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Strategic Direction 2:
Promote innovative private sector and community involvement in conservation in landscapes surrounding biodiversity corridors

Baviaanskloof Community Beekeeping Project
Via a community beekeeping project, provide opportunities for job creation and the creation of small enterprises to local community members in the Baviaanskloof Mega-Reserve. Train 10 community members as beekeepers to allow them to produce products from honey that in turn will provide them with an income and improve their socioeconomic status.

Amount $16,968
Grant Term 12/06 - 11/08
Grantee Wilderness Foundation – South Africa
Project Documents - Final report, (PDF - 30 KB)

Empowering Local Communities along the Baviaanskloof Route: Training in Tourism and SMME development
Provide training opportunities to 50 community members who live and work in the five geographic areas that make up the sub-routes of the Baviaanskloof Tourism Route, an initiative of the Baviaanskloof Mega-Reserve.  Empower these individuals with knowledge so they can benefit from the development of nature-based tourism as a result of the expansion of the reserve.

Amount $14,967
Grant Term 12/06 - 11/08
Grantee Wilderness Foundation – South Africa
Project Documents - Final report, (PDF - 24 KB)

Greenline 24º15’ E Trail Project
Assist private landowners in establish a hiking trail along the shortest route between two of the most extreme ecosystems in the country (arid interior karoo and moist coastal forest as well as critical lowland fynbos). The six-day-long trail will help promote innovative private sector and community involvement in conserving landscapes around the Baviaanskloof Mega-reserve.

Amount $915
Grant Term 12/06 - 11/08
Grantee Eersterivier Projects Organization
Project Documents - The final report is unavailable for this project.

Green Futures on the Cape Flats
Assess the feasibility of applying the Green Futures model on the Cape Flats in a way that restores two priority sites in the City of Cape Town’s Biodiversity Network – the Edith Stephens Wetland Park and Harmony Flats Nature Reserve – to full ecological integrity, supported by off-site urban ecological corridor linkages, by developing the capacity and entrepreneurship of unemployed urban people in indigenous horticulture and landscaping.

Amount $19,998
Grant Term 12/06 - 06/07
Grantee Grootbos Green Futures Foundation
Project Documents - Final report (PDF - 261 KB)

Baviaanskloof Decision-Makers Trails
Introduce decisionmakers from local communities, youth, and municipal leaders in the region to the Baviaanskloof Megareserve via eight guided wilderness trails. A skilled wilderness guide will mentor local community guides as part of the initiative.

Amount $5,067
Grant Term 12/06 - 06/09
Grantee Wilderness Foundation – South Africa
Project Documents - Final report, English (PDF - 40 KB)

Walk With Me Indigenous Forest Trails/Hamba Nam Indigenous Forest Trails
Establish a guided hiking trail in partnership with the South African National Parks in the indigenous forest surrounding Karatara Forestry Village, a previously disadvantaged rural community adjacent to the indigenous Knysna State Forest.

Amount $4,000
Grant Term 12/06 - 12/07
Grantee Walk With Me / Hamba Nam
Project Documents - Final report (PDF - 23 KB)

Greater Cederberg Biodiversity Corridor Biodiversity and Business Program
Help develop and grow biodiversity and business processes to secure biodiversity conservation targets in the Greater Cederberg Biodiversity Corridor. Engage the rooibos potato, and 4x4 industries to develop and endorse best practice guidelines, and to develop and implement sustainable management systems and production models.

Amount $135,000
Grant Term 12/06 - 01/09
Grantee CapeNature (formerly Western Cape Nature Conservation Board)
Project Documents - Final report, English (PDF - 66 KB)

Elim Botanical Garden, Endemic Nursery, and Natural Corridors to Geelkop Nature Reserve
Develop a concept and implementation plan for an endemic botanical garden. The project includes conducting a feasibility study for a proposed nursery for endemic species, in particular for rare fynbos plants; rehabilitating Geelkop Nature Reserve and the natural corridor between the reserve and the proposed botanical garden; and mainstreaming biodiversity corridor management into the provincial road maintenance program.

Amount $20,000
Grant Term 12/06 - 05/08
Grantee Protea Permaculture
Project Documents - Final report (PDF - 45 KB)

Feasibility Study and Management Plan in Support of the Re-opening of Gamkaskloof Donkey Route as a Guided Heritage Walk
Conduct a feasibility study and prepare an implementation plan for the Gamkaskloof Donkey Route in Calitzdorp District in the Western Cape. The route starts in Groenfontein and crosses Swartberg Mountain in the Little Karoo (a proclaimed World Heritage Site) to “The Hell” in Gamkaskloof.  This project will contribute to making the World Heritage Site accessible to the public, through partnerships, by reinstating cultural-historical practices and creating employment for local communities, while making private conservation land a financial viable entity.

