectations of roles in the organization, come to a shared consensus of concepts like 'living landscapes' and to brainstorm and discuss a strategic approach in taking Living Lands forward. This provided a structured process for the team to understand how their role can serve the organization, the landscape and broader community. As Robert Henri rhetorically asked, "Why do we love the sea? It is because it has some potent power to make us think things we like to think." Living Lands took Henri's advice and snuck away to Eerste Rivier along the Tsitsikamma coast for a few days of inspiration, immersion and admiration of the tranquil beauty of the area. And to appreciate the early morning antics of dolphins trawling and playingin the waves [pictured above].
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EYES4EARTH.ORG
'Reconnecting' – What does she look like? Tell us and win!
You do not need to look far these days to see mention of the words: "reconnecting with nature". If it is not emblazoned on any number of 'eco'-tourism websites or outdoor-based courses then it is certainly to be found in the scientific and popular literature which calls for new understandings of a conservation ethic. "Reconnecting" has seemingly become the mantra for overcoming humanity's collective separation from nature. 'Reconnecting' is not an only child. She exists with her brother and sisters: namely, 'disconnected', 'connect', and 'interconnectedness'. Together this cohort is increasingly defining how individuals and society perceive their relationships with their environment and each other. For a family of words carrying such intrinsic importance to the human-nature condition and, in the case of 'reconnecting', increasingly cited as an aspiration for a sustainable society, one would expect to find animated scientific, public and policy dialogue around how we (should) think and behave. Or least some pointers on what we are aiming for. Surprisingly, this does seem to be the case. So everyone is looking for 'reconnecting' but few have asked what she actually looks like. How do we know when we have found her? Will we wake one morning and suddenly feel her presence?
eyes4earth.org is running a competition with a cash prize and asking you to tell us what "reconnecting" looks like.
Learn More...
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From The South
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PRESENCE IN THE BAVIAANSKLOOF
Round Two for Restoration Fans
With the first alluvial fan restoration measures now well underway, it is now 'game on' for second round of restoration-implementation measures. This time sights are set on new challenges and different locations along the river within the Baviaanskloof catchment. On the 24 May 2011 a bakkie load of PRESENCE students and Living Lands staff set off for the western section of the Baviaanskloof to begin surveying new alluvial fan sites…
Contact:
Marijn Zwinkels marijn@earthcollective.net
Learn More...
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WIldlife Research
Field work gets its stripes
Field work for the wildlife habitat assessment project in the Baviaanskloof Nature Reserve supported by the Rufford Small Grants is now underway!
During April, Living Lands staff Silvia and Joana Weel, Btec student Coco Teheux and ecologist Brian Reeves (from the Eastern Cape Parks & Tourism Agency (ECPTA)) went to the Bergplaas area and finally had the privilege to encounter a group of endangered Cape Mountain Zebras…
Contact:
Silvia Weel silvia@earthcollective.net
Learn More...
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TABLE MOUNTAIN FUND
Green Micro Grants – New Recipients
The final six Baviaanskloof Green Fund Micro Grants have been approved from the second round of application submissions.
This brings the total number of Micro Grant Projects on the Baviaanskloof Landscape to twelve. Twelve projects that have been given the opportunity to create an awareness of the importance of nature and the environment as well as making a difference in not only the Micro Grant Recipients' lives but the lives of the members of their communities as well. As Micro Grant Recipient, Johanna Swartz puts it, "It's nice to know that I am helping the environment…"
Contact:
Jennifer Foley jennifer@earthcollective.net
Learn More...
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PRESENCE WORKSHOP 2011
Collective Hope in a Changing Climate
The third PRESENCE workshop was held on the 19th & 20th of May at the Baviaanskloof World Heritage Interpretative Centre. Almost 80 people joined the workshop and some of these participants were newcomers within the network. The workshop focused on the achievements and future direction of restoration across the BMR and the role of the PRESENCE Network within this process. The collaborative approach of the workshop gave the freedom to the participants to discuss the topics they found important. The participants were enthusiastic and played an active role during the workshop. "I was really fascinated by the enthusiasm from all the participants…"
Learn more...
