Environment Expo and Youth Conference: Cape Winelands District Municipality, SA

The Cape Winelands District Municipality, a LAB Pioneer, runs a dedicated Environmental Education and Awareness programme that reaches out to targeted groups within the local community in order to grow a sustainable future. The 2nd Annual Cape Winelands Environment Expo and Youth Conferencehosted by the Municipality's Department of Regional Development & Planning Services forms part of this programme. The Expo aims to draw significant numbers of people to enhance environmental education and awareness in the Cape Winelands district.

The Expo, which was launched in 2010, saw the registration of 36 schools and 510 delegates from across the district at this year's event. The 2-day learning experience provides a significant opportunity for raising awareness about the challenges posed by flood risks, veld fires, habitat and biodiversity loss and the degradation and depletion of natural resources, among others.

The Expo included presentations, demonstrations and discussions on climate change mitigation (which acted as a cross-cutting theme, considering the upcoming 17th United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Conference of the Parties in Durban, South Africa this December). Also included were exhibits on biodiversity, climate change, cultural and natural sciences and heritage, waste management, conservation ecology, where learners and educators could interactively discuss the related themes.

Themes included:

1. Biodiversity Conservation

2. River Health Programme and Freshwater Ecosystems

3. Climate Change

4. Cape Winelands Biosphere Reserve

5. Organic Food Gardening

The close of the event saw the drafting of a pledge by attendess, which states: “As Cape Winelanders, we pledge that more will be done in our communities, within our homes and at our schools; to walk the talk in building a society which will strengthen the environmental input in the curriculum, to inspire others by doing the right thing and fostering a sense of 'wanting to play a part' as we all reach out to leave an environmental legacy for future generations.”