Volume 1, Issue 1 06 September 2011 Environmental Education Trust 2011 CTEET — AGM – 2 0 1 1

S P E C I A L CTEET’S HISTORY P O I N T S O F INTEREST: In 2001 the Local Nature Reserves raw materials and food.  CTEET‟s environmental Education because the reserves are The aim of the education History Programme was started located within urban programme was to offer with funding from the areas and in many cases the young people and  Current then South Peninsula are surrounded by urban children from these areas projects Municipality and The Ta- areas. the opportunity to inter-  CTEET‟s ble Mountain Fund. Very often these urban act with nature in a non achievements areas consist of sub eco- threatening way. This is The aim was to provide a nomic housing and infor- done through a fully fa-  Financial low cost, high quality en- mal settlements. This cilitated environmental statements vironmental experience poses a very real threat experience which would 2010-2011 for children from under to the safety of the staff, facilitate a change in privileged homes. fauna, flora and the infra- mindset. structure of such re- (Author: M. Ogilvie ) In the past, the approach serves. to conservation was to INSIDE THIS put up fences and pro- The residents of these ISSUE: tect the environment by informal settlements do SSSCA, KRCA 2 keeping the people out. not see the value of the This however does not natural environment and Liesbeek & SSS Learners engaging with 3 work in the context of only view it as a means to “Pippa” the porcupine. EE Project Princess vlei & 4 CTEET 10TH ANNIVERSARY

Strandfontein & On the 22nd February 2011 A presentation on the successes The evening was a reminder 5 Friend groups Cape Town Environmental and challenges faced by CTEET that anything is possible through working together. Education Trust, had the privi- over the past 10 years, a drama- Wolfgat & WOF (Author: C. Schroeder ) 6 lege of hosting their 10th tization by High Project Anniversary. which illustrated the positive in packs that the EE programme & YPP The event was held at the 7 has had on their lives as well as Project Kenilworth Racecourse and a heart-renshing account of the all whom attended enjoyed life of Grant Revelle, who went Grandwest &CoCT 8 the celebration. The evening from drugs to conservation included : trough the intervention of the skills development programme.

Board of Trustees

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P a g e 2 C a p e T o w n

The Southern Suburbs Satellites Conservation Area

The Southern Suburbs Satel- standing with the City of but one thing unites them, the ; and lites (SSS) conservation Cape Town, they form part their inherent unique and a large scale environ- area is a of the branch‟s network. The irreplaceable biodiversity. mental education initiative. Biodiversity Management SSS includes sites such as Projects in the SSS have We frequently host vol- area that includes a number Kenilworth Racecourse Con- been numerous, but as time unteer and community of small natural open servation Area (KRCA), has progressed, certain initiatives on the sites spaces that have been Liesbeek River, Two Rivers that lack staff and fund- ones have reached a point ing, such as the Vincent flagged on the Biodiversity Urban Park, Youngsfield where they could be handed Pallotti wetlands. Network. Military Base Natural Open over to the community and Space, Com- These open spaces are not back to the landowners for In addition we continue mon and more. to offer our services to under ownership of the Bio- management that takes the area in terms of diversity Management Some of these sites are their biodiversity into animal rescue, rehabili- branch, but through the privately owned, while consideration. tation and relocation, Cape Town Environmental others fall under different as well as consultancy At present, our initiatives and guidance with Education Trust and their City of Cape Town and are focused on the environmental issues. Memorandum of Under- government departments; management of KRCA,

The entire team within the the Wildlife and Environ- SSS includes the KRCA Re- mental Society of South Af- serve Manager, Liesbeek rica (WESSA). Maintenance Project Man- Initiatives that have recently “We continue to ager, KRCA Projects Coordi- drawn to a close, have been nator, two KRCA Field Rang- offer our services our efforts assisting with the ers, Liesbeek Maintenance management of Rondebosch to the area in Project Supervisor, three Common and River Wardens and three Common, as the manage- terms of animal tertiary students. ment of these sites has been rescue, This team is funded through handed over to the Friends rehabilitation private funding and dona- of Rondebosch Common and tions, and are supported by the Deep South manage- and relocation” the Cape Town Environ- ment area (City of Cape mental Education Trust or Town), respectively. 2011 Pre & Post Burn Kenilworth (Author: S Marks & J Cooper)

