Cliff Dorse (City of Cape Town’s Biodiversity Management Branch, a partner for the DCCP) helps the workshop coaches get familiar with the landscape of the DCCP. Photo by Natalie Hayward.
CapeNature used the Open Standards for the first time to develop a strategic plan for a large landscape conservation initiative covering an expanse of highly biodiverse lowland habitat including the Dassenberg Hills, Silwerstroomstrand, the Witzands dune system, and the coast of Western Cape, South Africa. The Dassenberg Coastal Catchment Partnership (DCCP) is aimed at water security, climate change resilience, biodiversity, cultural heritage, and socio-economic development in the 34,500 hectare area and is supported by a coalition of provincial, local, communal, and private stakeholders.
CCNet Coaches from Meso- and South America Paola Mejía and Estuardo Secaira volunteered to help CapeNature’s Natalie Hayward and Genevieve Pence facilitate two multi-day workshops designed to train CapeNature colleagues and stakeholders on the Open Standards and help them develop a framework for strategic planning for the DCCP initiative. The workshops were a great success in illustrating the Open Standards as a useful and strategic framework for the DCCP. According to participants, the workshops were well-run and engaging. Participants felt that the Open Standards process “creates a space for difficult conversations” and makes you “quantify instead of rely on pure opinion.” Since the workshops, CapeNature has adopted the Open Standards as the basis for protected area management planning.
CapeNature is very grateful for the CCNet coaches’ outstanding contribution and friendship. Working with CCNet coaches during the workshops has even led to a new collaboration between South Africa and Uruguay aimed at strengthening protected areas management.
Open Standards workshop participants gather at the Witzands dune system.
Story from Natalie Hayward, Genevieve Pence, Paola Mejía, and Estuardo Secaira.
