Champions

Arid Zone Ecology Forum (AZEF)

More than half of southern Africa is either arid or semi-arid, encompassing a diversity of biotic ecosystems. Because of a growing demand for food from a burgeoning population it is likely that these areas will be subjected to increased pressure in the future. An awareness of potential environmental problems – such as erosion, land degradation, plant and animal species extinctions, and global climate change, amongst many others – has already substantially influenced agricultural and management policies and research activities in these regions. The Arid Zone Ecology Forum has been initiated to focus attention on these problems and possible solutions.

 

Bio-Watch South Africa

Biowatch South Africa was established in 1997 to publicise, monitor and research issues of genetic modification, and to promote biological diversity and sustainable livelihoods. Biowatch’s head office is in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal. A rural office in Mtubatuba works with small-scale farmers on sustainable agriculture, food and seed security, and farmers’ rights.

Cape Leopard Trust

The leopard fills the role of the apex predator in the Western Cape ecosystem and acts as an “umbrella species” which will effectively help in the conservation of smaller, lower profile predators. Its resilience to persecution notwithstanding, the leopard has suffered extensive range loss in the Cape and is now extinct in many areas of the province where it formerly occurred. The species is routinely and regularly removed from farms with little knowledge of population or genetic status, whether removals are sustainable or whether the factors giving rise to conflict are established. The Cape Leopard Trust aims to optimally facilitate conservation of the Cape’s predator diversity through simultaneously implementing conservation strategies, research projects and tourism initiatives. It will also educate and encourage the youth of disadvantaged communities to have a vested interest in the environment.

Daktari Bush School and Wildlife Orphanage

Suburban wildlife is in crisis. Each year thousands of birds, mammals and reptiles living in gardens or suburbs become orphaned, sick or suffer injuries. Most veterinarians do not have facilities to cater for wildlife, leaving would-be rescuers unable to know what to do with them. In 1997 FreeMe was founded by a group of trained rehabilitators in the north of Johannesburg who realised the plight of suburban indigenous wildlife. The centre is staffed and operated by a full-time manager, two support staff members and a group of trained volunteers. It is open seven days a week from 8am to 5pm and they welcome calls from the public asking for advice and support.

Earthlife Africa (ELA)

Earthlife Africa is a non-profit organisation, founded in Johannesburg, South Africa, in 1988, that seeks a better life for all people without exploiting other people or degrading their environment. We want to encourage and support individuals, businesses and industries to reduce pollution, minimise waste and protect our natural resources. The organisation has since grown to include Branches in Cape Town, eThekwini (formerly Durban) and Tshwane (formerly Pretoria), as well as in Windhoek, Namibia. Branches are autonomous, but linked through the ELA Statement of Belief and common campaign activities. ELA Jhb is a largely volunteer-driven organisation, however, in recent years, funding has been acquired by some branches to staff and facilitate specific campaigns. Earthlife Africa Jhb’s largest campaign is the Sustainable Energy and Climate Change Project.

 

Enkosini Eco Experience

Founded in 2003, Enkosini Eco Experience allows you to volunteer in a way that fills your heart, mind and spirit and maximizes your financial contribution to the projects you choose. Enkosini’s carefully selected projects are our colleagues, our mentors, our partners. A tight-knit community in South Africa and Namibia, we work together to achieve higher standards in conservation and to fight unethical wildlife activities through advocacy, media exposure and legislative change. Enkosini Eco Experience supports our partner wildlife projects with the necessary financial and volunteer assistance required to achieve our goals in conservation and community development in Africa.

Food & Trees for Africa (FTFA)

Food & Trees for Africa (FTFA) was born out of a unified action-plan from the representatives of a number of concerned greening organisations who met in 1990 to decide on the best method to uplift quality of life and address climate change. Since then FTFA has assisted tens of thousands of people and remained in touch with South Africa’s democratic and more sustainable development, by greening of unhealthy, denuded and degraded landscapes.

Grassland Society of Southern Africa (GSSA)

The vision of the society is to advance rangeland ecology and pasture management in Africa by providing a dynamic and professional annual congress at which scientifically rigorous papers are presented and where science is translated into policy and practice. It provides a forum for trans-disciplinary debate, particularly between fields of production systems, biodiversity and ecosystem goods and services and to assist decision makers to understand the links between ecosystem services, global change, sustainability and human wellbeing. It strives to develop human capacity to successfully manage rangelands and pastures.

Sustainable Energy Society of Southern Africa (CESSA)

The Sustainable Energy Society of Southern Africa or SESSA, is dedicated to the use of renewable energy and energy efficiency including all solar-based energies such as photovoltaics, thermal heating and cooling, wind, biomass and hydro, to name a few. Other utilization possibilities of this principle source of energy are in passive building design and energy efficiency. The inter-disciplinary nature of SESSA attracts the membership of industry, scientists, researchers, developers and the general public – the only qualification is a keen interest in renewable energy and its utilization to ensure a sustainable energy future. SESSA was founded in 1974 and is one of 50 National Sections of the International Solar Energy Society (ISES). ISES is regarded as the premier body in solar energy with members in over 100 countries. SESSA is the duly appointed African office of ISES.

African Wind Energy Association (AfriWEA)

The African Wind Energy Association (AfriWEA) was founded in 2002 in order to encourage manufacturers, developers, governments, renewable energy owners and individuals to promote and support wind energy development on the African continent. All its activities are based on principles of finding alternatives to fossil fuelled power because of the threat it imposes to our global climate, and that national and local governments have a responsibility (and should be encouraged at every opportunity) to incorporate strategies for renewable energy schemes into their policies.

The Spider Club of Southern Africa

The Spider Club of Southern Africa is an environmental interest group. Our aim is to encourage and develop an interest in arachnids, including spiders, scorpions, solifuges, whip spiders, harvestmen and pseudoscorpions, and to promote this interest and the study of these animals by all suitable means.

 

The Lupus Foundation

The Lupus Foundation, trading as The Wolf Sanctuary, Tsitsikamma, supports the survival of the wolf around the world by:

  • Putting plans in place to preserve a healthy genetic strain outside its natural domain.
  • Teaching about its life and its association with other species.
  • Its dynamic relationship to humans.
  • Provision of a sanctuary and ultimately a “natural habitat” for captive wolves.
  • Public education on the value of ALL wildlife .
  • The importance of not removing animals from their natural domain.
  • The importance of ending hybridising (cross-breeding).

Urban Sprout

We expose the impact of over-consumption, frenzied accumulation of ‘things’ and of the damage we cause to the environment because of this way of living. It is our hope to be part of a movement that changes the relationship between business and the environment and between human and living systems so as to create a m ore just and sustainable world.

Water Institute of Southern Africa

Realizing that water is a fundamental need, the Water Institute of Southern Africa urges its members and society to work towards the equitable and beneficial use of water for all and not to discharge of matter into the natural water cycle that would impair the quality of the water for its beneficial use by others. The advancement o knowledge and technology in the field of water is paramount.