Knersvlakte
Director: Laurence Dworkin
Producer: George Davis
The Knersvlakte is said to take its name from the grinding sound that wagon wheels of trekking settlers made as they crossed these arid but beautiful plains of quartz gravel, into the land of first nation pastoralists and hunter-gatherers. This is a story about respectful land use, traditional tenure, conservation planning and collaborative management of natural resources.
The Manager
dir: George Davis
dop: Karen Landsberg
Synopsis:
On our trip around the False Bay Ecology Park we find some stark contrasts generated at the urban/nature interface: elegant flamingos wading in the settlement ponds of a major sewerage works; pristine fynbos vegetation in the Rondevlei Nature Reserve, separated from the poverty of an informal settlement by a concrete palisade fence; and majestic vistas of water and birdlife against a backdrop of urban industry. We meet local people that work with Asieff who tell us how their lives have changed since starting to work with nature. And then there is Bernadine, from the adjacent informal settlment of Vrygrond, who is anxious to connect local children with the natural environment of the Park. On a reflective boat ride on Rondevlei, Asieff ponders the opportunities for building a relationship with every resident that lives on the border of the Park. “I’ve got a very special place in my heart for this place. It’s part of my heritage. I try to instill that ownership in other people”.
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The Guardian / Dassen Island
dir: Michael Raimondo
dop: Warren j Smart
Synopsis:
“Should one ship miss this light, they could all be destroyed”, says Tribute looking out into the night from the flashing lighthouse. She is at peace with her solitary life on the island. She reflects on lessons that she has drawn from her observations and involvement in the cycle of birth and death that she makes as both a professional conservationist with CapeNature, and as a compassionate human being. Tribute believes that it is her duty to share the passion, and “plant the seed” of conservation in other young people world-wide. It is estimated that only about 25,000 breeding pairs of the African Penguin remain in existence.
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The Corridor / Verlorenvlei to the Cederberg
dir: Brian Tilley
dop: Tim Wege
Synopsis:
Jenifer and Johan traverse this vast landscape to visit some of the key role players in creation of the Corridor, a bold integrated conservation initiative. Amongst the partners we meet a Sandveld potato farmer, a Working for Wetlands team clearing alien invasive plants, a fish monitoring programme in the pristine upper reaches of the Olifants River, and a local farming community at Wupperthal who are being shown conservation friendly ways of dealing with problem wild animals. The film gives us a unique glimpse into the different components, and the enormous scale, of the corridor. But it is the people who hold the key. “The concept within the Corridor is People in Partnership to make things happen”, says Jenifer. “It’s when people start thinking differently and asking different questions, that’s what excites me”.
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The Collectors / The Richtersveld
dir: Laurence Dworkin
dop: Tim Wege
Synopsis:
Combining his love for succulent plants with a curiosity for those adapted to living on cliff faces, we travel with Ernst and his young student assistant James, on an expedition to the remote and beautiful Richtersveld. In this breathtaking environment, they document and collect plant species from the steep sides of a relatively unexplored mountain ridge. The film captures the lengths that Ernst will go in pursuit of his passion, and his commitment to the protection of this massively diverse desert environment.
In a reflective interlude with Ernst, we take a trip to see the lichen fields of Alexandra Bay, a unique population of Aloe pillansii at Cornell’s Kop, and the enigmatic halfmens in the heart of the Richtersveld National Park. Ernst shares some of his insights into the unique ways in which plants have adapted to this harsh environment and from which human beings might learn important life lessons.
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Shark Appeal / False Bay
dir: Lee Otten Sharon Farr
dop: Lee Otten
Synopsis:
In this film we spend time with her on a boat off the coast of Seal Island in False Bay, surrounded by seals and the Great White sharks that prey on them. We observe at close quarters the jaws that strike fear in most ordinary people. To Alison, however, these creatures are to be treated with respect, and to be recognized as an essential element of healthy and balanced marine ecosystems. In addressing human safety in recreational use of the sea, measures taken should not compromise effective shark conservation. Such a method is the shark spotting programme. We meet Monwabisi Sikweyiya, manager of this programme, who tells us about a trusted system that has been developed to warn bathers and surfers when a shark has been spotted. However, not all sharks are as fearsome as the top predator Great White. Alison takes us on a dive and introduces us to a few gentler species of shark in the magical underwater environment at Pyramid Rock in the Table Mountain National Park.
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Path into the future / Magaliesburg
dir: Michael Raimondo
dop: Warren j Smart
Synopsis:
Amongst the reasons for their declining numbers are fatal contacts with the many high voltage powerlines that criss-cross the country and exploitation by illegal muthi traders. Kerri manages a centre for vulture research and rehabilitation on a farm at the foot of the Magaliesberg, taking in sick and injured birds for recuperation, while at the same time conducting research into their habits and behaviour. Kerri wonders what it would be like to soar with these birds and is offered the opportunity to fly with a paraglider along the Magaliesberg escarpment. We join her on this unique trip, accompanied by a sky full of vultures – curious, unthreatened and playful – as they circle and glide against the spectacular backdrop of the multicoloured cliffs. “Being in the sky with them during sunset was a life-changing experience”.
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Natures Pharmacy / Pondoland Wild Coast
dir: Kgomotso Molebatsi
dop: Warren J Smart
Synopsis:
The Pondoland Wild Coast, known for its immense beauty and wealth of biodiversity, is under serious threat. Highway extension plans and a mining proposal have caused local community leaders and
organizations to come together to try and protect this vulnerable yet abundant land. Sinegugu is one such leader. In this film we travel to Sinegugu’s birthplace and discover the vast amount of
endemic plant species unique to the area. Talking to members and leaders of the community, we hear about a deep respect for the land, which far exceeds any benefit that might be derived from
material exploitation. Sinegugu walks out into the forest with his young nephew to look at some of the plants with traditional medicinal value, and he speaks about the stewardship programme that he drives, highlighting the importance of protecting indigenous knowledge. His message is a call to action; a call for people to value their environmental heritage and the “magic” of plants, a call to the elders to start teaching, and a call to the younger generation to start listening.
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'n Mens kan Droom / Flower Valley
dir: Nadine Cloete
dop: Karen Landsberg
Synopsis:
Lydia has emerged as a skilled and visionary business person in an area that is known both as a biodiversity hotspot demanding careful environmental management, as well as a region in need of
social and economic development. Lydia finds that she can address both tasks by embracing an emergent code of practice for sustainable fynbos harvesting, while providing work opportunities for local people. Roger Bailey, conservation manager at Flower Valley, is an important mentor to Lydia. He tells us about the harvesting model being developed and asks the question: “Can we create a sustainable, profitable, and ethical business based on the yields of nature?” His belief is a resounding yes. Lydia has plans and dreams for her own role in this sustainable future.
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