So much has happened since we last communicated - and yet there is still so much one can do!  
Within the last year I would like to touch on the highlights of what we have achieved and what projects are currently being implemented:

1) Money makes the world go around...

Within 2009 the Biosphere has secured over R2 687 140.00 in project and operational financing.  This is used either for specific projects or office operational expenditure.

Funders, and therefore thanks go to,  the Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund; Global Environment Fund-Small Grants Fund; Department of Agriculture; Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning; SANBI CREW; City of Cape Town; WWF Table Mountain Fund;  World Bank; Development Bank of Southern Africa and a host of others  - either through funding or through technical support so that things happen!

2) Conservation Stewardship Officer position secured for 3 years

WWF Table Mountain Fund has partnered with the Biosphere to fund this position.  The main objectives of this position, held by Rhett Smart is to secure an Industrial Biodiversity Corridor within which critically endangered vegetation will be protected.  If successful this will be a first internationally, and will certainly go a long way in building a bridge between socioeconomic development; industry and conservation.  An explosive and exciting partnership no doubt!  Further objectives include working with landowners within the region to secure stewardship on priority sites.  What I truly appreciate this latter objective is that CapeNature is putting their money where their mouth is and tax rebates for landowners have been shown to be worthwhile within the current credit crunch climate!

3) Economics....

We are forging ahead to secure R3 million investment for the Trails and Tourism Programme (read about it within the website) and we hope to launch these products within early 2010 and bring tourism opportunities to the region for the benefit of all.  Landowner willingness for our organized tour groups to traverse their land has been amazing and we hope that strong partnerships can develop through this, certainly benefiting not only the landowners, but 8 communities within the region as well.  During November we are doing a trial run of two of these trails with Fiona McIntosh-the editor of Out There and Slackpacking Southern Africa as well as Frank Dwyer-CEO of the website Slackpacker South Africa, and we hope to get Bun Booyens -the editor of Weg and Eben Human from Die Burger: Buite Reis to join us!

We have also secured funding for other Section 21 companies within the CWCBR for their projects and will continue to do so to benefit communities at a local level.  

4) Education and Interns

The CWCBR has taken over 600 children on three day camps in 2009 - either sponsored by the City of Cape Town through their Yes Programme, or by Department of Agriculture: LandCare.  These camps include a range of educational components ranging from hiking up Table Mountain on the People's Trail; visiting the Fossil Park; the San Cultural Project !Khwa Ttu; the West Coast National Park to name a few sites!  The children learn a range of topics from HIV/Aids; leadership skills; hands on experience and training in  identifying and clearing alien vegetation; water management; soil management; medicinal and herbal plants and how to use them; food gardening etc.

We have also secured an education officer, (once again all thanks to WWF Table Mountain Fund) Michelle Baatjies for the next 2 years and her role will be to facilitate, co-ordinate and raise awareness of all our stakeholders - including you, on sustainable lifestyles, industry, schools, landowners; tourism establishments; municipalities and everyone living within the Biosphere Reserve!

We have had a string of amazing interns but currently we have Dikeledi Seoloana from the Limpopo region and Jan Krebs from Germany - read more about them and what they are up to within the website...

5) Planning and development

Our second flagship project is the Spatial Development Plan - with funding made available from the Provincial Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning- and to be used by planners, financiers of development such as Nedbank, Standard Bank, ABSA and all our other banks, developers and municipalities so that we can ensure that development happens where it should!  The plan identifies no-go areas as well as go areas for development. It also identifies key projects that are happening in the region and how stakeholders can work together to make them even more effective.  

6) Membership

This has been a long road - but one that will hopefully be so great that every individual living in the Biosphere Reserve will feel like they are "out" if they are NOT a member! Here we have been looking at membership packages that actually offers value to members either in the form of financial means, lifestyle, additional business or just a much needed getaway weekend at a fantastic destination within the Biosphere Reserve.

The Membership program accommodates both the needs of commercial entities and private individuals and offers distinctive value to each membership category.

We believe that the success of our membership program will be build upon on reciprocal benefit flow between the Biosphere Reserve and the members.

These are just some of our highlights for this year - there have been so many more, but let us stay connected so that we can tell you more - and if you wish to chat to us directly or perhaps be involved, we welcome your call.