Kenilworth Racecourse Conservation

Kenilworth Racecourse The aim of this project is to tions. CTEET ensures addi- To maximize this help and Conservation Area and encourage the conservation tional resources are pro- ensure that Youngsfield Military Base of the Critically Endangered vided through streamlined Sand is conserved Natural Open Space (YMB- vegetation type and associ- and efficient administrative it is essential that we NOS) encompass one of the ated ecological processes and management support. source more tools and last remaining remnants of as part of the City of Cape equipment, such as Tree The full time staff and the the Critically Endangered Town‟s Biodiversity Network. Poppers of assorted South District‟s Nature Con- vegetation type Cape Flats sizes, hand held spray This is achieved through servation unit of the City of Sand Fynbos (CFSF). bottles, hand held spot- funds managed by CTEET Cape Town are instrumental lights and headlamps. These two sites are man- received from Gold Circle in the planning and execu- (Author: S Marks) aged together, by the team and other sources; public tion of conservation pro- based at KRCA. involvement; and collabora- jects. The Friends of KRCA tion with other organiza- are a very active group who

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Volume 1, Issue 1 P a g e 3

The Liesbeek Maintenance Project

ocean at Salt River. It has been previously disadvantaged back- highly impacted by urbanisation, but grounds. still acts as a natural „green‟ corridor The general maintenance of the river for the movement of fauna and flora includes weekly litter cleanups, trim- species and boasts a wonderful river ming vegetation found hanging over trail along most sections. the path and canalised sections of The Liesbeek Maintenance Project the river; removal of alien invasive (LMP) was set up by Friends of the vegetation, painting out graffiti, and Liesbeek Maintenance team stabilising the river Liesbeek (FoL) in 2005. The objec- soil erosion control. banks tives of the project are to create In order to increase the scope of The Liesbeek is an important histori- awareness of conservation and reha- work we require funding for: wages to cal and ecological river that runs bilitated as an environmental, aes- work five days a week, extra staff, from its source, on the eastern thetic, recreational and educational tools and equipment (brush cutter slopes of , through asset for all – now and in the future. and chainsaw), GPS, a vehicle and a nine suburbs until it joins the Black Secondly to provide training and computer. (Author: J Cooper) River at Raapenberg and enters the development of skills for people from

The SSS Environmental Education Initiative

The SSS Environmental Edu- area. This was done in con- cation initiative aims to offer junction with the City of Cape quality environmental educa- Town‟s decision to enhance tion programmes and out- and refine their Environ- reach experiences to the mental Education projects. communities within and sur- As the programmes are all rounding the southern new, our work has been fo- suburbs. cused on offering schools a Our focus is on curriculum- quality and enjoyable learning based, topic driven experience. programmes, which include We now run programmes engaging, hands on activities from a number of the SSS that convey key messages of sites, as well as in schools; the values of biodiversity and covering a variety of curricu- ways in which we can affect lum based topics to suit the change in our lives. groups‟ needs. We wish for learners to recon- Environmental Education at SSS. Currently all the programmes nect with the natural world, to are free of charge and this be filled with wonderment would not be possible without and excitement about the In addition, CTEET handles the support of our partner little things in life, and for this the project‟s finances, as we “Our work is organisations, such as to translate into positive atti- frequently receive donations Friends groups and other focused on tudes of change and compas- from the groups we work stakeholders. sion for our environment. with. Due to the fact that our offering schools a CTEET has been a great sup- programmes are free of Since the beginning of 2011, port, assisting with staff provi- charge, we are in great need quality and Skye Marks (Projects Coordi- sioning from fellow projects of equipment sponsorship nator, KRCA) took over the and guidance from col- and donations to allow the enjoyable learning responsibility of coordinating leagues. project to continue and experience” and developing the environ- flourish. (Author: S Marks) mental education of the SSS

