Biosphere Living in the Kogelberg
Become a Kogelberg Biosphere member – and enjoy benefits specially designed to assist you and/or your business.
"Know that the world sees the work you are doing here, as part of this biosphere – and is looking to learn from our experiences on creating a sustainable future for people and nature." - Mike du Toit, Former Chair
Why become a member?
The KOGELBERG BIOSPHERE offers resources, networking opportunities, connections and capacity to help you, your organisation and/or your business.
By signing up for a year, you can:
- Access resources such as information and maps only available to members
- Use our logo (with certain criteria) and receive a certificate to show your audience your commitment to sustainable development
- Work with the Kogelberg Biosphere to network with key stakeholders, such as municipalities and local government
- Enjoy the power of the collective to have a voice in bringing about positive change
- Know about the projects we’re running and how you can get involved
- Enjoy access to joint marketing opportunities that fit our goals and projects.
Individual member
- Open to any individual
Affinity group member
- Institutions such as NGOs and conservancies that operate on a non-profit basis
(Please complete the form and email to admin@kogelbergbiosphere.org.za)
Growing the economy
PROTECTING NATURE
EDUCATION AND AWARENESS RAISING
SECURING WATER
NATURE BASED SOLUTIONS
As a member, you can also find out more about and get involved in our projects. Currently WE focuses on these five areas:
Membership fees are allocated to running our projects and coordination role.
We support and work with these projects:
We work according to 5 project themes
Growing the economy
The Kogelberg Biosphere works with partners to grow the economy, including the Grabouw Development Agency (GDA), a key partner looking at sustainable development in the biosphere. The GDA is currently focused on creating community business hubs, building a mall in the heart of the informal settlement, developing the industrial area and providing housing for all income levels.
The GDA also realises that the environment is key in sustainable development, and that by supporting environmentally sustainable projects, we can together unlock international donor and development funding. MORE
education AND AWARENESS RAISING
It’s not only the environment that is negatively affected by poor land-use practices and unsustainable and harmful practices that affect our natural world. We as humans also suffer. Healthy natural areas are essential if people are to live healthy lives. As humans, we benefit when our ecosystems work as they should.
At the Kogelberg Biosphere, we realise that by showcasing nature’s value, we can encourage healthy natural areas that can support wellbeing. MORE
Securing water
The Kogelberg Biosphere works with partners to remove thirsty invasive alien plants from our land and waterscapes. The biosphere therefore implements invasive alien clearing projects or plays a role in coordinating these efforts, and provides support and advice to stakeholders regarding their clearing programmes. MORE
Protecting nature
The Biosphere is home to an array of indigenous animals that often suffer due to habit loss, wildfires, snaring and poisoning. In response to these many threats, the Kogelberg Biosphere has launched the Kogelberg Biosphere Wildlife Rescue & Training Centre, situated just outside Betty’s Bay. This centre serves as a safe haven for injured and vulnerable animals, before they are then released back into the wild. We also support additional projects to protect nature, including a ‘no mow’ project. MORE
NATURE-BASED SOLUTIONS
The Kogelberg Biosphere has launched a number of projects seeking nature-based solutions, such as our work to protect the natural world that lives in the forestry areas. Biosphere rangers have been appointed to undertake daily patrols in the old forestry areas. They report fires, dumping, hunting with dogs and other illegal activities taking place there. MORE
The philosophy of the KOGELBERG BIOSPHERE
Members agree to adhere to the philosophy of the Kogelberg Biosphere. We are a biosphere and our focus is on finding local solutions to global challenges, as set out in the UNESCO Man and the Biosphere Programme. The goal is to create a sustainable future for people and for nature in our area. Here’s more on what we’re about.
(Please complete the form and email to admin@kogelbergbiosphere.org.za)
Donate
We are a not-for-profit company and a public benefit organisation. All funds raised therefore go to meeting our motto: Nature for Life.
We can provide 18A tax exemption certificates to donors.
For more information, contact admin@kogelbergbiosphere.org.za
LATEST NEWS
The living waters of South Africa’s Kogelberg
Beneath the surface lies a liquid jewel box, where nature keeps its treasures. I’ve travelled and dived in many places in South Africa and the world. And I’ve witnessed why this ocean stretch is extraordinary – it’s home to over 3500 marine species
The Kogelberg Biosphere caps a year of conservation and community impact
The Kogelberg Biosphere has experienced a year marked by community partnership, expanding conservation efforts and measurable progress in ecological stewardship.
You can take the next step, to become a member of the Kogelberg Biosphere.
JOIN HERE | And remember to include us in your social media posts, by using the hashtag: #BiosphereLiving.