The Blyde Restoration Working Group, initiated under RESILIM-O and coordinated by AWARD and K2C, has enabled collective planning and coordinated and aligned implementation amongst all partners working in the Blyde area. This has been facilitated by a collaborative and reflective process which has supported learning and enabled the emergence of collective agency amongst practitioners. Key partners within the group include:
- Department of Environment, Forestry & Fisheries (DEFF) Natural Resource Management Programmes (NRMPs)
- Working for Water
- High Altitude Teams (HAT)
- Working on Fire
- Department of Environment, Forestry & Fisheries (DEFF) Forestry & Natural Resource Management Branch
- Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency (MTPA)
- Blyde Communal Property Associations
- Kruger-to-Canyons Biosphere NPO (K2C)
- South African National Parks (SANParks)
- South African Environmental Observation Network (SAEON)
- SAFCOL & York Timbers (Commercial Forestry)
- Sabie Sand Wildtuin
AREAS OF COLLABORATION WITH PARTNERS:
- Development of an invasive alien species inventory map,
- Development of an integrated restoration plan for the Lowveld Plantations,
- Development of an integrated landscape restoration approach, including clearing remote and inaccessible areas in the Blyde Canyon, and the integration of fire within IAP control,
- Facilitating key agreements and institutional arrangements amongst stakeholders,
- An updated management plan for the Blyde River Canyon Nature Reserve,
- A timber resource assessment,
- A water and biodiversity monitoring network and plan,
- A wetland inventory map and integrity assessment, and
- Securing additional funding to support this work.
Blyde Restoration Project Stakeholders
WfW: Working for Water
HAT: High Altitude Teams
WoF: Working on Fire
DEFF: Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries
MTPA: Mpumalanga Tourism Parks Agency
SANParks-BSP: SA National Parks-Biodiversity Social Project
CPAs: Communal Property Associations