On the 5th of June 2011 we launched the KZN Integrated Greening Programme. It is a partnership between the Kwazulu-Natal Provincial Government, the Wildlands Conservation Trust and Business SA.

The programme aims to harness the collective energy of these partners to develop and implement a wide range of community-based greening activities. These will stimulate local economic development whilst nurturing the establishment of vibrant, self-motivated communities that are clean, green and driven by inspired 'green-preneurs'. This vision talks to the KZN 'SUKUMA SAKHE' vision, which encourages communities to “stand up and build” themselves.

The activities that will be supported throughout the programme include:

•  The propagation and planting of indigenous and edible plants and trees, through a network of community-based 'tree-preneurs'

•  The collection and processing of recyclable waste, through a network of community-based 'waste-preneurs'

•  The nurture of these waste-preneurs and tree-preneurs into green entrepreneurs who will provide a range of community-based environmental services including the provision of bicycles, water tanks and alternative energy solutions

•  Community-based reforestation projects, restoring community forest assets while mitigating the impact of climate

change. This will be anchored through a “Carbon Farmer” model which enables community members to plant a mix of indigenous and fruit trees with the intention of harvesting both a carbon and fruit return after 5 years

•  Community-based natural resource management projects, helping communities harness the eco-tourism and sustainable use value of their natural resources.

The initial focus will be on catalysing demonstration projects in the uMgungundlovu, Sisonke, uThungulu, uMkhanyakude, Umzinyati, iLembe and Zululand Districts, building on the existing Wildlands project footprint. Over the next 5 years, the activities will be progressively expanded across all 10 KZN District Municipalities and the eThekweni Metropolitan Municipality. As part of this expansion process, new programme activities will also be progressively developed, including activities which support the local assembly and distribution of bicycles and development of homestead and community based alternative energy solutions.

In the process, over 1 000 000 indigenous and fruit trees will be planted, 75 000 tons of recycling will be collected, 1 000 hectares of community forest will be restored and

25 000 hectares of community land will be utilised for eco-tourism and sustainable natural resource harvesting.

The target for 2011/2012 is to plant 300 000 trees, support the establishment of 1 750 tree-preneurs and 1 600 waste-preneurs, formally catalyse Carbon Farmer projects in three communities, and integrate the Tembe, Mathenjwa and Gumbi community conservation areas.

The KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government, led by the Office of the Premier, the Departments of Agricultural and Environmental Affairs, Rural Development, Public Works and Human Settlements, and Economic Development and Tourism and Transport have committed to support the programme in partnership with Wildlands Conservation Trust and their network of partners. These include UNILEVER SA, Bonitas Medical Fund, BHP Billiton and Rand Merchant Bank – who have each committed over R1 000 000, and Time Freight, The Witness, SAPPI, Richards Bay Coal Terminal, Jojo Tanks, the National Lotteries Distribution Trust Fund and the Wildlands Keeping Our Planet In Business Network.

The overall vision of the KZN Integrated Greening Programme is to catalyse a network of clean and green communities that have harnessed the Green Economy to improve their lives.

For More information visit our website: www.wildlands.co.za or join our facebook page http://on.fb.me/jg0MnC