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Summary

Summary

On March the 16th 2011, the Flower Valley Conservation Trust (FVCT) hosted an event designed to assess the impacts of sustainable harvesting training upon picking practices in the veld. The day was organised as a research component of the ‘Ethical Production in South Africa: Advancing a Cultural Economy Approach’ project. The event involved observing two picking teams as they worked to fulfil an order generated for the purposes of this assessment. A data collection sheet was devised based around criteria derived from the ‘sustainable harvesting code of practice’ (SHCoP).  Data relating to the practice of each picker was recorded in the veld, whilst the harvested bundles of fynbos were later analysed in the packshed in order to evaluate the extent to which they met market criteria. A lot of anecdotal evidence and opinions exist in relation to the sustainability of fynbos harvesting but there is relatively little empirical evidence. The objective of the exercise was to contribute to the process of gathering empirical evidence and to identify effective data collection systems to enable this process.

The event was attended by a contingent of staff from CapeNature, representatives from the FVCT and several academics. The event provided an excellent opportunity for these different stakeholders to interact with one another, as well as with members of the picking teams. In this way individuals were exposed to new perspectives that may inform their daily working practices. The core objectives of the event were as follows:

  1. To assess the extent to which principles taught in sustainable harvesting training have become embedded within pickers’ daily practices
  2. To identify pickers’ sources of knowledge about fynbos harvesting
  3. To identify factors that influence daily picking practices
  4. To bring together a range of sustainable harvesting stakeholders in a practical forum in order to share observations and ideas about the future of sustainable harvesting
  5. To use the exercise as a pilot study to inform a rollout of similar assessment exercises in the future

Observer participants

  • Roger Bailey, Conservation Manager, FVCT
  • Gerhard van Deventer, Sustainable Harvesting Trainer and Fynbos supplier, Sandberg Farm
  • Dr David Bek, Research Associate, Department of Geography, Durham University, United Kingdom
  • Dr Shari Daya, Lecturer, Department of Environmental and Geographical Sciences, University of Cape Town
  • Rhoda Malgas, Lecturer, Department of Conservation Ecology & Entomology, University of Stellenbosch
  • Samantha  de la Fontaine, MSc Student, Department of Conservation Ecology & Entomology, University of Stellenbosch
  • Shaun Page, Sustainable Harvesting Manager, CapeNature
  • Donny Malherbe, Conservation Services Manager, West Boland
  • Rhett Hiseman, Conservation Services Manager, Hessequa
  • Corne Claasen, Conservation Services Manager, Langerberg
  • Esna van der Merwe, Conservation Services Officer, Langerberg
  • Andrae Marais, Conservation Services Manager, Overberg
  • Bongani Sithole, Conservation Services Officer, Overberg
  • Vernon Munnik, Field Ranger, Koegelberg Biosphere Reserve