Greenpop - From the Field Report ?????
Dear Treevolutionaries, October has to be one of my favourite months in Cape Town. The days are longer and the weather is warmer. My climbing rose is blooming (I know it's not indigenous, I didn't plant it, so don't come for me).?And unicorns (what we call huge potential projects and opportunities) keep trotting into my inbox as everyone races to meet year-end goals.?
This month is special and we have some especially exciting developments and stories from our ongoing work to share with you here, dear reader. From four (yes, four!) new team members, to international consulting contracts, to thriving projects here in Mzanzi, Greenpop continues to educate and act for impact.
As always, our heartfelt thanks go to our amazing pledge partners (meet some new ones below!), donors, sponsors, volunteers and supporters who make our work possible.? So dive into these updates, explore how you can get involved in making a positive impact, and drop us a line to share your thoughts. We always love to hear from you.
Warm springtime wishes,?
Greenpop Impact Director
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We're excited to welcome the newest members of our Greenpop family: Rafael, Quanta, Hannah, and Dan!
Our Urban Greening project is evolving, and we're thrilled to introduce Rafael Bloch as our new Urban Greening Manager. Additionally, Quanta Gorven has joined as our Education Manager, to manage the Greenpop Academy as well as our other education projects. We're also excited to welcome Dan Prior, who represents CapeFrisco - Greenpop's Web & Digital Partner! And last but not least, we’re pleased to have Hannah Altmann with us for the next few weeks as a Writing & Editing Intern in our Comms and Marketing department.
Through our Forests for Life program, we form long-term partnerships with small-scale organisations and provide support to plant trees, restore forest and woodland habitats, effectively manage critical catchment areas, and improve the lives of communities that rely on forest resources. Recently, our M&E team went on a monitoring trip to assess some of our forest restoration sites on the Garden Route. Check out our findings below.
Kraaibosch Forest Restoration Project In partnership with Pachamama Projects NPC, our Kraaibosch Forest Restoration Project in Knysna was an active Forests for Life project between 2020 and 2022. Two years after the close of the project, we were eager to see how the restoration sites were progressing.?
The sites in this project are characterised by difficult clay soil and were previously heavily infested with Eucalyptus which can have allelopathic effects and prevent other vegetation from growing even after they have been removed. In light of these conditions, we were pleased to see that our three sites at Kraaibosch were all showing better growth than anticipated. Overall the restoration progress here is slow in comparison to other Garden Route sites, but given the context and continued alien clearing on the property, we are confident that a functioning forest system will emerge with time.
Khoinania Forest Restoration Project In partnership Wild Spirit Lodge & Backpackers, our Khoinania Forest Restoration Project in Nature's Valley has been active since 2019. Five years in, the reforestation efforts at Khoinania are proving very successful with great progress on our sites since they were last monitored in January 2024.?
This project demonstrates the important impact of site-specific variables which affect tree growth, health and survival rates. These include slope/gradient, water management activities, alien clearing methods, biomass management, and amount of time after fire. By conducting holistic land management activities beyond just planting trees, our reforestation projects aim to take these factors into account for maximum impact.
Our?Heineken??Green Zone (HGZ) project is taking a community-centred approach to urban greening across South Africa. By partnering with local community-led organisations and conducting ongoing stakeholder engagement, we aim to ensure that our projects meet the unique needs of our beneficiary partners and their communities.? Earlier this year, we launched our first three Green Zones with Philippi Village (Cape Town), Go Green Go Clean (Joburg), and Sakhikhaya Youth Development Centre?(Joburg). In November, we will launch our last two green zones for the year at Rise Above Development (Cape Town) and Sisonke City Farm (Durban). We encourage you to learn more about these amazing organisations on their websites and see how you can get involved in supporting them.? We are still looking for 5 more Green Zone sites in South Africa for implementation in 2025! Do you know of a community space that would be the perfect fit? We'd love to hear all about it.?
We are so excited to announce the beginning of our newest urban greening project: Living Landscapes!? Building on the success of our completed Heineken??Green Zone gardens in Cape Town and Johannesburg, the Living Landscapes project aims to further enhance these sites by expanding the green spaces. Over the next few years, we will focus on completing the landscaping of the entire property, creating lush, sustainable environments that contribute to urban greening and community well-being. The name "Living Landscapes" encapsulates the dual purpose of the spaces that will be created through this project. These spaces are "living" in the sense that they are vibrant ecosystems teeming with plants and animals, contributing to urban biodiversity and ecological health. Simultaneously, they are spaces for "living in," designed to support a wide range of human activities such as recreation, education, relaxation, spiritual practices, and sports. This dual focus ensures that the green spaces are not only environmentally beneficial but also socially and culturally enriching.
