Living Lands employee Noel Isaacs gave a welcome presentation to the Sewefontein community farm. Noel, who also has family living on the farm, explained the catchment restoration strategy which forms part of “PRESENCE in the Baviaanskloof”. After the presentation, Noel showed the movie: “Hope In A Changing Climate” from the “EEMP” which gave a better understanding of what stock overgrazing can do to an area, and what restoration can actually mean for the livelihoods of the people on the landscape – and in creating a true “living landscape”.

After Noel’s inspiring presentation there was plenty of fruitful discussion. “We would like to welcome PRESENCE researchers on Sewefontein to look at restoration and sustainable land use,” one of the committee members said after the movie. “But we still need our goats if we do not find another source of income,” a passion committee member responded. The older members remembered clearly how fertile the land in the Baviaanskloof once was, in days when there was lots of water: “In the past it was very wet here in the Bvaiaanskloof, if you took some soil with your bare hands from the ground you already had water”. Living Lands and Sewefontein are looking forward to work in close collaboration to seek win-win opportunities for sustainable land use.

The meeting at Sewefontein was the last official engagement for Noel Isaacs as an employee for Living Lands. Noel is now leaving Living Lands to work at a game reserve just outside of the western Baviaanskoof. “This new job will bring me closer to my dream. I want to become a ranger in Addo National Park or have my own tourist enterprise,” said Noel. “I learnt so much during my year and a half at Living Lands, I really understand nature restoration now. I will always promote living landscapes in my work and will teach the tourists in my new job. I want to stay in touch and work close together with the students and staff of Living Lands. I still feel a strong part of PRESENCE…”

It has been a pleasure to have Noel’s passion for nature as part of PRESENCE. Living Lands wishes Noel all the best in his new position and is definitely looking forward to keep working with Noel in our combined efforts to restore the beautiful Baviaanskloof – his Baviaanskloof.

Text: Marijn Zwinkels

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