Environmental award for Mossel Bay project

"The Enviropaedia initiated this event in 2011 to identify and recognise individuals, organisations, and communities that practice eco-logical thinking through products or services that help protect and preserve or reduce our impact on the Earth," said The Enviropaedia's publishing editor, David Parry-Davies.

"They were also created to enable and assist the consumer to participate in looking after our planet through the conscious use of their spending power."

The Enviropaedia is a South African environmental encyclopaedia and resource directory that was launched in 2000.

Little has changed

"People have been aware of environmental problems since long before the Rio Earth Summit in 1992, but little has changed. This is because we have been addressing the symptoms and effects - but not dealing with the underlying thinking patterns and values that drive our behaviour and cause effects such as pollution, extinction of species and climate change," Parry-Davies continued.

"To solve our environmental challenges today, we need a new value system and operating logic. And that is what 'eco-logic' is all about."

Aiden Dermot Beck, manager of the Oyster Bay Reserve, accepted the Award on behalf of the Reserve and the Mossel Bay Environmental Partnership.

"The Oyster Bay Reserve Estuary Restoration and Rehabilitation Project aims to revive the estuaries of Mossel Bay and to uplift local disadvantaged communities," he said.

"It was started in June 2011 and includes the removal of alien vegetation along the estuaries and has already had positive environmental impacts."

Jobs created

"At the same time, we've created more than 80 jobs, and a number of innovative initiatives that have resulted in a growing passion for the environment amongst members of the community - all of which has opened many people's eyes to the many entrepreneurial opportunities one can find in the green arena.

"Several legacy projects - like community nurseries, community ranger training, and the opening of new walking routes equipped with educational signage - have also been developed and implemented.

"We believed when we entered the Eco-Logic Awards that our work fitted in well with David's philosophy of a 'new eco-logic'."