National Biodiversity Stewardship Conference 2018
The 2nd National Biodiversity Stewardship Conference brought together over 100 delegates representing national, provincial and local government departments, community beneficiaries, non-governmental organisations and academic institutions to engage, to learn, to share their success stories and their challenges. The conference provided a platform for identifying emerging opportunities that can help to address the social and economic challenges of the country; and aims to enhance the implementation of biodiversity stewardship, unlocking its contribution to the country’s development agenda and promoting sustainable land use. Conservation, development and academic experts were convened to deliberate on mechanisms to bring about tangible benefits and secure financial solutions to the stewards of biodiversity.
Under the theme, ‘Sustainable land use for our shared future’, and in collaboration with various partners, the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI), the Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA), Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT) and Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (GDARD) co-hosted this conference from 9 to 11 October 2018 at the Maropeng Boutique Hotel, near the Sterkfontein Caves.
The purpose of the conference:
- To convene the National Biodiversity Stewardship community of practice
- To explore opportunities between Biodiversity Stewardship and the Biodiversity Economy
- To provide a platform for engagement on Biodiversity Stewardship, Land Reform and Community Conservation
- To provide a platform to foster commitment to implementing the Land Reform and Biodiversity Stewardship Initiative
- To build partnerships to support protected area expansion through Biodiversity Stewardship
- To provide a platform to build commitment towards financial sustainability of protected area expansion
- To investigate opportunities for the implementation of Biodiversity Stewardship in land reform sites in the Gauteng Province (and the country at large)
Presentations and resources shared over the three days can be accessed in the table below: