Nature Connect

Today, we partnered with Exness Africa at the Kenilworth Racecourse Conservation Area, Cape Town, for their Corporate Social Responsibility Day. 🌱 Exness branches worldwide come together on the 4th of October for a day of giving back. 🌍 The team rolled up their sleeves and got to work, tackling encroaching plants by hand-pulling, sawing, and cutting. Their efforts are helping to create better ground cover for other species to flourish. 💪🌿 A big thank you to Exness Africa for making a positive impact in conservation right here at Kenilworth! 🙌 #CSRDay #ExnessAfrica #ConservationInAction #Sustainability #Teamwork

🌿 Conservation in Action: Empowering the Next Generation at Zandvlei Nature Reserve! 🌿 This school holiday, our Conservation Leaders embarked on a trans-formative journey at Park Island, Zandvlei Nature Reserve. Partnering with the River Wardens, they didn’t just learn about wetland and river conservation—they experienced firsthand what it takes to protect these crucial ecosystems. 💧 What’s truly powerful is the exchange of stories and life lessons. The River Wardens, who come from similar backgrounds as our learners, shared how they’ve turned challenges into opportunities. This kind of mentorship is invaluable. It reinforces the idea that environmental stewardship isn’t just about knowledge, but about resilience, purpose, and personal growth. 🌱 As we continue to face global environmental challenges, we believe it’s essential that we cultivate leaders who not only understand conservation science but are inspired by their journeys to drive change. The future of conservation is as much about people as it is about protecting ecosystems. 🌍💪 #ConservationLeadership #ThoughtLeadership #YouthInConservation #WetlandsProtection #Sustainability #Resilience #EnvironmentalEducation

At the River Warden Launch, Nature Connect’s CEO, Anthony Roberts, delivered a beautiful motivational speech to the River Wardens. His inspiring words highlighted the importance of their work in protecting our water bodies and fostering community conservation. #NatureConnect #Inspiration #community #conservation

National Lotteries Commission, Lotto Funded River Wardens Explore Fynbos at Kenilworth Racecourse Conservation Area Flower Workshop: Cape Town’s waterways are being revitalized by the efforts of the River Wardens, a dedicated group committed to removing invasive alien plants, restoring natural habitats, and conducting litter cleanups. To further their environmental stewardship, the River Wardens recently completed Nature Connect's Greenskills Development NQF4 program, operating within the Cape Floristic Region—one of the world's richest biodiversity hotspots—they recently attended a Fynbos Flower Workshop led by Sally Hey from Friends of Kenilworth Racecourse Conservation Area. The workshop provided in-depth knowledge of fynbos plants, starting with an introduction to its plant kingdoms, climates, and adaptive characteristics. Using field guides, participants learned to classify plants by family and identify key adaptations. A hands-on activity followed, exploring flower morphology and the differences between monocots and dicots. The River Wardens dissected flowers to observe reproductive structures, gaining insights into the critical role of pollinators, especially endemic birds, in this ecosystem. The group also studied seeds to understand how wind and water help disperse them. The session concluded with a review of Cape Town’s flowering plants, equipping the River Wardens to distinguish native fynbos from invasive species. This training enhanced their skills in environmental conservation and empowered them to continue making a positive impact on Cape Town's waterways and ecosystems through their vital work.

Nature Connect, in partnership with the City of Cape Town Biodiversity Branch, recently celebrated the launch of the River Warden Program at Zandvlei Nature Reserve on Park Island. This community conservation initiative focuses on monitoring the health of Cape Town's waterbodies. The River Wardens’ intiative is part of the Kader Asmal Programme and funded by the Mayor’s Priority Programme: Sanitation and Inland Water Quality. River Wardens at False Bay, Zandvlei, Edith Stephens and Rietvlei Nature Reserves are responsible for monitoring illegal dumping, reporting sewer spills, assisting with rehabilitation, and clearing invasive aquatic weeds. We are incredibly thankful to the City of Cape Town for this amazing partnership. The National Lotteries Commission played a key role in kickstarting the program, and we are excited to move it into the next phase. #RiverWardenProgram #NatureConnect #CityofCapeTown #CommunityConservation #ProtectOurWater #Zandvlei #EnvironmentalProtection Geordin Hill-Lewis

