Ruida Pool-Stanvliet

Impact Narrative

Dr. Pool-Stanvliet’s proposal for OVER:

“Our Trust works with all the Biosphere Reserves in South Africa. These sites are managed in accordance with the UNESCO Man and the Biosphere Programme. We focus on biodiversity conservation and its value in alleviating poverty and upliftment of local communities. Much like the rest of Africa, South Africa has a fast growing population with rapidly depleting natural resources to sustain livelihoods. The provision of quality water resources is one of the objectives of biosphere reserve management. There are eight designated biosphere reserves in South Africa, collectively covering 8.4% of South Africa’s land mass. The biosphere reserves have an important responsibility to create awareness at the level of local communities (especially the poorer communities) on the importance of conserving natural resources through functional ecosystems as this forms the basis of quality living conditions. We will be sharing this magnificent book with all the biosphere reserves who will use the book as a tool in education and awareness processes.
Globally, biosphere reserves are considered as sites of excellence where new and optimal practices in the management of the interface of nature and human activities are tested and demonstrated. South Africa’s biosphere reserves are striving to live up to this monumental idea by implementing sound, adaptive landscape management practices. Biosphere reserves are therefore positioned to create a new partnership between environmental and development agendas. In Africa, projected to be the fastest growing region in the World, this is an imperative concept to ensure sustainability.
The book OVER would be a very important tool to spread the message of the result of overpopulation, overdevelopment and overuse of our dwindling natural resources. The book will be used to add value to learning experiences in the biosphere reserves with a focus on poverty stricken local communities. Books will be placed in the offices of the individual biosphere reserves that are visited by all sectors of society on a regular basis. The books would be a powerful tool to enhance community exhibits of the biosphere reserves. All biosphere reserves have individual web sites and social pages and I will personally ensure that the book will be showcased on all of these sites. Given the fact that biodiversity conservation does not feature very high on any political agenda in Africa, we need all available opportunities to spread the important message of people living in harmony with nature. I am convinced that the book OVER would be ideally suited to assist the South African biosphere reserves with this incredibly important task. Thank you!”