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Celebrating World Water Week – Learning Why Every Drop Matters
Water is something we use every day without giving much thought to where it comes from or what it takes to make it safe for us to use. During World Water Week, the Gouritz Cluster Biosphere Reserve (GCBR), in collaboration with Hessequa Municipality, gave learners...
Strengthening Conservancies Across the Gouritz Biosphere
Across South Africa, conservancies bring landowners, residents and other local stakeholders together voluntarily to care for the natural environment within a defined area. Their activities vary according to local needs and capacity but may include protecting...
Bringing Indigenous Life Back to Pikkewouter Daycare
By Erin Martins – GCBR Intern Greening our early childhood spaces is about more than just making them pretty. It’s about creating safe, living classrooms where kids can connect with nature from day one. Transforming the Grounds GCBR’s Environmental Awareness team...
Mandela Day – Coming Together for a Cleaner Albertinia
A Community That Showed Up On 18 July, in honour of Mandela Day, the Gouritz Cluster Biosphere Reserve joined hands with the St. Luke’s Green Anglicans Movement, Hessequa Municipality, and the Traffic Department for a community clean-up in Albertinia. The...
From Waste to Wonderful with GCBR and Magpie Art Collective
From 7 to 9 July, the Gouritz Cluster Biosphere Reserve collaborated with Magpie Art Collective from Barrydale to host a 3-day upcycling workshop aimed at inspiring creativity and environmental awareness among local youth. Creativity Meets...
Backyard Garden Farmers: Learning and Growing Through Challenges
By Nelisiwe Khusi and Simthandile Ponti We recently visited several backyard garden farmers in Slangrivier and Riversdale who have benefited from our Smallholder Farmers Programme. Through this programme, backyard vegetable garden farmers have received support with...
World Oceans Day at Langenhoven High School with GCBR MAB Youth
By Patricia Peters - GCBR MAB Youth Member A group of GCBR MAB Youth members (Faith, Patricia and Sinelethu) visited Grade 10 learners at Langenhoven High School to raise awareness about World Oceans Day, celebrated annually on the 8th of June. The session focused...
Melkhoutfontein Learners Explore Local History, Culture, and Nature
By Erin Martin, GCBR Environmental Education Intern On 14 May, the Gouritz Cluster Biosphere Reserve (GCBR), represented by Marinda van As and Erin Martin, hosted an educational excursion for the Grade 5 learners from Melkhoutfontein Primary School in Still Bay....
A Global Effort, A Local Landscape: The Garden Route’s Contribution to the City Nature Challenge 2026
By Antonnet Botha Stepping out on a cold and rainy 27 April 2026, I joined Jolandie Buck at an outlook area along Ruiterbos Pass. Our aim? To document the biodiversity for the City Nature Challenge. Spending the morning at various...
Inheems 2026 Teen Art Competition
It’s time to celebrate nature through creativity The Gouritz Cluster Biosphere Reserve (Gouritz Biosphere) is recognised by UNESCO as a place of global ecological importance, with rich biodiversity and cultural heritage. The whole of Hessequa falls within this...