Friends of the Liesbeek has just returned from Durban after an amazing weekend with WESSA. We were privileged and honoured to be recognised for the years of work that we have been doing along the Liesbeek river in receiving WESSA’s annual national groups award. The award is aimed at,
“Any individual, corporate/organisation, community group, educational group, conservation or environmental group who have done outstanding and sustained work for the benefit of environmental conservation and/or education in South Africa.”
The award was handed over by WESSA’s CEO who had the following to say about our project,
“In recognition of their progressive, community-managed local stream rehabilitation initiative, resulting in the conservation of the ecological-corridor of the Liesbeek river while also creating employment for the rehabilitation of the riverine eco-system.
They have effectively included the river community, residents and relevant stakeholders. This innovative and unifying work is an example to be up-scaled to other parts of South Africa.
WESSA acknowledges their dedication to promoting public participation in being ‘People Caring for the Earth”
Hence it would be obvious to state that we have returned to Cape Town with a renewed vigour and inspiration towards our project of rehabilitating and conserving the ecological corridor of the Liesbeek. We would like to thank all of those involved with FoL whether that be formally or informally. We are, after all, a community organisation and it would not be possible to have implemented these interventions without an active community.
Phil McLean (FoL Chairman), Mncekelekeli Klaas (LMP Supervisor) and Conor Eastment (LMP Manager) receiving the National Groups award from WESSA chairman and CEO.
