NVT celebrates its 21st

PLETTENBERG BAY NEWS- The Nature's Valley Trust (NVT) celebrated turning 21 with a special birthday evening at The White House in Plett on Friday 8 July, where key stakeholders in the organisation came together to reflect on the years gone by.

"A heartfelt thank you to all our supporters, donors and partners in conservation who joined us on a chilly and eventful Friday evening to celebrate 21 years in conservation," NVT said in a media release the next week.

"With a blazing fire for warmth and some lovely wine to warm us from the inside, the evening started with a jovial catch-up with old friends. Despite the nip in the air, over 70 participants celebrated and reflected with us on the past 21 years."

The chairperson of NVT's board of trustees, Chris van Melle Kamp, placed great emphasis on the relationships and partnerships that have been built over the years and re-emphasised that these partnerships have been integral to the increased capacity and success of the programmes and projects NVT manages.

Without these partnerships, none of what the trust does would have been possible.

Amazing conservation organisations such as SANParks and CapeNature operate in partnership with stakeholders including the Bitou Municipality, the Nature's Valley Ratepayers Association (NVRA), Keurbooms and Plett, Plett Tourism, local community members and a myriad of organisations such as Tenikwa and Southern Crags Conservancy, all of who are part of this dedicated and passionate network.

"All stakeholders play a critical role in the common purpose of conserving our natural heritage. Community upliftment and engagement, the implementation of local and national policy, rehabilitation centres, research, and active citizenry, all contribute significantly towards the conservation and appreciation of nature through their combined efforts, enabling us to have maximum impact," the NVT release read.

"Pristine environments need to be protected completely, not because they can be valued against some human metric, but because they are priceless and carry immeasurable, intrinsic value. The intrinsic value of Nature's Valley is palpable, draws people in, and reconnects them to nature.

"As we embark on our next decade of conservation, we aspire to foster greater engagement with our communities through beneficial projects for residents and neighbouring communities.

"We have numerous goals, including the expansion and growth of conservation programmes for young learners in the area, inspiring them through personal experiences in outdoor classrooms to develop a love of nature."

A flagship project focusing on the Sout River from source to sea, is being developed with our NVT's partners, enabling NVT to identify the key aspects of what makes it such a unique blackwater system, and to investigate future environmental threats.

"The financial and moral support you provide enables us to do this important work, and we appeal to you to continue to support our efforts. It is through your generosity that we are able to nurture and conserve for generations to come."

The evening was well-attended.