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GREF Stakeholder Report April 2022
Garden Route Environmental Forum (GREF) releases 2022 Stakeholder Report
“Sustained and meaningful communication, collaboration and interaction between environmental management stakeholders and the entire Southern Cape conservation community are vital to sustainable living and climate change mitigation efforts in the Garden Route,” says Dr. Nina Viljoen, Head of Environmental Management at the Garden Route District Municipality and chairperson of the Garden Route Environmental Forum (GREF).
“The mandate of the Garden Route Environmental Forum (GREF) is not restricted to directly implement and manage regional environmental programmes, but rather to act as a think tank and public platform for interaction, public participation, showcasing of projects, opening debate and enhancing awareness for all those interested and involved in environmental management and conservation in the Garden Route.”
“Global events such as the havoc and negative socioeconomic repercussions sowed by COVID-19 and the ongoing Russian military invasion of the Ukraine, continue to divert much-needed attention and resources away from the calamitous effect the changing climate is already imposing on the well-being and quality of life of South Africans, and notably the most vulnerable of our communities.”
“Whilst the GREF Stakeholder Report reflects on some of what the governmental mandated and funded Garden Route environmental management bodies, academic entities, large biosphere reserves as well as non-governmental conservation entities are currently busy with as well as what they are planning to achieve within 2022/23, it really aims to consolidate the collective effort to safeguard the sensitive Garden Route environment against relentless pressure brought about by high levels of population growth, natural disasters enhanced by a changing climate and a fast-shrinking natural environment where much of our unique and endemic biodiversity is already critically endangered,” says Dr. Viljoen.
“Citizens of the Garden Route are generally very responsible in terms of environmental best practice, and in favour of and committed to conservation. There are many regional conservancies and privately funded and resourced environmental organisations, NGOs and individuals doing a significant amount of environmental management in the Garden Route deserving of praise and encouragement. GREF would like to encourage those to list on the GREF stakeholder database and participate actively in GREF events and actions.”