15 February 2018

The Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) will showcase the work of the Environmental Monitors (EM) in their quest to curb the scourge of rhino poaching in the eastern parts of Kruger National Park bordering the area of Hoedspruit in Limpopo.

With at least 1 620 young South Africans participating on the Environmental Monitors programme across the country, the initiative aims to increase conservation capacity within the South African National Parks (SANParks), provincial and private nature reserves through patrols, biodiversity monitoring and environmental education and awareness within different communities. They operate throughout South Africa on 32 host institutions (7 public entities and 25 private nature reserves), with SANParks’ Biodiversity Social Projects (BSP) as the implementing agent.

Recently, the Minister of Environmental Affairs Dr. Edna Molewa has commended and praised the EM’s, saying they continue to play an instrumental role in fighting the scourge of rhino poaching.

The media will visit four sites where they will have photo opportunity and can interview the EM’s about their work and environmental engagements. The activities include, amongst other, visiting the Data Capturing Tools Applications used by EM’s; the Green Valley Village - South African Environmental Observation and Network, a stewardship of the Department of Science and Technology (SAEONT); visit the Nourish Library of a sustainability Learning Site; the Andover Nature Reserve, an initiative of the DEA in collaboration with the Mpumalanga Parks and Tourism Agency (MPTPA); conclude the tour at the Welverdiend area, visiting the  Rangeland Management Programme and the Herd Monitor Project.

Members of the media are invited to attend and cover the event as per the details below:

Date: Media Tour 20 February 2018

Time: 09:00

Venue: Zandspruit Bush and Aero Estate, Stand No 1, Hoedspruit

Transport will be provided for Polokwane based media houses, departing from Garden Court Hotel, Thabo Mbeki Street, Polokwane at 08:30.

To RSVP, contact:
Seipati Sentle
Cell: 072 8352735
E-mail: SSentle@environment.gov.za

For media queries, contact:

Peter Mbelengwa
Cell: 082 611 8197