K2C Biosphere News

Geographical Information System (GIS) and Mapping training, facilitated by Association for Water & Rural Development (AWARD) and K2C, was held at the Nelspruit Working for Water (WfW) offices from the 26 th to the 27 th of February 2019. The group was made up of 25 people.  The main aim for the training was to equip the WfW team on Google Earth, MapIt and QGIS so that they can apply them on a daily basis in their work.   The group was trained on all GIS applications. GIS is a framework for gathering, managing, and analysing data. It is a useful framework that has different software and applications. The learning outcome for the training was to understand geographic information and map reading, planning of a data collection trip, using a GPS efficiently in field, Mapping in Google Earth Pro, and understanding QGIS.

On the 19 January-2 February 2019 Vulani, Edith and Ngcaene had an opportunity to participate in field work with Sandy du Plessis, who is currently doing APHD from the School of Public Leadership at Stellenbosch University on the topic of Losing and Re-gaining Access to Resources. Her research title is:   The Legitimacy of contrasting Conservation Approaches in a Transfrontier System . The K2C team trained to be part of the research team collecting household quantitative and qualitative data, to partake in focus group sessions at villages inside the park and the buffer, conduct oral history interviews and run participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) workshops. The research team had an opportunity to meet with different partners and stakeholders; structure of Government in Mozambique, Governor; Department of Agriculture understand the farming practices between host villages and communities as well as their benefits within the communities. Department of Education in depth of...

On the 2 nd and 3 rd of April 2019, I had the privilege of attending the SEED South Africa Symposium 2019. The workshop took place at the Innovation Hub in Pretoria, under the theme “ Fuelling Entrepreneurship for a Climate-Smart and socially Inclusive Green Economy ."  The official opening was done by the event partners, Flanders Government. In their opening remarks, the Flanders Government highlighted the need to bring about an inclusive society, to have functional multi-stakeholder partnerships and to promote green economy.  It is my understanding Green economy is about behaviour change and is not just product based. I learned from the workshop that we need a more integrated solution that look at gender equality, youth empowerment when addressing the issue of Climate-Smart mitigations. In South Africa, we have a National Development plan that has incorporated climate change mitigations which means we have a mandate to carry out projects that make us resilient through a...

“ It felt so good to be a South African! Our National Department of Environmental Affairs hosted a very important International Conference to the highest standard!” Marie-Tinka Uys, Executive of the Kruger to Canyons Biosphere Region Non Profit Company, who attended the conference, said. The 3rd Ministerial Conference of the Partnership for Action on Green Economy (PAGE) was hosted at the Cape Town International Convention Centre from 10 to 11 January 2019. The 3rd Conference, under the theme Advancing Inclusive and Sustainable Economies, follows two successful conferences, the first in Dubai in 2014 and the second in Berlin in 2017. PAGE was launched in 2013 as a response to the call at Rio+20 to support those countries wishing to embark on greener and more inclusive growth trajectories. It places sustainability at the heart of economic policies and practices to advance the 2030 United Nations Agenda for Sustainable Development, and supports nations and regions in reframing...

The K2C BSP Cluster’s story telling takes an approach of tracing three former female Environmental Monitors that have moved on to better employment. The inspiring stories of Vulani Mabunda, Shoki Mafogo and Dimakatso Nonyane demonstrate how the opportunity to be part of this foundational work programme can unlocks futures for young female conservationists. Vulani Mabunda Vulani Mabunda’s eyes twinkled with enthusiasm as she tells her story. She was born and bred in Giyani before the family moved to Lulekani, Phalaborwa. After she matriculated, she obtained her Nature Conservation Diploma from the Southern African Wildlife College in 2012. After a stint as a WESSA Eco School Coordinator, she started her career as an Environmental Monitor in 2016 with the Sefapane Foundation in Phalaborwa. Soon her excellent performance with Environmental Education in Schools was noted, and she was nominated as a K2C EM Maeba (Peer Educator Leadership Group). In 2017 she won the accolade to be t...

The Kruger to Canyons Biosphere Region (K2C) in partnership with The Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency (MTPA), SAFCOL/Komatiland Forests and the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF) is currently embarking on a process to declare over 5 000 ha of high value conservation land in the Mpumalanga Drakensberg. As part of the process management plans are being developed for these areas which mostly consist of threatened grassland, wetland and forest habitats.  Fire is a key ecosystem driver in many biomes, including grassland, savanna and fynbos ecosystems in South Africa and thus fire is used as a crucial management tool by land managers to help meet a number of objectives.  In a forestry setting  a balance needs to be struck between ensuring the safety of plantation trees while also attempting to promote biodiversity in these natural areas. The Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency (MTPA) over the course of the last 40 years has experime...

Famine Weed ( Parthenium hysterophorus)  is one of the threatening invasive species that is spreading to most areas around Nkomazi and Ehlanzeni municipalities. Famine weed,  CARA 2002 – Category 1 NEMBA – Category 1b  threatens human and animals’ health.  KNP’s Navashni Govender called a meeting recently where different stakeholders have an opportunity to update each other about the status of the famine weed at their working areas. The objective of the meeting was to get an update of the distribution of weed, clearing effort, experience, future clearing plans and sharing the resources used. To mention few of the stakeholders: Kruger National Park BSP and Alien Biota, Kruger to Canyons BSP, Sabie Sand Wildtuin, Marloth Park, Nkomazi Municipality and DEA Mpumalanga Province. The forum also discussed which effective method of treatment on the weed when using the Bio-control agents and herbicide chemicals. They all share the experience on both treatment and als...

Conservation South Africa, Hoedspruit Hub and the K2C are collaborating with  the people of Bapedi Ba Dinkwanyane to implement a Green Economy Project funded by the Government of Flanders. The Project will be launched during April 2019. “The project aims to showcases the benefits of a climate adaptive green economy where integrated sustainable land-use practices are enhancing and maintaining eco-system services while simultaneously contributing to sustainable livelihoods and creating a resilient community.” Ms Shoki Mafogo, Project Manager of the K2C said. “By bringing the technical expertise of our partners Hoedspruit Hub in Agro Ecology, and Conservation South Africa in rangeland management, together whilst collectively learning about marketing mechanisms, we will demonstrate how collaborative actions proof compounded incomes.  This project is totally aligned to MaB outcomes.” The Project will be launched with the Community in May 2019.

Kruger 2 Canyons Biosphere (K2C) is calling on all photographers to showcase their amazing pictures from our region on our new Instagram account. The K2C has accounts across different social media platforms but we did not yet have an Instagram presence, and would like to start an Instagram account to showcase the beautiful Kruger to Canyons Biosphere.  We currently have a Facebook and Twitter account that showcases activities taking place in the K2C Biosphere. The Instagram account will show different activities that one can do within the K2C Biosphere as well as beautiful photographs showing the scenery of our landscape, wildlife and people. Visualisation is very important on Instagram, therefore, we would highly appreciate high quality pictures to best showcase the biosphere region.  If you could like your photograph showcased on our account (photo credit will be given) Please #tag us (#k2cbiosphere or @k2cbiosphere) when posting on your Instagram pages or send your...