Sustainability Leadership Journey 2016

In November 2016 , Living and Wildlands held the 1st Sustainability Leadership Journey targeted at young middle-management leaders working for environmental and sustainability fo- cused NGOs/NPOs, selected senior experts from NGOs and sustainability practitioners from corporate partner networks of Living Lakes Members.

Living Lakes is an international network and partnership whose mission is to enhance the protection, res- toration and rehabilitation of lakes, wetlands, other freshwater bodies of the world and their catchment areas. It is a world-wide future-oriented initiative. At the moment, 105 members belong to the network. Green Skills is an associated member since 2007. Since then, Wilson Inlet is listed as part of the interna- tional Living Lakes network, which enables our community to co-operate actively with other Living Lakes members and associates, share ideas, skills and techniques and contribute towards the successful achieve- ment of the Living Lakes mission and vision.

Find out more about Living Lakes and Wilson Inlet as part of the network following these links: http://www.globalnature.org/livinglakes/ http://www.globalnature.org/35473/Living-Lakes/Australia/Wilson-Inlet/resindex.aspx

The Sustainability Leadership Journey was not intended to be a one-stop education about sustainability and leadership. Rather, it was an opportunity to engage around some of the key issues affecting sustain- ability and reflect on our leadership role inside those key issues, with valuable input from passion-driven practitioners in the field. It was a pilot event for Wildlands and Living Lakes. Wildlands is one of the lead- ing environmental NGOs in South Africa and also founding member of the Living Lakes Network.

I am very grateful having been chosen to represent Green Skills at this event. I have been working for Green Skills since 2009, mainly in a supporting role as GIS officer and field support in projects such as the Gondwana Link Program. Gondwana Link aims to restore ecological connectivity across south-western and protect and restore biodiverse bushland and waterways on an unprecedented scale. Within the next few years, Green Skills will explore the possibility of building a living lakes network throughout the Gondwana Link area based on case examples throughout the international living lakes network. I would love to be involved with this project. My recent experience at the Living Lakes Conference gave me a lot of insights into similar projects around the world and I hope to use this experience by helping to make our part of the world a better place to live in.

Sustainability Leadership Journey South Africa 2016

What does it take to lead, especially in the world of environment, conservation and sustainability? The following pages reflect on the recent 1st Sustainability Leadership Journey held with Wildlands, in con- junction with Living Lakes and the Global Nature Fund. The week-long workshop was held at St Lucia on the shores of Isimangaliso Wetland Park, South Africa's most famous . During the week the delegates were exposed to sustainability leadership skills, an introduction to biomimicry, various examples of lake conservation projects and techniques from around the world and projects focusing on sustainable eco- nomic development. Field trips into local communities and the Hhluhluwe-Imfolozi Game Reserve rounded off an amazing learning experience.

The one week journey was a powerful ac- tive, rather than passive, learning experi- ence based in a natural environment. Na- ture has been proven to help restore the brain’s attention capacities, reduce stress, increase positive mood, promote mindful- ness, improve creativity and problem solv- ing and even increase self-esteem. And it worked. The days were packed full of knowledge, learning and incredible experi- ences. After a few days we were all buzzing with excitement and full to the brim with new ideas and innovative approaches to problem solving in a sustainable way.

What an amazing group of people it was. Every single one of the participants were incredibly passionate about what they are doing. It was so uplifting and inspiring to hear their stories and learn about their pas- sion, their struggles, their work and per- sonal lives. Day One: iSimangaliso Wetland Park

Our first morning started with a boat tour of St. Lucia Lake where we saw amazing bird species everywhere including the beautiful African fish eagle, terns, swal- lows, swifts, spoon bills, egrets, pide kingfischer and we saw our first hippos! There were hippos cooling off all over the lake. They are very docile looking animals but we have been repeatedly warned about how dangerous they can be.

After the boat cruise we started our journey of learn- ing about and meeting the amazing people who run iSimangaliso Wetland Park. The park became South Africa’s first world heritage site in 1999 due to its unique biological processes and rich found nowhere else in the world. The park is also exceptionally beautiful across its entire 332,000 hec- tares, containing 8 interlinked ecosystems, 526 bird species, 700 year old fishing traditions, most of South Africa’s remaining swamp forests and it’s Af- rica’s largest estuarine system.

The protection of this important area started from the passion of a few people and has grown into something very special. The park gives employment opportunities to around 7,000 people living in and around it. They directly employ 1,500 low income locals in their regeneration project which has suc- cessfully removed over 15,000 hectares of planta- tions. They also have a phenomenal job creation pro- gram that supports green entrepreneurship in the communities around Park. They continue supporting these businesses beyond just funding them. For ex- ample they support local artisans, many of whom have no formal education, in the sale of their art to ensure they are not getting ripped off by the resales.

