KNYSNA NEWS - The 7th Garden Route Interface and Networking (GRIN) meeting concluded last week after three days of meaningful dialogue, learning, and collaboration.
Held from 30 September to 2 October at Villa Castollini in Brenton-on-Sea, the event brought together conservation practitioners, researchers, and policymakers to explore the evolving interface between people and nature.
GRIN was established as a neutral "third space" where science, policy and practice converge in honest dialogue and joint learning.
This year's meeting featured over 60 presentations and five hours of facilitated discussions, highlighting the diversity of voices and approaches shaping conservation today.
The 2025 programme was structured around three core themes: human-nature relationships, reflection and knowledge exchange, and collaborative engagement. Topics ranged from inclusive conservation and land-use change to cultural values of biodiversity, participatory communication, and community-driven stewardship.
Sessions also addressed climate change, monitoring and evaluation tools, and responses to drivers of ecological and social transformation.
A key focus throughout was the importance of embedding equretity, inclusivity, and multiple ways of knowing into conservation practice. Participants stressed the need for relational, place-based approaches to monitoring, learning, and decision-making that bridge institutions, communities, and ecosystems.
The meeting was hosted by South African National Parks (SANParks) in partnership with Nelson Mandela University, the Rehabs International Research Laboratory, the French CNRS, and the Society for Social Ecological Systems.
It reflects the shared commitment to SANParks' Vision 2040 - promoting a society that thrives in harmony with nature.
GRIN closed with collective reflections and a renewed commitment to cross-sector collaboration.
As environmental and social challenges grow more complex, the meeting reinforced the value of respectful, co-learning spaces that help shape inclusive and resilient conservation futures.
Conservation practitioners, researchers, and policymakers explored the evolving interface between people and nature.
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