Celebrating 20 years of nurturing nature

2019 marks 20 years of CapeNature nurturing the Western Cape’s biodiversity. Dr Razeena Omar shares the organisation’s mandate and its role in tourism, public education and women empowerment.

Q. THIS YEAR MARKS A SPECIAL COMMEMORATION IN THAT CAPENATURE CELEBRATES 20 YEARS OF EXISTENCE. TELL US ABOUT THE ORGANISATION’S MANDATE.

The two decades were abounding with exceptional successes, but also some challenges. We’ve built a credible brand to conserve the unique biodiversity of the Western Cape, which includes the Cape Floral Region that was declared aWorld Heritage Site (WHS) by the UnitedNations Educational,Scientific andCultural Organisation in 2004. WHS aims to protect areas of outstanding natural, historical and cultural value. The CapeFloral Region is one of the world’s most unique regions in terms of plant diversity, as 70% of the plant species don’t grow anywhere else in the world. CapeNature is mandated with the important responsibility to manage, conserve and promote these natural and heritage assets.

Q. HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE CAPENATURE’S EFFECTIVENESS IN FULFILLING ITS ROLE OVER THE PAST 20 YEARS?

The entity has maintained an astounding expansion of the protected estate through various means, especially through encouraging private land owners living on biodiversity-worthy land to conserve and manage their land in a sustainable manner. We have also excelled in guarding the Western Cape’s unique biodiversity; in providing the public with pristine nature escapes; and in significantly impacting positively on the socio-economic status of many families through job-creation opportunities. Although our mandate is to conserve, we recognise that the environment offers opportunity for sustainable livelihoods. One of the success stories is the good relationship CapeNature fosters with communities adjacent to its protected areas, where local communities harvest plant material in a sustainable manner for their benefit.

Q. THE WESTERN CAPE IS ONE OF THE WORLD’S MOST BEAUTIFUL – IF NOT THE MOST BEAUTIFUL – COASTAL DESTINATION. HOW IMPORTANT IS BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION, AND HOW DOES IT FEED INTO TOURISM IN THE PROVINCE?

The Cape Floral Kingdom is one of six floral kingdoms in the world, and is literally found nowhere else on the planet. This magnifies our enormous responsibility to ensure the conservation of this unique floral kingdom, other associated lifeforms and the cultural heritage associated with this unique landscape. However, careful management of our natural assets present opportunities for tourism to contribute to the economy and create work opportunities for rural communities living around our nature reserves. Over the past five years, the implementation of an eco-tourism infrastructure programme created many SMME and job-creation opportunities, thus growing our revenue to augment our funding for our conservation endeavours.

Q. IN 2016, THE WILDLIFE & ENVIRONMENT SOCIETY OF SA (WESSA) AWARDED YOU THEIR LIFETIME CONSERVATION ACHIEVER AWARD. WHAT DID THIS ACCOLADE MEAN TO YOU AS LEADER OF CAPENATURE?

I have a passion for conservation and environmental work. In2003, I received a gold medal from WESSA for my contribution in the field of environmental education. This award came very unexpectedly. I guess that recognition of one’s contribution towards the work that you enjoy doing is always heartening and affirming, especially in a leadership position.

Q. HOW DO YOU INTEND TO ENSURE THAT THE GENERAL PUBLIC REMAINS EDUCATED ON THE IMPORTANCE OF CARING FOR NATURE?

A multipronged approach is key. While educating our children, who are the next generation, to better understand that the need to respect and care for the environment is crucial, it is also important to ensure that we factor the protection of the planet into policies, planning and implementation of all decisions we make.

Q. NATURE CONSERVATION IS A MALE-DOMINATED FIELD. WHAT ARE YOUR VIEWS ON THE EMPOWERMENT OF WOMEN IN THIS FIELD?

International conventions such as the Convention on BiologicalDiversity (CBD) recommend that authorities consult and include women in policy development, and encourage the participation of women in conservation initiatives at all levels. It is evident from the work we do in the landscape that women often have less access to natural resources than men and are less involved in decision-making initiatives.These gender inequalities restrict the economic independence of women, keeping them poverty stricken, and undermines sustainable development.

Cape Sugarbird

Q. DO YOU HAVE ANY FUTURE PROSPECTS FOR YOURSELF AND CAPENATURE?

I concluded a full term of five years at the helm of CapeNature, and the Board renewed my contract for another five years. The entity is in the process of concluding a major restructuring of the way we operate, to ensure our readiness to protect and conserve our environment for resilience and sustainability for the next 20 years.I encourage members of the public to visit the CapeNature reserves and to follow our journey as we commemorate 20 years throughout2019 with various activities. Find us on social media (Facebook, Twitter and Instagram) and pay a visit to our website www.capenature.co.zaas we continue to nurture nature, together.