Similar biosphere ground found between K2C and Rhön, Germany

June 10-17, 2007 saw 12 delegates from the Kruger to Canyons Biosphere Region (K2C) hosted by their counterparts in the Rhön Biosphere in Germany for the purposes of an educational exchange with the potential of forming a formal and constructive future partnership.The exchange came about as a result of an initiative instigated by GTZ (a German technological funding agency) through colleagues currently working with Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency, through the Mpumalanga Rural Development Programme (GTZ – MRDP).

The Rhon and K2C biosphere were partnered together due to the many similarities between each of the biospheres. These include land under claim due to past political experiences (GDR / apartheid regime); transboundary of provinces (Hesse, Thuringia, Bavaria / Mpumalanga, Limpopo); important abiotic resources (landscape monuments; mining); participatory approaches not historically used; differences in wealth / employment due to political and social history; the risk of change in landscape through land use change; peripheral locality; highly dependent on outdoor tourism (with overnight stays) as well as day tourism; established link of conservation with tourism, agriculture and forestry and agro-biodiversity (rare breeds and varieties), to name a few.

The delegates from K2C were Debby Thomson, Marié-Tinka Uys, Remember Makhubela and Jenny Newenham (K2C executive committee members); Solly Themba (social ecology – Kruger National Park), Lesiba Masibe (Limpopo Department of Economic Development, Environment and Tourism), Maryna Matthee (Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency), Refilwe Ramothwala (municipal manager of Maruleng Municipality), Canzi Lisa (municipal manager of Bushbuckridge), Mike Scott (agriculture), Mirjam de Koning (GTZ-MRDP), Michelle Terblanche (GTZ).

As biospheres focus largely on maintenance and conservation of biodiversity as well as sustainable development, these were the major facets that were explored and investigated. The most notable concepts picked up by the team were the commitment of the Rhön stakeholders to the biosphere concept on an individual basis and their involvement in sustainable living principles. All the farms visited followed committed organic practices and were as concerned with the conservation of the landscape as they were with the production of their produce.

The restaurants and hotels visited were all part of a great concept called “from the Rhön, for the Rhön” where they are all committed to supporting locally grown or developed produce (from within The team in the Rhone Biosphere landscapethe Rhön region) – more often than not, this can be more costly than purchasing products from larger wholesale suppliers, however, they believe their commitment to the region is more important. They were also all very proud to display signs indicating their partnership in the programme at the entrances to their establishments.

The most amazing aspect seen however, involved the various forms of renewable energy produced within the region. Individual members have the legal ability to produce forms of renewable electricity and feed it into the national grid for which they are given financial compensation at a competitive market rate. Sites visited included a biogas generator that is connected to an organic dairy farm. As carpentry and wood harvesting is a large economic activity in the region, large piles of wood chips and shavings are stored in huge piles and also used in the biogas burners. The delegation visited a solar farm, where solar energy is harvested through a large field of solar panels and fed into the national grid, and lastly a small family owned mini-hydro power system using new technology of a single dive turbine that is installed at a suitable place on a “small babbling brook” (no major dams/ dam walls or high powered turbulent water required).

This particular site was originally started by the current mayor’s great grandfather in the earlier part of this century, using a typical old fashioned water-wheel that supplied electricity to the surrounding village. As times have progressed, the wheel has progressed to a standard turbine and is currently converting to the new dive-turbine technology.In each of the instances listed above, although feeding directly into the national grid, enough electricity is produced to supply the neighbouring village (average around 1000 residents), with electricity for a year. Some interesting additional figures were also supplied – at present Germany produces enough renewable energy to replace 50 percent of South Africa’s current consumption, yet according to national government’s White Paper on Renewable Energy, it is our goal for four percent of our national electricity to be supplied via renewable electricity by the year 2013.

The delegation returned hugely inspired and with a large number of ideas and concepts that they hope to implement locally, although many of them will have to be adapted and “Africanised” to comply with local dynamics. Concepts and proposals are being investigated immediately and hope to be implemented within the next two to 10 year time span. Commitments from both GTZ and Rhön Biosphere have been received in their continual assistance in helping K2C to achieve all of their identified goals and visions.