Page 38 - State of Biodiversity 2019-2020

4.6.3. Community Reforestation Project (CRP)
The EPCPD has partnered with the Wildlands Conservation Trust (WCT) in order to restore selected indigenous forest areas in the EMA. The reforestation programme has adopted the Community Ecosystem Based Adaption (CEBA) model, which demonstrates the strong and vital link between socio-economic upliftment and biodiversity conservation, enhanced ecosystem functioning and carbon sequestration. ‘Treepreneurs’ propagate trees at their homesteads through the Indigenous Trees for Life Programme developed by WCT. Treepreneurs then trade their trees for basic food items, clothes, building materials and even school fees. Ninety percent of people who now benefit from
Toolbox talks.
Fire fighting training.
this project were earning wages below the poverty line, and are, therefore, from some of the most vulnerable communities in the country. Many of these Treepreneurs are women and children, unemployed adults and pensioners.
Buffelsdraai training session.
34 STATE OF BIODIVERSITY REPORT 2019/2020