Film maker John D. Liu was present at the workshop and produced: "Forests keep Drylands Working" which includes an introduction to the PRESENCE efforts.. VIEW IT HERE! |
ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION
More Learning at the Learning Village
The PRESENCE Learning Village has started work on an environmental education programme aimed at primary schools in and around the Kouga municipal region. The programme will offer new interactive workshops at the PLV Learning Lapa aligned with the four seasons of the year. Olga Timmer (volunteer from The Netherlands) is currently coordinating the initiative and testing the various ideas for this programme. Olga aims to set up a detailed programme template which fosters continuity - so activities may be easily applied by other instructors once her time at the PLV is complete. With the help of Vicky and Noël, a pilot event was trialled on the 16th May with pupils from Du Preez School at Kouga Dam. Lots of fun was had by all involved. Local plant identification was the theme of the day. New workshops are being planned so more updates will follow...
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sewefontein community visit
Noël inspires then 'retires'
Living Lands employee Noël Isaacs presented the living landscapes idea to the Sewefontein community farm. Noël explained the catchment restoration strategy which forms part of "PRESENCE in the Baviaanskloof". After Noël's inspiring presentation there was plenty of fruitful discussion and an invitation for PRESENCE researchers to contribute. This was Noël's last official engagement as an employee of Living Lands. Noël is now taking up a position at a game reserve just outside of the Baviaanskoof. "I learnt so much during my year and a half at Living Lands, I really understand nature restoration now. I will always promote living landscapes in my work and will teach the tourists in my new job. I still feel a strong part of PRESENCE..."
LEARN MORE...
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9 Questions in 99 Seconds
(With Students Based At The PRESENCE LEARNING Village) |
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ROMEL TORCAT GIL
Family? "Mother"
Food? "Tarcari" (lamb curry - typical Venezuelan dish)
Fears? "Cigarron – a big furry green wasp from Venezuela"
Free-Time? "Soccer – even though I have little to do with it"
Fitness? "Jogging"
Favourites? "Music"
Facebook? "Yes! (laughs)"
Future? "Around the world – not one place"
Fieldwork? "Saving the world!" Hoping to find and improve restoration procedures by analyzing the history of the upper Baviaanskloof catchment."
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COCO TEHEUX
Family? "Father, mother, two sisters, and a half brother"
Food? "Italian"
Fears? "Um…I don't know – I don't really have fears, I think"
Free-Time? "Horse-riding and friends"
Fitness? "Horse-riding"
Favourites? "Travelling"
Facebook? "Don't have it."
Future? "Whatever comes on my path"
Fieldwork? "Looking at the habitat suitability and diet of Cape Mountain Zebras in the Baviaanskloof Nature Reserve around the Bergplaas area" |
ROMAIN CHARDON
Family? "Father, brother"
Food? "Cheese (I'm French)"
Fears? "Me!"
Free-Time? "Friends, sport"
Fitness? "Bad"
Favourites? "Red and the mountains"
Facebook? "Yes"
Future?"Mmm. No idea."
Fieldwork? "More bureaucratic and desktop based. Helping Eastern Cape Parks & Tourism Agency assess the applicability of the Biosphere Reserve concept for the BMR. Romain is also assisting the fieldwork of other students at the PLV. " |
creative corner
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Poetry Piece
Unknown someone gave the shout
Vehicles race to the Lookout
People stream over to central beach
Rare glimpse of an orcas breach
On a wintery gusty grey sea
Dolphin pod huddles nervously
Surfers indecisive: do they hear
The release of orca breath so near
Transfixed the watchers now blink their eyes
Nature bestows another surprise
Soft amber light - radiant rainbow frames
Orcas royal return to wild ocean rains
Who knows for whom this day had power
String of emotions condensed in an hour
It all comes back to what one perceives
Or if in a "something more" one believes.
"AWECUZKIN"
- BY MATT Z
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quotes of the quarter
"When we have done our part within, the exterior will unfold itself automatically."
- JOHANN WOLFGANG VON GOETHE
"The more you say, the less people remember."
- FRANCOIS FENELON
"The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and science."
- ALBERT EINSTEIN
"If we want to attain a living understanding of nature, we must become as flexible and mobile as nature herself."
- JOHANN WOLFGANG VON GOETHE
"The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires."
- WILLIAM ARTHUR WARD
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Recommended Reading
"Should payments for biodiversity conservation be
based on action or results?"
by Gibbons et al, 2011..
There is growing interest in PES to encourage land managers to protect and enhance the environment but questions remain about how PES agreements should be designed in order to benefit biodiversity.
The authors review both approaches –there are clear implications for restoration.
VIEW SUMMARY IN CONSERVATION MAGAZINE
Recommended VIEWING
South African television programme 50|50 screened an interview with the ageing but ever lucid Dr. Ian Player on 23rd May – the tireless but powerful voice for wilderness conservation over the past 50 years or more.