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P a g e 4 Greater Princess C a p e T o w n Vlei Conservation

The Greater Princess Vlei (endangered) and Cape Clearing was under- Conservation Area (GPVCA) Flats Sand Fynbos (critically taken by a passionate is a portion of City of Cape endangered). company which re- Town (CCT) owned land, moved the entire weed managed by the City Parks As with the BioNet, the mat manually using department. The main fea- GPVCA is in the process of specialised tools and a tures of the conservation undergoing a systematic system of floats and area are undoubtedly its two GPVCA: Before Clearing planning approach in con- ropes over a two wetlands: Princess Vlei and currence with the implemen- month period. It is Little Princess Vlei. tation of work on the ground hoped, apart from the such as data collection and These vleis are connected environmental bene- invasive species clearing permanently by groundwater fits, that it may also programmes. and by an overflow canal serve as a model and system during flooding The most successful of encourage City Parks events. which has been the removal to carry forward a bio- of water hyacinth from the diversity minded man- These small urban wetlands GPVCA: Hyacinth Clearing Team Princess Vlei inlet. A system are surrounded by the sub- agement approach to of floating booms used to urbs of Grassy Park, South- its other sites, espe- contain the hyacinth for field, Heathfield and Retreat cially those on the ease of removal and to limit on the Cape Flats. Vegeta- CCT‟s BioNet. its spread into the rest of tion types include Cape Low- (Author: G Smith) the water body. land Freshwater Wetlands, Cape Flats Dune Strandveld

from GPVCA: After Clearing

Muizenberg East Site Cluster

When residential areas were Psoralea glaucina, is one of the begin planned in Muizenberg, last viable populations on the Environmental Impact Assess- Cape Flats. ments (EIA‟s) ear marked ar- One of our long term plans is to eas that were worth persever- join the coastal strip with Sun- ing for conservation, which rise Villas to reduce the alien created stepping stones be- vegetation in the coastal strip tween the lager nature reserve. Water Thick-knee (Burhinus vermiculatus) and to control wild fires. These areas are inside of com- The sites are managed by a site plex developments, they are manager and in partnership Soralia Village, Sunrise Villas Map: MEPNR with the Biodiversity section of and South Break. Within these the City of Cape Town and complexes is conservation CTEET. land: The main need for this project is  Soralia Conservation Area more funding to employ labour inside Soralia Village. staff. At the moment, there is  Muizenberg East Private Na- only a site manager and there ture Reserve inside South needs to be more hands so that Break. alien clearing can take place  Sunrise Villa. and general maintenance on each site. Each site has biodiversity im- (Author: M van Heerden) portance, such as, Soralia

Arial photograph: Soralia Park Park, which was named after the endangered Arum Lilly Frog (Hyperolius horstockii)

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Volume 1, Issue 1 P a g e 5

Strandfontein Birding Area Project

The current Strandfontein Birding someone with a Nature Conservation Treatment Works (CFWWTW) for habitats Area project was started in 2004 by back ground to manage the area. for birds, particularly water birds, as well the Cape Bird Club (the Julie te Groen as providing jobs and training (if funds are Strandfontein Birding Area has also Trust Fund) and the City of Cape available) to members of the local commu- played host to three members of the Town, with the Nature Conservation nities. Skills Development Team. An initiative Corporation (NCC) acting as the the that provides 12 unskilled and unem- pay role administrators in 2004. Since ployed people from the local community 2008 the pay role administration was with a job for two years and training in taken over by the Cape Town Environ- certain skills e.g. Chainsaw / brush cut- mental Education Trust Fund (CTEET). ter competency, basic fire fighting, first The Julie te Groen Trust Fund was left aid level 1 and 3 etc... by Mrs. te Groen to improve the habi- The Strandfontein Birding Area project tat at Strandfontein Birding Area. The focuses on the conservation manage- Cape Bird Club thought that the best ment of the pans and surrounding land Bird information Centre Mural. was to do this would be to employ of the Cape Flats Waste Water

