PROJECTS 2017 INFORM ASSIST PROTECT
ENDANGERED WILDLIFE TRUST
Source to Sea Programme
'A RE ITIRELENG' - LET'S DO IT OURSELVES
Mmutlwa wa Noko's association began with the EWT in 2010 when EWT initiated the Healthy Rivers Programme with the Groot Marico River as its flagship.
EWT's current project 'A Re Itireleng' is a community led approach to enhancing sustainable water management and green economy for the benefit of people and environment in the Groot Marico River Catchment.
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The goal is establishing "Living farms" within this arid and vulnerable area with trained and capacitated emerging farmers and entrepreneurs that can support themselves and their communities, focusing on empowering women and youth development.
All who reside in the catchment will benefit from improvements in water resource management. The direct beneficiaries are Reboile township adjoining Groot Marico and the traditional downstream village of Koffiekraal.
In line with this the first community garden was established as a model for the community by the very first township based nature conservation association in the area called the African Pride Nature Conservation Association (APNCA).
With the guidance and support of the EWT team this garden has and now boasts a bee hive and chicken run and vegetables for sale as of October 2017. The APNCA team has also attended several business and entrepreneurial courses.
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We thank all involved in this exciting and hope filled project, with special thanks to EWT and its supporters and sponsors.
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& 2018
IAP CAMPAIGN - INFORM, ASSIST, PROTECT
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In giving effect to our vision we called our primary campaign the IAP campaign, which is based on the abbreviation for the term 'Interested and Affected Parties' (I&APs) - those parties who have an interest in and are affected by applications, including prospecting and mining right applications. We use the term IAP as a summary of our campaign to INFORM, ASSIST, PROTECT.
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Mmutlwa wa Noko came about because we realised that in order to protect our sensitive and strategic environment we had to have an organisation that was aware of and up to date in the law relating to environmental matters, eg the Mineral and Petroleum Resource Development Act (MPRDA) and the National Environmental Management Act (NEMA) and to function within the framework of these laws.
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In the case of prospecting and mining right applications our process is to examine these applications and test whether the applicants have complied with the legal requirements. This involves a wide scope since the humanitarian requirements of the area, the environmental circumstances and the socio-economic conditions all have to be amply researched and placed before the decision making authority. Should the application fall short of these aspects (which in our experience happens in many cases) we bring these omissions to the attention of the decision takers.
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As part of the process of responding to applications we travel to affected individuals and communities to explain the law to them, inform them of their rights, the nature of the application and then provide them with practical assistance to ensure that their inputs and concerns are presented to the various authorities as per legal requirements. This includes educating I&APs on the basics of the law and basic responses.
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We also assist the community and various authorities in issues relating to water quality, including sewerage, and the river classification process.
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Our information campaign includes presentations to visitors and tourists at local events and we are invited to present to national and international groups at environmental events. We are creative in our efforts to promote the Groot Marico River catchment.
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" This is about identifying the problems
in the upper catchments of rivers
and sitting down and finding solutions ..
.But it's become clear that the country's most pressing water crisis is not to be found in the rivers and dams but in what is missing from the school curriculum. We need to start in schools. The only sustainable solution lies in changing the mindset of a new generation"
Dr Paul Oberholzer in an interview by Sean Christie in Farmer's Weekly
Did you know?
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There are 9 conservation based organisations/ associations working to protect the Groot Marico River Catchment
Hover over the image above to see the message (image - community meeting arranged by MWN)
CATCHMENT CUSTODIANS
Def: Custodian - Noun
'person who has responsibility for taking care of or protecting something, may include culture or tradition'
Mmutlwa wa Noko supports the Marico Biosphere Reserve project. We have been assisting the team with specific issues. To read more about this project see their website: www.maricobiosreserve.org
AFRICAN PRIDE NATURE CONSERVATION ASSOCIATION
Pilot Permaculture Project
Reboile township
The very first township based nature conservation association in the area is called the African Pride Nature Conservation Association (APNCA). The founding group of motivated, intelligent and resourceful (and mostly young) people took the initiative to found their own conservation association and register as an NPO after their work contracts ended. They had been employed locally and had experience in conservation methods and practice. Unemployment is rife in this isolated rural area and it took immense courage to forge a new future for themselves with the ultimate goal of benefiting the community by alleviating poverty.
Mmutlwa wa Noko facilitated the sponsorship of a permaculture training course in 2016 for the 16 founding members of APNCA with the Tikologo Permaculture Project sponsored by Mr W Hazewindus and WESSA.
We also assisted APNCA in establishing a strong business identity by working with the team and a local designer to create an appropriate logo, letterhead and foundation documents which we sponsored. We have also done their website. They have had our practical support when they were establishing themselves,
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Under the EWT this garden has grown and developed as part of the 'I Re Itireleng project.'
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