Page 19 - State of Biodiversity 2023-2024

Figure 2: Presenters and Chair of the May 2024 Session.
and engagement throughout the previous year. These awards celebrate commitment, research, innovation, and impactful presentations, offering inspiration for ongoing environmental engagements:
• Anne Bruzas was honoured with the Perfect Attendance Award, recognizing her dedication and commitment to attending all forums throughout the year without exception.
• Lee D’ Eathe was honoured with the Bheki Mdletshe Award -The Engagement Champion for consistently providing valuable inputs and thought-provoking questions at each forum.
• Bheka Memela was honoured with the Best Presenter Award for his outstanding presentation skills, delivering an insightful talk titled “Community Engagement with Community Complexity in Mind” at
the November 2022 forum. The Runner-up Award for Best Presentation was given to Dalisu Hlatshwayo for his impactful presentation on “The EI4WS and Amanzi Ethu Nobuntu Project.
• Bheka Memela was also honoured with the Best Presentation Award for his insightful and well- received talk titled “Community Complexity in Mind” at the November 2022 forum and for the most impactful presentation at the forum.
The 2023/24 Biodiversity Forum has demonstrated the power of collaboration, innovation, and community involvement in addressing the most pressing environmental challenges and lesson learned. Each session provided valuable insights and actionable strategies that will guide future conservation efforts. As we move forward, the knowledge shared, and the connections made during these forums will continue to inspire and drive meaningful action in the preservation of our local biodiversity.
“Grasslands are among South Africa’s most threatened ecosystems, and Professor Kevin Kirkman’s presentation shed light on the difficulties of restoring these landscapes.”
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