Who better to look after the environment than the local community whom depend on its resources? To improve governance, livelihoods and the ecosystem in the Kogelberg region, WWF-SA and partners from the KBMWG are embarking on a Community Monitoring project that will provide work-integrated learnership opportunities to 15 young people from the Kogelberg region.
Training will be conducted by Fish Force Academy from Nelson Mandela University at Hermanus Varsity Trust facilities. The candidates will be given an opportunity to gain hands-on work experience as Marine and Coastal Community Monitors (MCCMs) working very closely with CapeNature, Department of Environmental, Forestry and Fisheries (DEFF) and the Overstrand Local Economic Development office (LED). The programme is a 3 year initiative and the WWF champion behind this will be the Small Scale Fisheries Project Coordinator based in the WWF-SA Kleinmond office.
The monitors will be exposed to and be given an opportunity to participate in the following;
- Monitoring of marine and coastal data along the coast
- Participating in environmental events in the Kogelberg
- Maintenance work with respect to coastal infrastructure
- Beach clean ups
- Pocket book recordings and maintenance
- Ensuring that all work are in compliance with Occupational Health and Safety Act requirements.
- Administration, time and record keeping
- Developing high levels of discipline and integrity
- Leadership experience
Conservation through community empowerment is definitely the order of the day!
Kholofelo Ramokone, WWF-SA Intern: Conservation Scientific Officer, Small Scale Fisheries