Web report by Jan Moolman and Wim Van Schie (Team Wetlands)
We all arrived with our partners at the old HO campsite at Manyane on Friday afternoon and, for the last time, set up our tents under the trees that had been our base camp for so many weekends at Pilanesberg. After pitching our tents, we had coffee and soft drinks in the afternoon sunshine, before we headed to the Education Centre for our last assignment brief.
Each ecosystem was assigned different topics to prepare for a presentation on Saturday morning. In our groups, we discussed and researched these topics, after which we headed back to the HO campsite for an early evening, as the temperature was dropping due to the cold front that had arrived.
We awoke to a very cold Saturday morning, which was tempered with a good cup of hot coffee and rusks. We then headed back to the Education Centre where each of the ecosystems delivered their group and individual presentations on the conservation topics. Thereafter, we had presentations by the following speakers.
Marinus Van Jaarsveld, a practising attorney and member of the BM team, who discussed the legal framework around global and local conservation. This presentation highlighted the complex implementation of global conservation agreements and the influence of political ideologies on them.
Steve Dell – Field Ecologist Pilanesberg National Park. Steve shared the realities of conservation in practice, highlighting the challenges that face not only those in Pilanesberg, but also all those involved in conservation as a whole. One really gained an understanding of the day-to-day activities, as well as the more macro activities that are needed and implemented by teams of dedicated staff to ensure the future of the beautiful natural areas in our county. You can only admire the dedication of individuals like Steve, who have dedicated their entire working career to this cause, from which we are all beneficiaries.
Perry Dell – Pilanesberg Wildlife Trust. Again, a passionate individual whose tireless work generates funds to fill the gaps that the government funding does not always cover. The time dedicated to this cause is admirable. It really makes one realise that there is so much one can contribute to support all the conservation organisations and individuals who give so much to preserve our natural heritage. The wildlife trust is undoubtedly one of the unsung heroes within the Pilanesberg conservation sphere.
After these sobering presentations, we all ambled back to the campsite for an afternoon at leisure … or so we thought. Bevin Richards roped in a few of us for another worthy cause: installing a baboon-proof bin, kindly built and donated by the WEG Group – thank you to WEG for this ongoing support.
We then all got ourselves presentable and drove off at around 17h30 to the PC Centre for the Awards Dinner.
What a lovely surprise to see the usually busy PC Centre all quiet and set out for a personal dinner for the class of 24/25 and guests, that consisted of BM support staff, Pilanesberg officials and of course the partners of the 24/25 class that had suffered with the demands of the students over the last 12 months.
What a lovely evening – good food, good company, and the recognition of students for their hard work.
Thank you to the Bushveld Mosaic Team for a great year from the class of BM2024/25.
ED COMMENT: Thanks to Jan and Wim for this report covering a very special event in the Bushveld Mosaic Calendar. May you all continue to learn and grow in conservation. I look forward to meeting you in the Bush(veld) soon