Successes: W i s h l i s t : “This is  Clearing water hyacinth  Funding arranged  Tools: binoculars, an example (Eichhornia crassipes) to through the CBC to electric motor for of a a manageable level in employ a foreman for boat, working chain- pans & infected canals. one year (2010). saws and weed project  Catching an escaped  Strandfontein Birding eaters, an extra with few hippo from Rondevlei Area hosted a success- vehicle. (Zorro). ful hike round the  Materials for new resources  Terrestrial alien False Bay Ecology Park infrastructure (bird clearing. with a local church hides, fishing plat- but yet group.Secure funding forms, board walk  Setting up a Bird Infor- for site manager. etc.). many mation Centre.  Secure funding for Building on three achievemen  field staff and fore- fishing & birding Plat- Birding Platform & staff man. removing water hyacinth ts” forms platforms.

FRIENDS OF ZEEKOEVLEI AND RONDEVLEI

The FRIENDS OF ZEEKOEVLEI FoZR was granted R120 000- in AND RONDEVLEI group (FoZR) from the City of Cape Town in partnership with CTEET. is an apolitical, community- order to establish links within FoZR is in the process of fund- based organization that aims the communities of Pelican ing labour for the clean up of to promote local environ- Park and Vrygrond. This was Von Blommenstein Park (part mental interests. achieved by appointing two of Zeekoevlei Nature Reserve) community conservation offi- Its focus is to assist local again in partnership with cers who were tasked to es- authorities with the protection CTEET and we look forward to tablish the existence of the of our unique biodiversity, many more such projects in nature reserves as well as to especially the much- the future. bring environmental educa- threatened sand plain fynbos, tion to those communities. through creating public awareness and assisting with FoZR also contributes towards efforts to eradicate alien the salary of an Assistant invasive species Education Officer based at Clearing of Von Blommenstein Park

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P a g e 6 Cape Flats Tourism C a p e T o w n and Environmental Development Association

The first 3 years as a pilot The main objective is to So far the project has built many project in the Environmental strengthen the environ- relationships with the commu- Resource Management De- mental conservation ap- nity, surrounding business and partment, the Project will be proach and to emphasize law enforcement officials etc called “Wolfgat / Macassar the need to broadly distrib- this will assist in the combined Dunes Nature Reserve Eco- ute local benefits as incen- management and growth of the Tourism Project”. tives for conservation or to project. Volunteers building a braai support the activities that is Initiated and been devel- Details: provided as alternatives to oped by a Nature Conserva- Nature Conservation unsustainable actions. tion Reserve Community (o) 021 392 5134 Partner, but managed by us, Deliver net benefits to the Weltevreden Road “Cape Flats TEDA”. It will poor as a goal itself. The (c) 079 349 7831 cover a variety of recrea- environmental objectives Rocklands tional activities, environ- are just one part of projects (f) 086 613 3892 mental education, guided focus areas; another priority Ecotourism facility (braai are) walks, camping, horse rid- is to increase local people‟s (e) [email protected] ing, etc… involvement in Eco-Tourism and Biodiversity. This project was created to lay out a foundation and to For this project to achieve find the eco-tourism poten- its goals, it requires equip- tial for the nature reserves ment, budget for skill devel- in the Western Cape opment as well as over all project funding.