We also met four amazing interns who were all sup- ported by a scholarship program run by the iSiman- galiso Wetland Park authority. These youth came from families who could not afford to support their children in attending post secondary school. The scholarship program not only provides financial sup- port but also counselling and job search help. Many of the youth who enrolled in this program ended up working with the park. One of the young men who presented to us on the work he had been doing with the park was able to send money home to his family while studying because of the opportunity he was given through the park. Day Two: Khula—a visit to a traditional Zulu village

On our second day we visited the traditional Zulu village of Khula. This place has an inspiring history and we were fortunate to spend a day immersed in it. We were fortunate enough to meet some of the elders who told us some of the history of the place and its people. The people of this village once lived in the nearby Duku Duku forest but one day the government asked if they would relocate so that they could preserve the unique ecosystems and species that also lived there. The chief of these people negotiated a deal with the government so that when they relocated they would have help building schools, roads, community centres and houses but when they arrived at their new home they were greeted with none of this. The community and its chief fought hard to get the things they were promised but nothing seemed to work. One day Dr. Andrew Ventura, the now CEO of Wildlands became involved with the chief to help create sustainable change in the community. Since this time Wildlands have helped implement a very successful program called treepreneurs where vil- lagers grow seedlings into trees to then trade them for useful items such as solar hot water tanks, bikes and other necessary goods. Many of these commu- nity members have used this opportunity, with the help of Wildlands to start their own businesses. 80% of these entrepreneurs are woman and many of them have used the money they make from their businesses to send their children and grandchildren to university. This is their way of changing the para- digm of their poverty stricken environment and creating opportunity for the future generations of their community.

This Khula woman supports seven people in her home thanks to the opportunity of becoming a treepreneaur. After we spent some time meeting the inspiring villagers of Khula we were very fortunate to experience the traditional Zulu way of life through clothing, song and dance . Inside a traditional kitchen. Men sit on the left and woman on the right,they told us this is because the Entering the Zulu village woman are always right.

Traditional Zulu Dance

A single Zulu woman practises a tradition that A real Zulu prince and a beautiful Zulu woman. attracts single men. Day Three: Biomimicry

Definition: biomimicry is an approach to innovation that seeks sustainable solutions to human challenges by emulating nature's time-tested patterns and strategies. Or how Claire puts it: Creating conditions conducive to life.

This is Claire Janisch. Claire had always wanted to become a chef when she grew up but her parents would not allow this, so she became a chemical engineer instead. She was still mixing ingredients, only they were no longer edible. She described her time working in this field as touring the sewers of humanity. How could she take a natural product, extract it, alter it and make it into something for mass consumption and pro- duction. Of chemical engineers and most hu- mans Claire fondly says that "we're like tod- dlers playing with matches in an oil field".

Left feeling empty by her work she quit to go an ecosystem in which animals can breathe and flourish WWOOFing in California. This experience and when it falls to the ground it decomposes back into reconnected her to nature and she began the earth. Nature is our most advanced technology with looking at things differently. over 3.8 billion years of knowledge.

We talked about shifting our view from what What can we learn from nature that will help us solve can we learn about nature, to what can we many of the problems we face today? learn from nature. We looked at one leaf on a tree as a solar panel. This one small leaf can Many of us were so inspired by Claire's talk we were ask- take sunlight and turn it into energy, it con- ing how we could drop everything and go back to school tributes to the hydrological cycle, it creates to study this fascinating approach to innovation. The Mornings

Every morning before we started our day Simone Dale, the organiser of the Conference, would guide us in a mindfulness practice. What a wonderful way to start each day. The Afternoons

The afternoons were often filled with participants sharing their own stories. It was amazing to hear about the live paths of all these amazing people from all over the world. They shared their life's work, their ideas and dreams, their take on sustainability and their personal stories. Here are just a few of the incredible people I met.

Filipe I don't think any of us have ever met a more passionate inspiring individual. Felipe works with Fundacion Humedales, a non-for profit operating in Columbia. Through his work he helps implement sustainable, envi- ronmentally friendly alternatives to water treatment in rural vil- lages. Felipe left all of us feeling inspired to enjoy every day, to live our lives to the fullest and let ourselves feel rewarded for the hard work we all do.

Caloy Caloy has a beautiful calm demeanor, he loves working with youth, he has a very sweet way of talking about his family and is graciously thoughtful before diving into a conversation. Caloy works with the Society of Conservation of Philippine Wetlands, Inc. where he focuses on environmental protection and raising awareness through youth. Caloy struck us as the type of individual you would really want to have on your team to instill creativity and passion.

Buyi Buyi is currently the Strategic Marketing Manager for The Wild- lands Conservation Trust, a leading Environmental Non-Profit Or- ganisations in South Africa. The work they do continues to fuel her passion for people and making the world a better place. Out- side of work she is a super active person. She has taken part in several trail and road running events in and around KZN. In 2017 she hopes to conquer two of the biggest ultra’s – Comrades and Two Oceans marathon.

