Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo (JCPZ) kicked off its Arbour month on August 29 at Klipriviersberg Nature Reserve, together with Water Wise, Klipriviersberg Nature Reserve Association, Thaba Eco Hotel, SANParks Honorary Rangers, Tshwane University of Technology, e’PaP, and Share Screen to empower the next generation of environmental leaders.

Young minds were inspired by interactive exhibits, sparking a sense of possibility and purposes. Various stakeholders, including local primary schools, gathered to celebrate Arbour Day.

Dr Cheryl Ogilvie a lecturer at Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) and lectures students in nature conservation, wildlife management and environmental education, led the students on the day.

SANParks Junior Honorary Rangers Joburg representative Erlo Duncan said the organisation operates across 31 regions, focusing on youth conservation education.

“We target high school learners and help them learn about conservation,” Duncan said.

“We engage in education and participation programmes, creating opportunities for learners to learn about nature and become aware of alien invasive plants.”

Ogilvie added that technology plays a crucial role in monitoring alien invasive plants, highlighting apps such as EarthRanger and iNaturalist that record and map data on invasive species.

“We were all invited to breakfast at the e’Pap stand. Chatting at the stand, visitors learnt about why Amino Acid Bisglycinate minerals are better absorbed and used by the body. William Fangala runs Marathons using e’Pap to sustain him and win medals,” she said.

Role of technology and outreach

Kirsten Neke and Johann Kruger from Leadership for Conservation in Africa, working on the ShareScreen Africa project, said the organisation collaborates with investors, communities and government to connect them with conservation initiatives.

Kruger explained that TUT is among the institutions where they conduct free ecotourism lecture series that cover the use of apps to monitor invasive plants. The JRS Biodiversity Foundation funds the ShareScreen Africa project.

Learners from Lawley, Goza and Mondeor primary schools visited interactive stalls to learn about nature and the environment before taking a guided walk through the reserve with TUT volunteers.

Other participating stakeholders included the Klipriviersberg Nature Reserve Association, Rand Water’s Water Wise programme, interpretive walk volunteers, Reduce Recycle Reuse, SANParks Honorary Rangers and Junior Honorary Rangers from Joburg Region, JCPZ (which hosted a tree-planting ceremony), career exhibition participants, KaiNav Conservation Foundation and ShareScreen Africa.

There was also Mastermind Academy from Bassonis, a tutor centre that caters for learners who are registered with the homeschool curriculum. They also tutor learners of all grades and at university level.