Every year, the Western Leopard Toad (Sclerophrys pantherinus) breeding season kicks off in July or August and extends through to September. As an Endangered species on the IUCN Red List, these toads are highly threatened in their natural habitat. These charismatic toads live quite secretive lives for most of the year but come out of their foraging grounds once a year to migrate to their breeding ponds nearby. They are endemic to the low-lying regions of the Cape Peninsula, Cape Flats, and Agulhas Flats in the Western Cape, and are thus very limited in their range. Each year, our Muizenberg East team from the Nature Care Fund, focus on toad monitoring around Soralia Village complex and its surrounding area, as this is where one of their breeding ponds is situated. Roadways that bisect the journey from their foraging grounds to their breeding ponds are the biggest threat to these toads in urban environments. Before the season began, informational posters were placed along key routes in the area to inform motorists of the toad migration and to drive cautiously during this time. This year’s foot patrols by our dedicated team of conservationists and volunteers began on 23 August and will continue until the migration is over. So far, the team has recorded approximately 31 individuals in the area. While the numbers appear to be lower than previous years, each toad is carefully recorded so that population numbers can be monitored. Photographs of the toads’ unique patterns on their back are captured, and the images then uploaded to the iNaturalist App with additional details such as the sex, age and size of the individual, the exact GPS location it was recorded, as well as the behaviour it was exhibiting. All this information is important for researchers to determine trends within the population. The Western Leopard Toad season is a highly anticipated event for our Nature Care Fund team, as these conservation efforts help protect and stabilise the toad population, with the hope of seeing their numbers grow in the future. Check out the work we are doing in Zeekoevlei with our Western Leopard Toad Underpass project which aims to help toads cross the roadway safely, without threat from vehicles. https://lnkd.in/d78wc8aE

Last week, our Quemic Rangers dove into the world of flora at Bokbaai. Here’s what happened: 🌱 Plant ID: They learned to identify native and invasive species. 🌼 Eco Insights: Explored the vital role plants play in our ecosystems. 🌾 Conservation Tips: Gained practical skills for managing and protecting flora. 🌍 Field Work: Hands-on experience in the great outdoors. These skills are key to our conservation efforts, and we’re so proud of the growth and impact that our rangers are making! 💚 #QuemicRangers #FloraTraining #Conservation #Bokbaai #EcoWarriors

We at Nature Connect are deeply grateful to The Table Mountain Fund for selecting our Conservation Leadership Programme for 2024 funding. Your support is invaluable, and we are excited to continue working together to protect the Cape’s incredible natural heritage.

In celebration of International Coastal Cleanup Day, our Nature Connect conservation leaders were out at Two Rivers Urban Park, joining forces with WESSA (Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa) and Captain Fanplastic, to clean the Liesbeek River. It was an inspiring day filled with hands-on learning and impactful action. This event highlighted a key philosophy that guides our work: Teaching the next generation to love and protect nature. As Sir David Attenborough so profoundly says in his now-viral clips, “If children don’t grow up knowing about nature and appreciating it, they will not understand it. And if they don’t understand it, they won’t protect it. And if they don’t protect it, then who will?” His words resonate deeply, especially in the current climate of environmental challenges. If we don’t instill a sense of responsibility and care for the natural world in our children, we risk losing future generations of environmental stewards. Children are naturally curious, and when we provide opportunities for them to engage with nature firsthand, we plant the seeds of understanding and appreciation. This understanding becomes the foundation for future action—action that will ultimately safeguard our planet. At Nature Connect, we see this as a call to action, which is why our Conservation Leadership Project exists. This project aims to identify passionate, in-school youth who have a desire to make a positive impact in their communities through environmental stewardship. Over the course of seven years, these young leaders participate in environmental activities and embark on educational trips to various conservation areas across South Africa. Through the Conservation Leadership Project, we don’t just teach facts about ecosystems or the importance of biodiversity; we focus on nurturing a deep connection to the natural world. We aim to broaden their knowledge, highlight potential careers in the environmental sector, and most importantly, cultivate their passion for conservation. Our goal is to inspire the next generation of environmental leaders—those who will not only understand the value of nature but who will actively protect it and work towards a sustainable future for all. By equipping these young minds with the tools and experiences they need, we ensure that they will grow up not only loving nature but also becoming its dedicated guardians. This is how real change happens—through education, passion, and a sense of shared responsibility. #EnvironmentalEducation #YouthLeadership #Sustainability #ConservationLeaders #ProtectNature #InternationalCoastalCleanup

Last week, Nature Connect proudly hosted a Closing Ceremony to celebrate the incredible achievements our small grant beneficiaries. These inspiring teams have made significant strides in protecting and restoring the precious natural heritage of the Cape. 👏 A huge congratulations to: 🦧 ARKYS Outreach 🌊 Mosselbank River Conservation Team 💚 Green Hearts 👩🌾 Community Women Action The closing presentation was a powerful reminder of what can be achieved when communities come together with a shared passion for conservation. Each team showcased their remarkable efforts, from ecosystem restoration to empowering local communities, leaving a lasting impact on both nature and people. We couldn’t be prouder of their success! Nature Connect is committed to continuing its vital work in partnership with the The Table Mountain Fund, supporting projects that ensure our unique biodiversity thrives for generations to come. Together, we are building a future where both people and nature are at the heart of conservation efforts. Well done to all the grantees! We look forward to seeing how these initiatives will further strengthen our conservation impact in the Cape. #NatureConnect #TableMountainFund #ConservationLeadership #Biodiversity #Fynbos #CommunityConservation #SustainableFuture