Network of Earthkeeping Christian Communities in South Africa

NECCSA Update: April 2006

A monthly newsletter on Church and Environment in South Africa

 

1. A Rocha International in South Africa Holds Inaugural Conference

A Rocha International in South Africa will be holding its inaugural conference on 19 August 2006 at the Stellenbosch Botanical Gardens. Arocha International is a Christian conservation organization that promotes Christian stewardship of creation. This conference is an invitation to the church in South Africa to celebrate God's purpose for creation, and answer Jesus's call to earth stewardship. The conference is mainly aimed at church leaders but all are welcome. For more information on the conference contact Lydia Willems on lwillems@sun.ac.za  To read more on A Rocha International see www.arocha.org

 

2. "Creation Care"- A Rocha Interest Group in Stellenbosch

An inter-denominational group of like-minded people have formed an interest group in Stellenbosch called Creation Care (Bewonder en Bewaar), under the banner of A Rocha SA. In April 2005 Lydia Willems from Stellenbosch Gemeente and Sue Winter from Shofar Christian Church organized a Creation Care Workshop, bringing together a diverse group of people interested in conservation from the greater Cape Town area. A network was established to share information and ideas and communicate needs for prayer and conservation action.

The core group focused their activities on outdoor hikes and opportunities to experience and appreciate the splendour of God's creation and the unrivelled biodiversity of the Cape Floral Region. The better part of 2005 was spent in day hikes and outings to visit places such as Jonkershoek Nature Reserve, Paarl Mountain, and moonlight walk on Klapmutskop. The highlight of the year in September 2005 was a Creation Stewardship Weekend, at "Waterval" near Porterville led by Allen Goddard and Dieter Oschadleus. Bible expositions, bird ringing, silent reflection time and an exquisite kloof ramble were enjoyed. In 2006, the group aims to get more involved in hands-on, practical Creation Care projects. On April 22, the group helped plant indigenous bulbs in a municipal park and nature reserve in the middle of town, visited by many local residents. A challenge experienced so far has been establishing a committed core group of people who will make the effort to attend the arranged events.

A hallmark of all Creation Care outings is that an opportunity for an "outdoor quiet time" is created, so that people can take some time to reflect, pray and hear God speak to them through the magnificence of his creation. A theme is normally selected for each outing and then a devotion sheet created around all the scriptures that speak on that theme, such as springs of living waters (when we did a waterfall hike), the oceans (when we had a beach outing) and the mountains. Scripture is actually filled to the brim with ecology when you start to look for it! For more info, contact Sue Winter on bwi@sawb.co.za

 

3. Biodiversity and Wine Initiative

Western Cape winemakers and estate owners are starting to realize that the land in which they live and work is precious and worth preserving. After all, 90% of wine production takes place within the Cape Floral Region, which has been designated one of the world's 34 biodiversity hotspots and is renowned for its incredible species richness. This increasing new level of environmental consciousness has been due to the work of the Biodiversity and Wine Initiative (BWI), which was launched towards the end of 2004. This initiative is a partnership between the South African wine industry and the conservation sector (namely the Botanical Society of SA, CapeNature and WWF Green Trust) to minimize the further loss of threatened habitat and contribute to sustainable wine production. The two BWI extension officers have been visiting many farms (>100 to date), and passing on information about how biodiversity can be better managed and conserved within a wine production system.

There are 3 options for wine producers to become involved if there is some form of natural habitat left on the property with conservation qualifying criteria applicable to each category - become a BWI Member (entry level for individual farms or estates), BWI Co-operative Cellar Member, or BWI Champion (exemplary level for individual farms). Currently, there are 33 members, 2 co-operative cellar members and 2 champions (namely Vergelegen and Graham Beck Wines), with new members registering almost weekly. The total amount of land collectively conserved amongst all the members and champions farms totals approx. 16 900ha! The names of these members and champions and the conservation highlights and achievements of each property are on the BWI website- so read all about them on www.bwi.co.za For more information on this initiative contact SueWinter on bwi@sawb.co.za