Amount $20,000
Grant Term 12/06 - 01/08
Grantee Calbitz Holdings
Project Documents - Final report (PDF - 18 KB)
Related News and Information Web site: Project Web Site

Developing a Wild Rooibos Business Strategy for Sustainable Marketing
Support the Wupperthal Rooibos Association and the Heiveld Co-operative to develop sustainable harvesting strategies for wild rooibos and ensure that the strategies are followed by all harvesters and are monitored at a processing facility.

Amount $20,000
Grant Term 12/06 - 12/08
Grantee Environmental Monitoring Group
Project Documents - Final report, English (PDF – 22.8 KB)

Custodians of Rare and Endangered Wildflowers Phase 2
Conserve threatened plants and habitats in the Mamre region on the west coast of the Cape Floristic Region by involving local civil society in sampling priority areas and monitoring threatened plants. Support the local community to develop conservation livelihoods, in particular those related to tourism.

Amount $29,990
Grant Term 12/06 - 05/09
Grantee South African National Biodiversity Institute
Project Documents - Final report, English (PDF - 131 KB)
Related News and Information - Newsletter: CREW News,  Vol. 2 November 2006, (PDF - 1.4 MB)
- Newsletter: News from the Bredasdorp, (PDF - 183 KB)

Linking Landowners and Small Businesses with Gamebird Conservation and Sustainable Use in Threatened Habitats in the Cape Floristic Region
Assess whether managing renosterveld for gamebirds is beneficial to overall biodiversity and ecosystem functioning in renosterveld patches. Investigate strategies for optimizing habitats for Cape spurfowl and greywing francolin within renosterveld patches in the lowlands of the Overberg, as well as the potential for commercial harvesting of gamebirds as an incentive for landowners to alter land management practices.

Amount $20,000
Grant Term 11/06 - 09/07
Grantee Odette Curtis
Project Documents - Final report (PDF - 155 KB)

Eden to Addo Corridor Initiative
Establish a biodiversity conservation corridor through land management agreements within the area of private land stretching from the District Municipality of Eden to Greater Addo National Park. Activities include establishing partnerships, securing landowner support, and identifying and setting up pilot sites for stewardship.

Amount $70,000
Grant Term 05/06 - 12/08
Grantee Eden to Addo Corridor Initiative
Project Documents - Final report, English (PDF – 95 KB)
Related News and Information - Newsletter: Eden to Addo Corridor Initiative, Winter 2007, (PDF - 256 KB)

Implementation of the Cape West Coast Biosphere Reserve Strategic Plan and Business Plan
Establish a project management unit to prepare a business plan and an awareness strategy, and facilitate economic development in the local communities in and around the Cape West Coast Biosphere Reserve. The reserve was established in the early 1990s, and became a biosphere reserve in 2000.

Amount $100,000
Grant Term 03/06 - 09/08
Grantee Cape West Coast Biosphere Reserve Company
Project Documents - Final report (PDF - 150 KB)

Baviaanskloof East Conservancy Land-use Conversion Strategy
Pilot the land-use conversion from active citrus and fruit farming to a tourism-driven conservation economy in the 1,150-hectare Baviaanskloof East Conservancy, located at Cambria, the eastern gateway to the Baviaanskloof Mega-reserve.

Amount $20,000
Grant Term 12/05 - 07/06
Grantee Landmark Foundation
Project Documents - No final report is available for this project.

Conserving Biodiversity and Enhancing Livelihoods in the Small-Scale Rooibos Tea Production Areas of the Northern and Western Cape, South Africa
Promote methods of production of rooibos tea (Aspalathus linearis) from endemic subspecies that are environmentally, socially, and economically sustainable within a program of participatory research, education, and institution building.

Amount $69,929
Grant Term 07/05 - 12/08
Grantee Environmental Monitoring Group
Project Documents - Final report, English (PDF - 43 KB)
Related News and Information - Story: Time for Tea!, October 2006

Greater Cederberg Biodiversity Corridor Small Grants Fund
Promote private sector and community involvement in conservation in the Greater Cederberg Biodiversity Corridor via a small grants program that will support innovative, high-priority biodiversity actions within the corridor.

Amount $32,000
Grant Term 07/05 - 09/07
Grantee CapeNature (formerly Western Cape Nature Conservation Board)
Project Documents - Final report (PDF - 52 KB)
Related News and Information - Newsletter: The Cape Leopard Trust, June 2007, (PDF - 178 KB) / The Cape Leopard Trust, April 2007 (PDF - 37 KB)
- Story: Time for Tea!, October 2006

Equator Ventures
Support the pilot phase of Equator Ventures, a partnership initiative with UNDP's Equator Initiative. Implement loan and technical assistance packages to small- to medium-sized enterprises benefiting biodiversity and local communities, and monitor biodiversity results.