Evaluation of the dunes

Working on Fire

Combating the scourge that is And the W.o.F, Falsebay Fire Fighters or “Hippo Hot- The team was stationed on a uncontrolled wildfire in our natu- shots” were born, cull de sac high up on the ral areas and mountains during using impoverished members from the local commu- slope of the mountain where the summer months, has always nities. The Hippo Hotshots assist Nature Conserva- several houses were under been synonymous with Nature tion with active wildfire fighting, ecological control down the slope were lost to Conservation within the City of burns and fire suppression. the inferno. Cape Town‟s borders. During November of 2008 a massive wildfire struck One resident whose house

the Kogelberg mountain range in gale force winds had been saved was so grate- This dangerous, though exciting and within hours, properties in Gordons Bay were ful that she donated activity dominates all other pri- under threat. R25000.00 to the Nature orities during the hot, windy Care Fund for the Hippo Hot- summer months and has enor- shots for protective equip- mous cost implications for the ment, uniforms, ad hoc City‟s in both manpower and equipment and of course a costly protective equipment. legendary end of fire season

“thank you” braai. The same In 2008 the City of Cape Town, resident in 2009 after receiv- Nature Conservation and Work- ing a letter of thanks for the ing on Fire (W.o.F), a govern- donation then donated a ment poverty elevation scheme, further R25000.00 for the came together and formed a team. partnership.

2008 Kogelberg Mountain fire

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Volume 1, Issue 1 P a g e 7

Friends of the Helderberg Nature Reserve

The Mike Woods Environmental Edu- The EEC project has the potential to  Take over the running of the EEC Centre cation Centre (EEC), located centrally become a vibrant, effective instrument in line with the currently centers' under within the Reserve, was created in of change, providing world-class educa- the CoCT‟s control. Provide a career path for the existing 1986 by the Friends of Helderberg tional opportunities within the heart of  EEC staff. Nature Reserve to provide education an area where rapid and uncontrolled  Follow an agreed education programme for underprivileged children. development threatens the natural envi- set out and maintained by CoCT ronment. Groups of school children are brought To this end the Friends and the City of into the EEC where they learn about To realise this vision, the EEC project Cape Town approached CTEET as the ad- the reserve, the animals and plants in needs financial support and the Helder- ministrator for this project and as of 1 it, using a variety of activities and berg Friends request the City of Cape March 2011 the Education staff have educational aids. Over the past 10 Town considers taking over the running been administered through CTEET. The years, the EEC has grown tremen- of the EEC Centre partially or totally to project partnership continues to grow high- dously and has provided Environ- achieve the following objectives: lighting the need for sustainable funding mental Education for ever increasing into the future. numbers of learners.

Young Professionals Programme

Phase one: KRCA Phase two: Zeep

The Young Professionals Pro- Over this period, she has What is still needed to achieve "Education is gramme is run by the Table worked at the Kenilworth the projects main aims (e.g. Mountain Fund. Racecourse Conservation Money, staff, Equipment etc) the key to Area and attendee numerous The Cape Town Environmental As set out at the beginning of training courses. With these unlock the Education Trust has assisted in Ms. Ally‟s work placement, all courses and work experience, placing a young professional for development objectives have golden door of Farha has greatly broadened a period of 26 months. The been achieved. We would like to her skills and made a positive freedom." main aim of this programme is thank the Table Mountain Fund difference in the functioning to assist and skill young profes- and WWF for allowing the Cape George of the Trust. sionals in the work place. This Town Environmental Education Washington includes a specially drawn up The Cape Town Environ- Trust to host Farha Ally and take budget dedicated to training, mental Education Trust has part in this wonderful initiative. Carver salaries and equipment. provided office space, work We wish her all the best for her experience, and mentorship The young professional is also future and hope that she contin- from many skilled individuals. required to attend workshops ues to Change Lives Through and training run by WWF and Over this period, Ms Ally‟s Nature. the Table Mountain Fund. direct mentors included Maya Beukes and Mark Ogilvie. She The TMF Young Professional has also had access to many Programme has allowed Ms all staff from the City of Cape Farha Ally to be placed with the Town and the Cape Town Cape Town Environmental Edu- Environmental Education cation Trust since June 2009. Trust.

