GARDEN ROUTE | KAROO NEWS - Dr Rudi Swart, founder and director of Forests for Schools, was the speaker at the Wessa Eden annual general meeting where he gave an introduction to this non-profit organisation that was started in 2021.
Swart said their aim is to bridge the gap among South African learners and create a deeper understanding of nature conservation and ecology.
This they achieve through visiting schools in the Southern Cape, targeting children between 12 and 18 years.
They present ecological information talks to learners, specifically focusing on South Africa's unique biodiversity, and then with the help of the learners they plant some indigenous tree species.
Their short-term social goal is biodiversity awareness, a sense of pride, belonging, and the forming of an interest in nature and the long-term social goal is to raise awareness at school level on the opportunities in ecological studies and nature conservation careers.
Creating awareness at schools by planting trees.
Forming of natural vegetation gardens
"Our long-term ecological goal is the forming of natural vegetation gardens at schools across the Southern Cape landscape, possibly linking up," said Swart.
He has been conducting forest related ecological research in the Southern Cape for over nine years. He is currently associated with the Nature Conservation Department at Nelson Mandela University's George Campus where he climbs trees to record their pollinators.
He has worked on various rehabilitation projects (fynbos and forest) and has an extensive research record related to insect diversity conservation, landscape ecology, forest ecology and tree-insect interactions. This knowledge, along with his passion for natural landscapes and youth development, has led him to form Forests for Schools.
The public can help Forests for Schools through donating funds for the following: soil, compost, bonemeal, shovels, water cans and trees.
Forests for Schools visit schools to plant various indigenous tree species and create biodiversity awareness.
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