Current

• LinkedIn

Recent LinkedIn Posts

Environmental Compliance Monitoring

Proposed construction of a primary dwelling, associated infrastructure, access road and garden on Portion 46 of Farm 216, Uitzicht, Knysna – DFFE Ref. No. 14/12/16/3/3/1/2357

Environmental Authorisation prepared by HilLand Environmental, Environmental Assessment Practitioners. Environmental Compliance Officer (ECO) Monitoring being undertaken by The R²ain Model – ECO reports available to Interested & Affected Parties on request.

Media

Just how Mature is Surface-Strip Coal Mine Land Rehabilitation in South Africa & Australia? Weyer et. al 2021, Society for Ecological Restoration, Australasia, Darwin, June 2021 https://youtu.be/joNx2FubOUs

International Association for Impact Assessment South Africa, 2021 National Conference, “Re-thinking IEM in pursuit of the sustainable development goals”. Panel Discussion: Ecological Engineering Education: Towards Carbon Reduction Technologies. Organiser and Co-Chair: Dr Vanessa Weyer and Panelists: Dr Glenn Dale, Dr Alexandros Stefanakis, Yolandi Schoeman, Kirthi Chetty, and Professor Jennifer Broadhurst. https://youtu.be/SeF0au_9tvQ

International Association for Impact Assessment South Africa, 2021 National Conference, “Re-thinking IEM in pursuit of the sustainable development goals”. Panel Discussion: Decarbonisation and Renewables: New Environmental Impacts to Mitigate. Organiser and Co-Chair: Dr Vanessa Weyer and Panelists: Gaylor Montmasson-Clair, Professor Jennifer Broadhurst, Mike O’Kane, Jessica Edwards, and Taryn Bigwood.https://youtu.be/cfb5izYPFlg

Milestones

Volunteer Work

Western Heads-Goukamma Conservancy and Table Mountain Fund Fynbos Forever Programme: Protection and Restoration of the Critically Endangered Knysna Sand Fynbos – Scientific Support Services

INTRODUCTION The Western Heads-Goukamma Conservancy (WHGC), a Non-profit Organisation, is the recipient of funding from the Table Mountain Fund’s (TMF) Fynbos Forever Programme, to assist with the WHGC’s efforts in the protection and restoration of the Knysna Sand Fynbos vegetation type.

CONSERVATION VALUE The WHGC region is an important conservation area as it contains Knysna Sand Fynbos (FFd10), a critically endangered vegetation type of which only 17% (2 500ha) of its original 15 000ha is in an untransformed state. Furthermore, 75% (c. 1750 ha) of the remaining FFd10 occurs in the WHGC. The WHGC is well known as the home to several threatened and endangered fauna species; including three threatened butterfly species, of which the Brenton Blue Butterfly is best known; and two endangered mammals such as the Caracal and Honey Badger. It contains important ecological corridors along the dune cordons (east-west) and between the ocean and the Knysna estuary (north-south). Despite its high conservation value and that the area is a valuable local and international tourism asset, the area is under threat from inappropriate development, habitat fragmentation, uncontrolled fires, and from alien plant species invasion. The vegetation type was severely impacted by the Knysna fires of 2017 and is therefore at risk and more sensitive to any further disturbances. Protection and restoration interventions are critical, to ensure the future of this important conservation and tourism area. This WHCG-TMF funded project will assist with achieving this objective and will serve as a further catalyst for future conservation, protection, and restoration initiatives in the area.

OVERVIEW OF PROJECT The WHGC-TMF project is a 3-year project, which runs from 1 September 2022 to 1 September 2025. The project will tackle issues around four themes: (1) Conservation – assisting landowners to establish formal or voluntary informal conservation biodiversity agreements, in partnership with SANParks or CapeNature; (2) Threat reduction and biodiversity conservation – by establishing a database of the natural and alien vegetation baseline status; by developing an alien eradication and fire management plan; and by recommending appropriate area development policies; (3) Restoration – by developing restoration plans based on model restoration reference sites and agreed upon restoration methods and outcomes; and (4) Raising public awareness – of the conservation value and tourism potential of Knysna Sand Fynbos, its flora, fauna, and ecosystems; alien plant control; fire management; conservation and protection; restoration; and development policies.

Core Team: Johan Labuschagne, Dr Dave Edge, Hanna Edge, Dr Vanessa Weyer, Nicky Van Berkel

 whgconservancy@gmail.com

https://westernheadsgoukamma.co.za