Amount $10,581
Grant Term 06/05 - 03/09
Grantee Conservation International
Project Documents - Final report, English (PDF - 94 KB)
Related News and Information - Web site: Equator Ventures Web site 
- Learn more about this project in the Eco-Index
- Para aprender más sobre este proyecto, visite el Eco-Index

The Gouritz Initiative: Securing Biodiversity and Harnessing Social and Economic Opportunities in Key Corridors
Establish a functional project management mechanism for the Gouritz Initiative that is fully integrated with CapeNature and larger stakeholder and government structures. Conduct priority actions in the megareserve, including implementing CapeNature’s land consolidation/stewardship strategy in four key corridors. Promote private sector initiatives that complement biodiversity conservation, and secure long-term funding.

Amount $237,490
Grant Term 05/05 - 03/09
Grantee CapeNature (formerly Western Cape Nature Conservation Board)
Project Documents - Final report, English (PDF - 414 KB)

Baviaans Conservancy: Feasibility Study to Investigate the Conversion of Land Use from Small Stock Farming to Sustainable Biodiversity-Based Ventures
Investigate the possibility of converting land use amongst members of the Baviaans Conservancy located in the northern foothills of the Baviaanskloof Mountains from small-stock farming to other sustainable biodiversity-based ventures, such as tourism, game ranching and conservation.

Amount $37,300
Grant Term 01/05 - 12/05
Grantee Baviaans Conservancy
Project Documents - Final report (PDF - 240 KB)

Development of a Business Plan for a Donkey Trekking Route in the Northern Cederberg
Conduct a feasibility study and develop a business plan for a donkey trekking route between the Pakhuis Pass and Heuningvlei, within the Cederberg Biodiversity Corridor. This ecotourism initiative will generate employment for local communities and provide an incentive to protect the biodiversity of the area.

Amount $485
Grant Term 11/04 - 06/05
Grantee The Wupperthal Conservancy
Project Documents - No final report is available for this project.

Western Baviaanskloof Initiative Community Planning Process
Provide the Western Baviaanskloof Community with opportunities to come together to develop a broad community response to the Baviaanskloof Megareserve Project and to facilitate a constructive engagement with the Baviaanskloof Megareserve Project Management Unit.

Amount $3,500
Grant Term 11/04 - 05/05
Grantee Western Baviaanskloof Initiative
Project Documents - Final report (PDF - 21.9 KB)

The Biodiversity & Wine Initiative
Minimize further loss of threatened natural habitat in the Cape Floristic Region, and contribute to sustainable wine-producing practices through the adoption of biodiversity guidelines by the South African wine industry.

Amount $117,000
Grant Term 10/04 - 12/06
Grantee The South African Wine & Brandy Company
Project Documents - Final report (PDF - 68 KB)
Related News and Information - Newsletter: Biodiversity & Wine Initiative, Vol. 2 Issue 2 July 2007 (PDF - 1.68 MB) / Vol. 2 Issue 1 January 2007 (PDF - 1.6 MB) / Vol. 1 Issue 1 September 2006 (PDF)
- Document: Lessons Learnt by the Biodiversity & Wine Initiative During the 2004-2006 Pilot Phase, December 2006 (PDF - 49 KB) 
- Story: Wines, Mines and Sustainable Development, June 2005
- Web site: Biodiversity & Wine Initiative Web site

Turning Duineveld Eco-Threat Into Profitable Employment: Phase 1 - Development of a Business Plan
Address threats to biodiversity by exploring means to remove alien species and increase employment opportunities in the Cape Floristic Region through a firewood-cutting scheme. Focus efforts in this first phase by preparing a business plan and action plan for the rural coastal area from Gouritsmond to Jongensfontein in the southern region.

Amount $1,967
Grant Term 07/04 - 09/04
Grantee Duineveld Coastal Association
Project Documents - Final report (PDF - 66.3 KB)

Baviaans Conservancy: Feasibility Study for the Conversion of Land Use from Small Stock Farming to Sustainable Biodiversity-Based Ventures in the Baviaanskloof Area
Evaluate the Baviaans Conservancy area to determine current and future land use potential in the area, conduct a financial feasibility study for the area and prepare a business plan that will focus on the transition from small stock farming to game and tourism-based ventures. The project will address landowners of this 52,000-hectare conservancy, which adjoins the Baviaanskloof Wilderness Area.

Amount $0
Grant Term 11/03 - 05/04
Grantee Wilderness Foundation
Project Documents - No final report is available for this project.

