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As the first Conservancy created in the Gauteng area, Rhenosterspruit has notched another “first” - that of membership of the Magaliesberg Biosphere.
Vincent Carruthers, well-known speaker, author of “The Magaliesberg” and chaiman of the Biosphere Initiative Group, handed over its first membership certificate at the RNC's Annual General Meeting on 25 July.
Vincent Carruthers hands over the first Magaliesberg Biosphere member's certificate to the RNC's chairperson, Helen Duigan
The Magaliesberg range is the heart of the Biosphere and the Cradle of Humankind and a number of surrounding conservancies form the required buffer around it. For more info on this remarkable initiative go to www.magaliesbergbiosphere.co.za. You are also invited to become a member of the Magaliesberg Biosphere. Read more here.
The RNC AGM was preceded by a lunch of delicious home-made soups and breads and gave us time to greet old friends and meet new ones. Fifty-five people attended, representing all the parts of the Conservancy. For the first time we welcomed members from Monaghan Farm.
Instead of a detailed Chairman's Report, a summary of the year's activities was handed out with the financials. The report stressed our guiding belief that this area is one of Gauteng's irreplaceable natural assets, worth every effort to protect, and our guiding principle, that crises should be used as catalysts to find new solutions to problems.
From the Report: “The Conservancy has been in a 'holding mode' for some years, preventing irreversible changes from taking place through fragmentation and densification. The underlying feeling was that the field had to be kept open for positive initiatives that could emerge. That potential is now on our doorstep: Biodiversity Stewardship, Protected Environment and Nature Reserve options opening up for landowners.”
Mercia Komen of Doornrandje spelt out these options in detail and Steve Panos of the Oori Game Reserve followed with a presentation on how carbon offsets and the value of grasslands as carbon stores could actually turn our properties into income-producers instead of money sinks.
Members were challenged to actively support the Committee and not to stop at saying “Thank you – Committee,” for work done!
The Chair Report ended with a quote from environmental activist, Paul Hawken: “Don't be put off by the size of the challenge. Do what needs to be done, don't be put off by people who tell you it is not possible. And only after you've done, check to see if indeed it was impossible!”
A special thanks to Francis and Tanja Gomes of Doornrandje for the use of their spacious venue at North Hills Farm.
(Report and summary of activities. List of Committee members at the end of this newsletter.) |
