The Overstrand ECO INDABA was a collaborative event uniting public and private conservation organisations, local communities, advocacy groups, and educational entities to ensure environmental stewardship of the Kogelberg Biosphere and its environs.
On 28 March 2026, 45 representatives from about 24 different environmental entities met at The Book Club in Pringle Bay to move from fragmentation toward a unified, powerful voice for our region.
The event was a resounding success, marked by several key achievements:
- Unity Over Fragmentation:We successfully launched a conservation alliance that bridges the gap between the various NGOs from Pearly Beach to Rooi Els, ensuring environmental advocacy is no longer diluted in local and provincial decision-making.
- Expert Inspiration: Mark Swilling, the keynote speaker from the University of Stellenbosch, was inspiring. His insights into sustainability transitions set the perfect tone for our collective mission.
- Strategic Mapping:We completed a comprehensive mapping exercise, creating a physical “conservation action overlay” of the Overstrand to identify and coordinate our geographical and thematic strengths.
- Governance and Growth:The group reached a consensus on the tenets of a constitution and appointed an interim steering committee. We are now on a clear path toward our first AGM within the next three months.
The event helped establish a significant repository of skills and expertise that will now hold authorities accountable and advocate for the safeguarding of our unique ecosystems and UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. By supporting this Indaba, you have directly contributed to the protection of the Overstrand’s “sense of place” and the natural environment that sustains our local tourism economy.
The BBC was one of the organisations that contributed funding towards the event. Text adapted from an email from a thank you email from the Eco-Indaba team.