Preserving Kogelberg marine life and livelihoods

Writer: Elaine Davie.

Most of us are probably familiar with the iconic logo of the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF); indeed, the giant panda has become the poster child for conservation the world over. The organisation was established in Switzerland in 1961, and inspired by this initiative, industrialist Anton Rupert founded the Southern African Wildlife Foundation in 1968. In 1995 it transformed itself into WWF South Africa.

As the logo suggests, at the start, both organisations focused primarily on the conservation of specific endangered species, mainly mammals, but over the years the WWF’s philosophy has undergone a sea change. Led by an awareness of the interdependence of all living things, its approach turned towards environmental protection, where an entire ecosystem was viewed as an integrated entity. Considering the role – usually destructive – played by humankind in the environment, it clearly made no sense to exclude people from the equation. This is currently being underlined by the effect of man-made climate change on the planet.

Local fishermen helping to deploy the BRUVs that record valuable information on the ocean floor.

PHOTOS: WWF-SA

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