The Living Landscapes project is not just about planting trees and creating gardens; it is about fostering a culture of environmental stewardship and sustainability. Through ongoing stakeholder engagement, design collaboration, and hands-on installation activities, the project aims to educate participants about environmental issues and empower them to become lifelong environmental stewards. By integrating educational programmes and workshops into the project, Greenpop ensures that participants leave with a deeper understanding of environmental issues and practical skills for sustainable living. Keen to contribute and bring your team planting? We are now taking bookings for Garden Days as part of our Living Landscapes project! Please email [email protected] for more information.
Get ready for our much-anticipated annual reforestation event, Reforest Fest! Tickets are released in phases, so the earlier you purchase, the more you save. Don't miss the opportunity to secure your ticket at the best price and join us for a transformative weekend dedicated to making an impact on both people and the environment. Phase 2 tickets are on sale now—grab yours before they're gone!
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We are also thrilled to share that Greenpop has been honoured at the #cocreate Circular Design Challenge 2024 by the Craft and Design Institute! Our zero-waste humanure composting system was recognized in the organic waste category. This innovative, closed-loop system turns human waste into nutrient-rich compost, significantly reducing landfill contributions while boosting resource efficiency and environmental sustainability—an ideal solution for events throughout South Africa.
We've proudly implemented this system at numerous events over the years, including Reforest Fest. If you've experienced one of our composting toilets at an event, we'd love to hear your feedback! A heartfelt thank you to everyone involved, especially Marnus, our incredible Events Contractor, for representing Greenpop and presenting this groundbreaking idea at the conference.
Greenpop recently hosted an inspiring school camp for Reddam House Constantia. Grade 8 students embraced nature through activities like hiking, river surveys, and planting an indigenous garden. These camps play a vital role in fostering hands-on learning and nurturing an appreciation for the environment, helping to cultivate the next generation of environmental stewards. And of course, it wouldn't be a Greenpop camp without the POP! The event also included mindfulness crafting, a Divine Mahara fireside show, and an exhilarating ‘Recycling Olympics,’ making the experiences both educational and memorable. Here’s what some of the students shared:
"This has been the best camp so far and has managed to do what other camps failed at."
"I learned how there is no 'away' in trash and we have to be smart the way we recycle."
"Take a break from phones and family. It makes you truly appreciate them."
At Greenpop, we believe in the power of collaboration and offer our services to other impact organisations. These services range from project management to event production to education to communications! Check out the projects we are currently working on below.
Greenpop is currently working on a contract for IUCN which aims to develop and run a communications campaign to raise the profile of?The Restoration Initiative.?As part of a communications contract for the IUCN, Greenpop organised and facilitated the inaugural webinar series of The Restoration Initiative, which focused on sharing best practices and success stories from TRI. This formed part of our campaign to highlight the work of this groundbreaking global initiative, along with the delivery of compelling and informative communication materials such as infographics and a 10-minute video.
It has been an honour to contribute to this important project and to showcase their contribution to combatting biodiversity loss as the world gathers at the UN Biodiversity Conference (CBD COP16) in Cali, Columbia. Thank you to IUCN for the opportunity to contribute to this important project. Follow our campaign on social media: Twitter: @IUCN_forests Facebook: IUCNForest
Greenpop has been contracted until the end of 2024 to develop and run a communications campaign to raise the profile of IUCN’s Climate Change and Energy Transition team’s work.
The CCET Team runs various projects focusing on climate change adaptation and resilience, just energy transition and the nexus between climate change and biodiversity. The team’s 4 core projects are:
As part of our contract, Greenpop will develop a communications strategy, create communications assets (videos, infographics, etc), build 2 new websites, and develop an email marketing strategy.?
This month, the CCET Team is attending the UN Biodiversity Conference (CBD COP16) in Cali, Columbia. Follow along as we assist them in sharing the ways in which their projects contribute towards the preservation and restoration of biodiversity around the world.
Follow on X: @IUCNClimateTeam
Follow on LinkedIn:?IUCN Climate Team
#COP16Columbia #PeaceWithNature
Meet some of our awesome pledge partners ??
We would like to give a heartfelt thank you?to?Franklees,?Boland Cellar,?Passion Africa Travel?, and?Leading Lights Executive Recruitment?for your ongoing partnership?and support ??. Thank you for your TREEmendous contributions!
We'd like to extend a warm welcome ??
We would like to give a heartfelt thank you?to?Nomad Africa Tours & Sararis,?Umlani Bushcamp,?Woodcrafts Galore, and?Klipspring Guided Hikes for joining the TREEvolution!
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