Avery Avery has such a big open heart and such a beautiful and kind per- sonality. She loves life, she loves people, she loves helping everyone out. You just have to love her. She is currently working as the Pro- gram Manager for a Lake Stewardship Society in western called Friends of Kootenay Lake Stewardship Society. Among other things she is implementing citizen science programs. The Evenings

The evenings we spend around the camp fire and were filled with the amazing stories of very inspirational people. People that have overcome countless obstacles to finally succeed and create something amazing. Here are a few of their stories.

Leeko Mokoena

Founder, Made with Rural Leeko Mokoena grew up in a village where everyone did subsistence farming: every household had food growing in the backyard, or in communal fields. Eve- ryone took part, and nobody went hungry. But around the year 2000 the older people in the commu- nity started to get too old to work, or died. The gen- eration that inherited their land thought that they did not need to farm to get food, or earn a living. The land went fallow. That choice resulted in endemic poverty, unemployment and hunger. This did not make any sense to Leeko — hungry people were liv- ing on arable land, which they could use free of charge. She decided to fix that and started Made with Rural. This empowers small-scale farmers, who are linked to sustainable markets. It also helps farmers with the endless paperwork that comes with their industry. Information is shared through an app — Pocket Crop — which farmers can use to quickly access new information and check on their sales. Together, the farmers are able to leverage their numbers to buy and sell at better prices. Mokoena’s most important project is to resuscitate failed government farming initiatives. Using state funds and support from the department of agriculture, fisheries and forestry, she ensures that farmers can obtain tools and seeds to bring life back to fallow fields. This comes just in time for farmers in areas where the climate has already started to change, most felt in lower rainfall each year, and a change in the planting season. The Pocket Crop app allows farmers to get instant updates on this sort of information, so they can plan their crop. The other side of Made with Rural’s success is more intangible, because it celebrates all things rural. Where rural areas are seen as backward and with little industry, the project seeks to make people feel proud about their skills and where they live. The success stories are myriad. One farmer made R22 000 in just three weeks from selling her crop. That sort of success makes Mokoena wake up each morning beaming. One project can have a ripple effect Neoka Naidoo

Policy communicator, Project 90by2030 Neoka decided to become a vegetarian at age 10. This stemmed from an empathy she felt for animals, and the realisation that her actions have consequences. She is now vegan. It was at around the same ten- der age that she started thinking about the Earth beyond her im- mediate surroundings. Her grade nine teacher even started the class talking about global warming. Neoka immediately wondered why her generation was not hearing more about this.

While other children were thinking about becoming firefighters or lawyers, she decided there and then that she would study envi- ronmental science. She now works for the nongovernmental or- ganisation Project 90by2030, which seeks to make renewable en- ergy provide the lion’s share of electricity to South Africa’s grid. As its policy communicator, she works to get information to those who would otherwise not have it.

This tends to be rural communities and women, who are usually left out of climate change discussions, though they are those most affected, as water resources dry up and food becomes harder to grow in a changing world.

She goes a step further, and tries to ensure that the communication does not just happen in one direction. Too often the voices of rural communities are left out of international climate negotiations or discussions on national climate change policy. This means the policies are then drafted on the basis of assumptions, or without political will, because the politicians don’t feel pressurised to do the right thing.

This job gives her a deep sense of purpose. But she keeps driving and working harder to create meaning to her life, and only works on projects that she is absolutely convinced are important.

Sibusiso Vilane

Adventurer, Motivational Speaker, Author

Sibusiso is a South African adventurer and moti- vational speaker, and the author of the book To the Top from Nowhere. An adventurer, mara- thon runner, and mountaineer and expedition leader, he is also the Chief Scout of Scouts South Africa. He is one of 36 people in the world that have climbed the seven summits and went to both poles. Sibusiso’s irrepressible spirit and infectious enthusiasm for life inspires and uplifts people of all backgrounds and circumstances, and especially children. As a professional speaker, his message is simple: every person has their own “Everest” to climb. Whether you’re prepared for it or not, it’s there - challeng- ing you to reach the top. And if he can do that in the most dangerous and inhospitable of conditions and against all the odds so, he suggests, can you. The last day: Hhluhluwe-Imfolozi Game Reserve

Hluhluwe–Imfolozi Park is the oldest proclaimed nature reserve in Africa. It consists of 960 km² of hilly topography, 280 kilometres north of Durban in central Zululand, KwaZulu-Natal, and is known for its rich wildlife and conservation efforts. The park is the only state-run park in KwaZulu-Natal where each of the big five game animals can be found. Due to conservation efforts, the park now has the largest popula- tion of white rhino in the world. And we saw lots of them. We even saw a black Rhino, which is a rare sight. The day was a wonderful end to a magical journey.