Mainstreaming Biodiversity on the Cape Flats: Building Good Practice in Sustainable Management
Achieve good practice in sustainable management of sites in the City of Cape Town. It will first achieve this at four pilot sites - the Edith Stephens Wetland Park, Harmony Flats Nature Reserve, Macassar Dunes and Wolfgat Nature Reserve - selected for their diversity of vegetation type as well as their location in the midst of poor black townships. Lessons learned at these pilot sites will be shared broadly, and the project seeks to develop and initiate the implementation of a strategy to roll out good practice to the rest of the City's biodiversity network that ensures connectivity between sites and links them within catchments and along coastlines.

Amount $371,328
Grant Term 10/03 - 09/07
Grantee South African National Biodiversity Institute
Project Documents - Final report (PDF - 88 KB)
Related News and Information - Document: Partnership brochure (PDF - 2.34 MB)
- Story: Urban Conservation Leads to Hope in the Cape, December 2005

Promoting and Marketing Flower Valley Conservation Trust - Biodiversity-Based Small Business Development Initiative
Promote a sustainable and best practice approach to harvesting indigenous flowers for local and international markets as an economically viable and competitive alternative to intensive agriculture. The Flower Valley Conservation Trust, an alliance of an historically disadvantaged local community and the private sector, will also work to empower previously disadvantaged people through adopting a partnership approach to business co-management. Francois Odendaal Productions will create promotional and marketing awareness materials as part of the project.

Amount $10,000
Grant Term 04/03 - 03/04
Grantee Flower Valley Conservation Trust
Project Documents - Final report (PDF - 96.7 KB)

Sustainable Utilization: A Tool for Managers and Workers in the Cape Floristic Region
Promote innovative private sector and community involvement in landscapes in the Cape Floristic Region via an easy to understand handbook on sustainable harvesting of fynbos plants, and a series of workshops designed to raise awareness about sustainable harvesting practices among target audiences in the region.

Amount $16,500
Grant Term 04/03 - 12/04
Grantee South African Protea Producers and Exporters Association
Project Documents - Final report (PDF - 658 KB)

C.A.P.E. Threatened Plants Program
Promote conservation awareness and engender stewardship of threatened plant species through the involvement of civil society in data collection, information sharing and the management of key conservation sites identified by the C.A.P.E. Lowlands Project. Build capacity among at least six civil society groups to work with decisionmakers, landowners and local government to ensure the continued survival of threatened species within their regions.

Amount $312,359
Grant Term 03/03 - 04/07
Grantee South African National Biodiversity Institute
Project Documents - Final report (PDF - 61 KB)

Building a Global Constituency for Biodiversity Conservation
Implement a series of targeted public awareness and education campaigns in nine hotspots in Africa, Asia and Latin America. Campaign leaders participate in an intensive training course at the UK's Kent University or Mexico's Guadalajara University, prepare detailed plans to implement campaigns, link with a local organization in their region and commit to a minimum of two years with that organization.

Amount $306,747
Grant Term 01/03 - 03/08
Grantee Conservation International ($96,896 grant), Rare ($209,851 grant)
Project Documents - Final report, English (PDF - 70 KB)
Related News and Information - Story: Partners in Peñablanca, June 2006
Lesson Learned, September 2005
- Pride campaign index
- Story: Marketing Social Change, November 2004
- Story: Students Get Off to Strong Start for Conservation Education, August 2003

Building a Global Constituency for Biodiversity Conservation
Implement a series of targeted public awareness and education campaigns in nine hotspots in Africa, Asia and Latin America. Campaign leaders participate in an intensive training course at the UK's Kent University or Mexico's Guadalajara University, prepare detailed plans to implement campaigns, link with a local organization in their region and commit to a minimum of two years with that organization.

Amount $306,747
Grant Term 12/02 - 06/07
Grantee Conservation International ($96,896 grant), Rare ($209,851 grant)
Project Documents - Final report (PDF - 529 KB)
Related News and Information - Story: Partners in Peñablanca, June 2006
- Lesson Learned, September 2005
- Pride campaign index
- Story: Marketing Social Change, November 2004
- Story: Students Get Off to Strong Start for Conservation Education, August 2003

Partnerships, Cooperative Management and Incentives to Secure Biodiversity Conservation in Priority Areas in the Cape Floristic Region
Use cooperative management models and incentive schemes to promote private conservation initiative and empower civil society and develop an Incentives Action Team and a cooperative management and incentives database.

Amount $251,963
Grant Term 07/02 - 09/04
Grantee Botanical Society of South Africa
Project Documents - Final report (PDF - 306 KB)
Related News and Information - Lesson Learned, August 2005
- Story: Conservation Stewardship in South Africa: Landowners to Lead the Way, December 2003
- Document: Landowner negotiation workshop report (PDF - 146 KB)
- Document: Conservation stewardship: pilot projects in the Swartland and Overberg (PDF - 1.85 MB)
- Document: Conservation stewardship: Options for landowners (PDF - 1.75 KB)
- Newsletter: Green Choice, December, 2008 (PDF - 695 KB)