Collective action begins on the ground

Grahamstown (SA): EarthCollective’s work with the South African Government’s Working for Woodlands program reinforces the need for scientific research to be closely linked with social relevance.

EarthCollective is facilitating multidisciplinary research to guide and meet the scientific needs of the Subtropical Thicket Restoration Programme aimed at rejuvenating degraded landscapes for local livelihoods. The project is focused on the Eastern Cape Province – an area naturally rich as it is economically poor and is therefore exposed to a wealth of challenges. It is necessary to have a clear grasp of on-ground issues in terms of their ecological, social and economic dimensions.

“The Working for Water and Working for Woodlands programs are part of an extraordinary effort from the South African Government to alleviate poverty by employing poor people to aid with the restoration of the subtropical thicket and riparian fynbos ecosystems” says EarthCollective project facilitator Silvia Weel. “EarthCollective will work with partners to ensure these initiatives are a success. Therefore, understanding what people are doing on-ground is paramount to our understanding of how we can best help.”

For more information, contact: weel@earthcollective.net