Eden WSAP Workshop

The workshop formed part of the Local Action for Biodiversity: Wetlands South Africa (LAB: Wetlands SA) project, funded by US AID and currently being implemented within EDM.

The workshop aimed to facilitate the development of the Eden Wetland Strategy and Action Plan. To this end, the workshop had four main objectives; namely to identify and map the key stakeholders working within Eden District Municipality; understand the current wetland management strategy within Eden District Municipality and identify the gaps in wetland management; identify and prioritise actions for improving wetland management and initiate the process for the development of a holistic strategy and action plan to mainstream wetland management into land use planning. The workshop also provided an excellent opportunity to increase stakeholder engagement across the municipality.

The workshop was structured and conducted by means of presentations, break-away group activities and discussions between the attending participants. The workshop was well attended by approximately 20 key stakeholders including the Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning (DEA&DP), South Africa National Parks (SANParks), CapeNature, Breede-Gouritz Catchment Management Agency (BGCMA), Garden Route Biosphere Reserve, Department of Environmental Affairs: Local Government Support and several of the local municipalities within EDM.

The Strategy and Action Planning Workshop was a highly successful workshop and a clear vision along with guiding principles, focus areas, long term goals and associated actions were established during the process. These will feed directly into the Eden Wetland Strategy and Action Plan going forward