OUDTSHOORN NEWS - The Gouritz Cluster Biosphere Reserve (GCBR) received a welcome injection of R60-million from the Dutch DOB Ecology foundation for the expansion of existing and new projects.
The GCBR, an initiative of CapeNature, includes formal conservation areas as well as private property situated roughly between Baviaanskloof and the Gouritz River, and between the Swartberg and Outeniqua Mountains.
The aim of the GCBR is to manage the ecology to the benefit of nature and communities that live there.
DOB Ecology is a foundation that was established by a Dutch family that feels strongly about ecology and sound sustainable stewardship.
The R60-million will be used for a long-term programme, which includes the continuation of the Jobs for Carbon (J4C) project at Van Wyksdorp and the sewage water purification project at De Rust.
"The DOB is interested in a long-term relationship with the GCBR," said Wendy Crane, Programme Development Coordinator for the GCBR. "The second GCBR-DOB agreement covers a four-year period and kicks off on 1 March 2018."
Some of the projects for the next four years are:
- The development of the GCBR's organisational structure to enable it to manage the biosphere reserve
- To reverse the loss of biodiversity of the Goukou River from the catchment area to the estuary at Stilbaai
- To expand the J4C project, which restores spekboom on degraded farmland at Van Wyksdorp, to the Calitzdorp/Oudtshoorn area.
- To expand the present Water Wise Ways project at De Rust's sewage system, to Klaarstroom and Oudtshoorn.
- To co-establish the foundation for a field-training and resources centre at Van Wyksdorp.
- To help local authorities to comply with their environmental responsibilities.
- To expand the three Green Clubs at Van Wyksdorp, Ruitersbos en Herbertsdale to 10 primary schools.
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