By: Claude, Leila and Jolandie From 26 to 30 June 2025, Claude Schippers, Leila Moosajee, and Jolandie Buck attended a CyberTracker Signs and Tracking course at Brandwacht Game Reserve, run by the Honeyguide Academy. The team was mentored by the experienced tracker...
Empowering Youth Through Innovation and Sustainability
By Erin Martin A Celebration of Youth and Opportunity On 20 June, the Gouritz Cluster Biosphere Reserve (GCBR) took part in the Garden Route Youth Entrepreneurship Expo, an event that brought together young minds, innovators, and organisations committed to creating...
Water Tanks Making a Difference for Smallholder Farmers
By Simthandile Ponti Access to water is one of the biggest challenges for smallholder farmers, especially in dry areas like the Western Cape. Many of these farmers face ongoing difficulties due to drought, climate change, soil degradation, unpredictable markets, and...
A garden of nourishment: MAB Youth Learn to Grow a Garden for Good
By Leila Moosajee In the heart of Albertina, a group of passionate young people came together to get their hands dirty and learn how to start a vegetable garden from scratch. With ten MAB (Man and the Biosphere) Youth members from Albertina and four from Riversdale...
Beach Clean-Up and River Rescue in Still Bay
Written by: Purnille Albertyn There is something magical about the beach – the sound of the waves crashing, the feel of warm sand beneath your feet, and the wide-open sky. But for many of our favourite coastlines, that magic is being threatened. Plastic bottles,...
Fieldwork with the GCBR MAB Youth Members
By Nelisiwe Khusi This past month, our restoration team invited two MAB Youth members, Noluthando Zikishe and Jasmine Moses, to join us in the field for a follow-up plant biodiversity assessment along the Vals River. The two MAB Youth members were identified by our...
Climate Change Action Week with Curro Mossel Bay
Written by: Purnille Albertyn – GCBR Intern As part of Climate Change Awareness and Action Week, the Gouritz Cluster Biosphere Reserve (GCBR) team visited Curro Mossel Bay to engage learners on one of the most pressing challenges of our time: climate change. The GCBR...
Inheems 2025 Tiener Kunskompetisie
Kom ons vier ’n werklik spesiale plek Het jy geweet dat as jy enige plek in die Hessequa-munisipale distrik woon of skoolgaan, jy binne ’n UNESCO Biosfeerreservaat is? Meer spesifiek is jy deel van die Gouritz Cluster Biosfeerreservaat (GCBR) – ’n plek van...
Inheems 2025 Teen Art Competition
Let’s Celebrate a Truly Special Place Did you know that if you live or go to school anywhere in the Hessequa municipal district, you are in a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve? More specifically, you are part of the Gouritz Cluster Biosphere Reserve (GCBR) – a place of global...
Bridging Freshwater and Marine Conservation: Lessons from My First Visit to Zanzibar and the IOCAFRICA Training Workshop
By Nelisiwe Khusi | Photos by Johnson Jackob Ndaba, Zanzibar, Tanzania My journey with the Gouritz Cluster Biosphere Reserve (GCBR) began as an intern, where I was introduced to the diverse and dynamic world of nature conservation and restoration work. Throughout my...