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| The Fynbos Forum Secretariat is currently based
at the Cape Conservation Unit. |
Fynbos Forum
Mission
The Fynbos Forum is an affiliation of researchers, planners, managers, landowners
and a range of other stake-holders that meets annually to discuss management
issues and research results, and to formulate priorities for future research
and conservation management actions required to ensure the conservation
and sustainability of Fynbos ecosystems. In order to achieve this goal,
we undertake to assess biological resources, ensure institutional capacity
and consider socio-economic issues.
Background
The Foundation for Research and Development (FRD) established this forum
in the late 1970's (then known as the Fynbos Biome Project) to research
fire and alien management in the Cape Floristic Region. In the late 1980's
the FRD committed to supporting an annual research forum meeting, and
the Fynbos Forum was born. Since then it has grown from a research-focused
forum, to a forum with a strong balance between research and implementation
where conservation managers and researchers meet to share lessons, test
new approaches and ideas. The Forum is now sponsored by the National Research
Foundation (NRF) Pretoria.
Activities An annual forum is held where participants exchange ideas through paper
and poster presentations, workshops and discussions. Each year the forum
is held in a different region within the Cape Floristic Region to allow
for broad geographic participation. Field trips are very much part of
the forum where issues of concern and interest are investigated in the
field. It also provides students with the opportunity of preparing and
presenting their work and gaining experience in conference participation
(student participation is subsidized). Networking with others who are
interested in and working on Fynbos related matters is one of the forum's
major benefits. In addition to the annual conference, our activities include
workshops and working groups on key conservation issues, and an information
dissemination service (i.e. job adverts, funding opportunities etc). From
time to time the Forum adopts resolutions on key issues. Key milestones
include the resolutions:
- to demonstrate the effect of alien plants on both water run-off and
biodiversity (and the potential socio-economic consequences of this)
which contributed to the inception of the Working for Water Programme;
- to set up an international initiative to focus on biodiversity of
the CFR as an internationally recognized hotspot which contributed to
the inception of Cape Action for People and the Environment (C.A.P.E.).
- to compile Fynbos Forum Ecosystems Guidelines for Environmental
Assessment in the Western Cape."
The forum is represented on the C.A.P.E. implementation committee as well
as the Table Mountain Fund Board of Trustees. The Fynbos Forum Committee
comprises representatives from a broad spectrum of organisations involved
with Fynbos conservation issues, including the Botanical Society of South
Africa, Western Cape Nature Conservation Board, SanParks, WESSA, E. Cape,
City of Cape Town, Working for Water, Table Mountain Fund (TMF), SAPPEX,
University of Stellenbosch, and the private sector.
For further details, please contact the Fynbos Forum Secretariat at
the Conservation Unit: Wendy Paisley Ph: 021-799 8824 Fax: 021-761 5983
Email: paisley@botanicalsociety.org.za
Fynbos Forum Innovation Scholarships
The Fynbos Forum is pleased to announce that applications are now open for the 2010 FF Innovation scholarships. Please see here for details.
Fynbos Forum 2009
The proceedings of the Fynbos Forum 2009 (held in Bredasdorp) are now available:
Fynbos Forum 2009
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