Ms F Ally Page 7

P a g e 8 C a p e T o w n

Grand west sponsorship

In 2008 GrandWest CSI CTEET has also assisted The fact that GrandWest generously became a partner GrandWest CSI with the Elsies CSI has graciously with the Trust by granting River Cleanup project and partnered with us shows CTEET camp sponsorship to sponsored a few trees to that their hearts are in the the value of R100 000.00. beautify the banks of the river. right place and that they Grand West CSI has truly been truly have the interest of The aim was to offer an a blessing to the environ- the community at heart. environmental experience to mental education programme the most underprivileged As an international corpo- and we look forward to making young people on the Cape ration they really do not them proud in the future. Flats in a radius of 70km need to interact with a around GrandWest. Without partnerships , like the small NGO such as CTEET, above mentioned, it would be but we are honoured that From then on, GrandWest CSI impossible to fulfill our they have the foresight has been a principal contribu- mandate to the City of Cape and the environmental tor to the Trust and to date has Town and to the poorest of the conscience to do so. afforded more than 5000 poor to afford environmental young people from Khayelit- Our heartfelt thanks and education to members of the sha, Phillipi, Grassy Park, Lotus the thanks of all the chil- community that would other- River, Mitchells Plain, Manra, dren and young people wise be excluded from such West coast and Langa a life who‟s lives they have activities. changing environmental touched go out the Grand- experience. West CSI team and man- Grand west Sponsored camps agement.

CITY OF CAPE TOWN Sponsorships

The Cape Town Environmental It is because of people like This allocation was specifi- Education Trust has a very good Joanne Jackson that we are cally to run camps for four relationship with the City of able to fully realise our secondary schools namely Cape Town, particularly with the potential at environmental Zeekoevlei, Pelican Park, Environmental Resource Man- educators and to make a and Grassy Park agement Department. positive impact on the lives Secondary Schools. We of those less fortunate received very positive re- With the aid of a very dynamic children. sponses from all the schools person in the form of Joanne and they were very grateful Jackson, The trust was granted WARD ALLOCATIONS for the opportunity afforded funds to afford underprivileged The Cape Town Environ- them. children an environmental ex- mental Education Trust has perience that changed their The Cape Town Environ- bee the recipient of two lives. The children that bene- mental Education Trust truly very generous Ward alloca- fited from these experiences values the good relationship tions. These allocation came from Grassy Park, Lotus that it has with the City of were used to run camps for Rives, Vrygrond and informal Cape Town and with its particular school which fell settlements surrounding the Councillors. The fact that within that ward. The first Rondevlei and Zeekoevlei Na- elect to grant funds to the was from the fishhook sub ture Reserves. education programme is council to the value of R witness to the fact that we The response from the campers 11 000.00 thanks Council- are fulfilling our obligation was overwhelmingly positive lor Demetry Qually and his to the City and to the poor and a fun and education experi- team. The second was from people on the Cape Flats to ence was had by all. the Rondevlei sub council Change Lives Through to the value of R88 000.00 Nature. CoCT Sponsored camps

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WE ARE ON THE WEB! WWW.CTEET.CO.ZA

The purpose of the trust is to provide a means for conservation conscious If you would like to make a donation or contribute to the work done please feel individuals and companies to have a free to engage with us: positive impact on the environment through: Primary Business Address: 1 , Westlake 7945  Protection of endangered fauna and Peninsula Road. Grassy Park flora on Public and private land. Zeekoevlei 7941  provision of growth opportunities for Phone: 021- 7130510 Fax: 086 5400 326 recently graduated conservators. E-mail: [email protected]  Providing environmental education Bank Details: programmes and engaging with the CAPE TOWN ENVIRONMENTAL local communicate. EDUCATION TRUST Bank : Standard Bank Acc No : 272120456 “Changing Lives Trough Nature” Cheque Account

Working in conjunction w i t h :

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