Click here for both a text summary of key quotes as well as links to the videos.
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News In A Nutshell
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SCB VISIT & 'AUDIT'
Living Lands hosted Dr. Ron Abrams from the Society of Conservation Biology. The purpose of Dr. Abrams visit was to assess the restoration sites in the Baviaanskloof as follow up to carbon investments made by the SCB two years ago. "It will be near impossible to explain this to my colleagues, as these cannot be captured on a picture, and it will hard for them to comprehend the magnitude of the situation"…
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FYNBOS FORUM ROCKED
PRESENCE Network students – Alanna, Julia, Maura, Rebecca, and Odi attended the recent Fynbos Forum in Still Bay. Each gave either oral or poster presentations of their research. The event provided an excellent learning and networking opportunity. Living Bands also featured with the surprise unveiling of their international hit 'Ecosystem Services' which rocked the dance floor on the Fynbos Forum disco night.
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SANPARKS DESIRES
Marijn and Dieter visited the SANParks 'desired state' workshop for management of Camdeboo National Park near Graaff Reinet. Determining the desired state of the Park requires working together to develop a clear vision for the Park and then translating this vision into sensible / achievable objectives. These objectives guide the creation or revision of the (adaptive) management programme.
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ELEMENTAL EQUITY
This Baviaaanskloof-based restoration fund has recently planted one hectare of spekboom (element: Air) on behalf of a Student Conference on Conservation Science recently held in Cambridge, UK. The group invested in Elemental Equity to green their travel footprint for the event.
Elemental Equity gives you the opportunity to invest in nature and a greener future at the click of a button. Give yourself and others a warm fuzzy feeling…
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INITIATIVES
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PRESENCE
PRESENCE functions as a collaborative platform to guide the restoration and conservation of 'living landscapes'. The PRESENCE learning network is coordinated by Living Lands - a South African foundation based at the Learning Village (Kouga Dam) with a vision of: "collaborations working on living landscapes."
NEW WEBSITE NOW ONLINE!:
livinglandscapes.co.za
Email:
dieter@
earthcollective.net
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eyes4earth
eyes4earth.org is a research & education
initiative for reconnecting with nature through meaningful experience. eyes4earth combines social marketing media to stimulate awareness and changes in perceptions, attitudes and behaviour.
Website:
eyes4earth.org
Email:
matt@earthcollective.net
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cvni
The Cultural Values & Nature Initiative or "CVNI" is an action research project which
aims to elicit cultural and spiritual perceptions
of nature and the environment and integrate them into ecosystem management,
nature conservation and policy.
Website:
culturalvalues.org
Email:
bas@earthcollective.net
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elemental equity
Elemental Equity is an investment in your future. This ‘natural capital’ fund encourages individuals and businesses to help secure cultural and environmental heritage by investing in nature.
Website:
elementalequity.org
Email:
giving@
livinglandscapes.co.za
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Positive ideas. happening.
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EarthCollective's vision statement is: to act as a catalyst for creating, enabling and facilitating initiatives that restore links between nature and human wellbeing. And simply to get positive ideas happening. The EarthCollective network is institutionally affiliated with the Foundation for Sustainable Development (FSD) in The Netherlands and with Living Lands in South Africa.
EarthCollective's Seasonal Supplement Newsletter is published four times per year on a seasonal basis. Your inclusion on this mailing list is either because you are associated with EarthCollective activities, have previously expressed interest in our work, or you know someone in the EarthCollective network. However, should you no longer wish to receive this newsletter or related updates, click on 'unsubscribe' below or email: 'unsubscribe newsletter' to: info@earthcollective.net. Any other feedback, comments, ideas for future news stories or newsletter subscriptions can also be mailed to: info@earthcollective.net
Seasonal Supplement Editor: Matthew Zylstra
Seasonal Supplement Designer: Andrew Zylstra
Seasonal Supplement Contributors: Jennifer Foley, Julia Glenday, Fedde Jorritsma, Odirilwe Selomane, Jordy Stokhof de Jong, CoCo Teheux, Olga Timmer, Dieter Van den Broeck, Bas Verschuuren, Silvia Weel, Marijn Zwinkels, Matthew Zylstra.
Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions:
Email: info@earthcollective.net
Phone: +27 (0) 83 48 28 033
Post: PO Box 570, 6700 AN Wageningen, The Netherlands
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