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Linking Growth and Conservation
Annual Report - 07 HighlightA new fund in the Succulent Karoo Hotspot is demonstrating how grassroots development and conservation can thrive together. During a 1-year pilot phase, groups supported by the fund—known as Skeppies—created 22 businesses and 109 local jobs while helping conserve nearly 1,000 hectares of biologically rich land.Skeppies, which means small creations or small servings in Afrikaans, "showed that it was, in fact, possible to combine the two often mutually exclusive objectives of economic growth and biodiversity protection," said Christina Golino, director of agency services for the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA).Skeppies, a partnership between the development bank, Conservation International, and CEPF, supports community projects combining the two goals. Together, the projects also help meet the targets in municipal development plans and in the 20 year conservation strategy for the hotspot.Supported activities range from the creation of hiking trails and a community garden to a rugby club promoting conservation awareness.In one project, Anatolian dogs were given to communal farmers in Namaqualand to protect sheep and other stock from predators. In addition to decreasing the use of traps that can unintentionally harm nontargeted predator species, farmers reported fewer stock losses in herds protected by the dogs. Participating farmer Martin Damon said the Anatolian is "for me worth gold."Another project is the brainchild of four Namaqualand women who sell traditional food from "kookskerm" kitchens made from local bushes. The Nama food has become popular with tourists, contributing to the viability of ecotourism in the area and further inspiring the participants, some of whom have since expanded their kitchens to include lodging facilities.In recognition of the pilot phase success, CEPF and DBSA agreed to provide additional support to help transition Skeppies into a long-term fund for grassroots projects. | |
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Photo Courtesy of Skeppies
Two newly employed residents thorw compost on land being restored as part of a project supported by Skeppies.
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