UCT organised and supported events about the sustainable use of land in 2024, including on-the-ground restoration and invasive-alien clearing activities in 2024, such as tree-planting / reforestation, volunteer invasive-species removal and campus restoration work.

1. Reforestation / dam-precinct restoration (Arbour Week) - 1 September 2024

UCT Properties & Services started a significant environmental restoration project in the dam precinct to mitigate erosion and restore indigenous biodiversity after previous fires. The action was timed to kick off during Arbour Week (1–7 Sept 2024) and was part of a multi-year restoration effort.

This is a campus-based, practical reforestation/restoration project involving planting and habiUCT News — “Reforestation continues as UCT restores its urban forest following devastating fires” (1 Sep 2024).

2. Khusela Ikamva / “Forest Conversation” and active restoration programming - Oct 2024 (and ongoing 2024 activities)

Khusela Ikamva (UCT’s Sustainable Campus project) ran a “Forest Conversation” event (1 Oct 2024) and is presented as the lead for campus restoration and living-lab activity — the initiative aims to reconnect the campus with forest and mountain ecosystems and drive restoration work. Khusela Ikamva runs the campus living-lab programmes that coordinate on-campus plantings, habitat restoration and volunteer activities. The Forest Conversation publicised restoration progress and plans.

3. CampusWild UCT - ongoing volunteer/field restoration & awareness programme (2024 activity)

CampusWild is folded in to the Khusela Ikamva’s engagement activities, and documents student/staff projects, field activities, sightings and exhibitions — it functions as a community hub for campus biodiversity projects and practical interventions (invasive clearing, plantings, monitoring). CampusWild coordinates and publicises hands-on restoration work on the UCT campus and adjacent wildland fragments.

4. Game Changers for a Liveable Planet: A Youth Empowerment Seminar

Environmental Law Association of South Africa’s Western Cape Regional Event 2024

On Saturday, 12 October 2024 the Environmental Law Association of South Africa (“ELA”) hosted learners and educators from high schools in Cape Town to participate in its Western Cape Regional Event “Game Changers for a Liveable Planet: A Youth Empowerment Seminar”. This inspiring full-day, in-person seminar was held at Wilfred and Jules Kramer Law School, Middle Campus, UCT between 8am – 5pm, and was supported by UCT Law Faculty, UCT Institute of Marine & Environmental Law and UCT Law Students’ Council., as well as South African National Biodiversity Institute, Philippi Horticultural Area Food and Farming Campaign, ICLEI Africa, WWF-SA, Iimbovane Outreach Project (Stellenbosch University), Animal Law Reform South Africa, International Union for Conservation of Nature, Species Survival Commission (IUCN SSC), Protect the West Coast, Legal Resources Centre, Natural Justice, Centre for Environmental Rights; and Western Cape: Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning (Climate Change Directorate).

The youth empowerment seminar entitled “Game Changers for a Liveable Planet” was aimed at high school learners (grades 9-12) in the Western Cape province and their educators, and it sought to connect them to a network of environmental practitioners who are making a tangible difference in the fields of environmental law and science. Environmental practitioners from various disciplines presented on their role in their law firm or organisation and showcased a project that they are working on in the public interest – emphasising the impact of their work in creating a more sustainable planet. This knowledge transfer session gave learners and their educators a better grasp about current and future environmental challenges, enabled them to understand what work is being done in practice to solve these environmental challenges, and showcased the kinds of jobs and study opportunities that this expanding profession offers to the learners after they matriculate. The event was targeted at learners and educators interested in the environmental sector and environmental conservation initiatives.

Excerpt 1: “Reforestation continues as UCT restores its urban forest following devastating fires” (1 September 2024)

“Arbour Week (1–7 September) is set to kick off with a significant environmental restoration project in the dam precinct at the University of Cape Town (UCT). This initiative is part of a larger, multi-year endeavour by UCT’s Properties & Services (P&S) department to mitigate erosion and restore indigenous biodiversity, particularly after the devastating fires of 2021.”

“The fires created a dire need for urgent intervention,” [Noelene le Cordier, senior horticulturist and the project leader] said. “Invasive species are often the first to sprout after a fire, and without prompt action, they can dominate the landscape, making it difficult for indigenous vegetations to reclaim their territory.”

“One of the most striking aspects of this greening project is its focus on planting indigenous species, which have a cultural significance and are better suited to the biome. Tree-planting will start on the slopes above the tennis courts with donated trees. This will create an opportunity to plant a variety of trees and evaluate their performance, which will inform future tree-planting on these slopes.”

This shows UCT’s practical restoration work on campus, dealing with invasive species, selecting indigenous plant species, and doing evaluative monitoring (measuring performance of plantings).

Excerpt 2: “Khusela Ikamva ignites reflective and reconnecting nature conversation” (9 October 2024)

“A sustainable campus initiative called Khusela Ikamva (secure the future) is aimed at restoring not only the physical forest that was damaged by the fires in April 2021 but also the cultural and spiritual connections that the University of Cape Town (UCT) community shares with the natural fauna and flora.”

“Forest Conversations took place on 1 October on UCT’s upper campus and saw students and staff, including the vice-chancellor … gather to pay homage and reconnect with this restoration project.”

“The project has been working on forest restoration since the fires of 2021. Initially, the focus was on building a community of practice within the project team. Through a series of workshops and events, the team worked to develop a shared understanding of concepts like sustainability… Over time, the forest emerged as a priority area for restoration efforts …”

This event highlights the social / cultural and participatory side of restoration — community engagement, restoring forest ecosystems, re-imagining land and vegetation use, and aligning stakeholders’ values and visions.