GARDEN ROUTE NEWS - The age-old story of man versus the environment is well-known.
However, the proposed Garden Route Biosphere Reserve, stretching from George to St Francis, not only provides a solution to this issue, but has the potential to address many of the socioecological problems that we face.
Biosphere reserves are a fairly well-known concept, having been first established through the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) in 1976. Since then, the numbers have steadily grown and, today, there are 651 biosphere reserves in 120 countries across the globe.
Africa is home to 67 in 28 countries, with eight biosphere reserves in South Africa and four of these are in the Western Cape.
The biosphere reserve programme falls under the umbrella of the Unesco Man and the Biosphere Reserve (MAB) programme and, in South Africa, the Department of Environmental Affairs. The official definition for South Africa is: 'South African biospheres are special landscapes where socioecological land management is practised towards a more sustainable future for all'.
Biosphere reserves are tools to address environmental, social and economic sustainability.
They definitely do not exclude people, development, towns or farmlands. Rather, they logically define an area that is deemed to be 'special' (due to its ecological and cultural areas of significance) into three zones: the core zones, such as national parks, that have legal protection; the buffer zones that adjoin or surround the core areas and where low impact activities take place, such as ecotourism, education, research etc.; and transition zones where towns are situated and where human activities such as farming, business etc. take place.
We all know that the Garden Route is special. The fynbos biome found here is the smallest yet most diverse biodiversity hotspot in the world and has thus been declared a World Heritage Site by Unesco. In addition to this magical floral kingdom where we live, we have Afromontane forests, marine protected areas, much cultural diversity and significant palaeo history that dates back to between 120 and 180 000 years ago.... And all of this without mention of the special species that are found within our magnificent habitats and which range from the largest land and marine mammals to small aquatic bugs that still await classification and that have barely evolved over the past 100 million years.
So, yes we know how special the Garden Route is and, yes, international recognition from Unesco would be fantastic but... how does this affect YOU? The list of benefits includes enhanced livelihoods, easier access to funding opportunities, platforms for stakeholder cooperation, identification of sustainable development opportunities, united branding and marketing potential and, of course, tourism.
The benefits to communities, governments, enterprises and the environment can be endless. But, to get there, we firstly need to submit our application to Unesco's MAB programme, highlighting the magnificence of our Garden Route and its inhabitants and requesting registration as a biosphere reserve. The Table Mountain Fund is supporting the application process, which includes an extensive public participation programme. We need your support.
The proposed Garden Route Biosphere Reserve will extend from George in the west to St Francis in the east. The Table Mountain Fund is supporting the application process and this includes a series of public meetings.
- The George/Wilderness meeting is on 12 August from 10:30 to 11:30 in the civic centre banquet hall.
- The Knysna/Sedgefield meeting is on 12 August in the Hornlee Hall between 14:30 and 15:30.
Meetings have also been scheduled for St Francis, Tsitisikamma and Plettenberg Bay.
The first round of meetings will be information sharing meetings, with the next round focusing on mapping the core, buffer and transition zones. The dates for round two will still be publicised.
This is a long process but the beginning of potential opportunities for so many and for our beautiful Garden Route.
For enquiries contact: Vernon Gibbs-Halls on 082 886 0699/gibbs@edendm.co.za or Julie Carlisle on 044 535 0064/082 322 2209/ecovive@mweb.co.za.
Article by Julie Carlisle, of the Garden Route Biosphere Reserve.
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