The Deputy Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs, Ms Rejoice Mabudafhasi, will celebrate the achievements of the Environmental Monitors of the Kruger to Canyons Biosphere, at an event to be held at Swadini Forever Resort near Blyde River Canyon Nature Reserve in Limpopo on 2 December 2013.
The purpose of Environmental Monitors Day is to celebrate the contribution that Environmental Monitors (EMs) are making towards conservation in the Kruger to Canyons Biosphere, one of the Department of Environmental Affairs’ six biosphere reserves in South Africa.
Environmental Monitors participate in the Kruger to Canyons Biosphere Reserve (K2C) programme - an extensive community-driven initiative that provides additional support to the Kruger National Park as well as numerous private host institutions bordering the park. It is an Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) funded through the Environmental Protection and Infrastructure programme (EPIP) of the Department of Environmental Affairs, and implemented by the South African National Parks (SANParks).
The Environmental Monitors Programme’s operations include daily patrol on protected areas and monitoring biodiversity in and around these protected areas throughout South Africa. To date, 862 Environmental Monitors have been appointed, of which 168 jobs have been created in the K2C Biosphere, as well as an extensive network of partners including land owners, collaborating on the oversight of environmental-related issues in the Biosphere reserve. A further 95 jobs is anticipated for the next two months.
The media is invited to attend and the event’s details are as follows:
Date: Monday, 2 December 2013
Venue: Swadini Forever Resort, 1 Zandspruit Bush & Aero, Hoedspruit
Time: 09h00
To RSVP contact:
Kgomotso Penyenye
Tel: 012 395 1722
E-mail: kpenyenye@environment.gov.za
For media enquiries, contact:
Peter Mbelengwa
Cell: 082 611 8197
E-mail: mbelengwap@dwa.gov.za
