This consolidation will promote one publically communicated certification message to assure wine lovers of the IPW-accredited producers' environmental credentials. It will also assist the wine industry to grow their now well-established foundation as global leaders in environmental sustainability, and WWF can focus on addressing emerging trends and escalating environmental risks in the sector.
This follows a successful ten year milestone of BWI, a pioneering partnership between the South African wine industry and conservation sector, whose aim was to raise awareness and industry support for the protection and effective management of the Cape Floral Kingdom and Succulent Karoo. The initial aims and objectives have been superseded with elevated levels of awareness and action to conserve and protect the natural heritage of these global biodiversity hotspots in the Cape winelands.
"After a decade of providing extension support to the sector, we feel that the timing is right to reposition our conservation partnership with the wine industry so as to focus on new challenges facing the sector moving beyond an individual farm support model to address issues at a landscape level across catchments, conservancies and local wine regions," says Inge Kotze, WWF agricultural programme manager.
"Following recent fires, floods and other key ecosystem indicators such as water quality issues and spread of alien invasive plants affecting landscapes, many BWI members have also been expressing the desire to coordinate their efforts towards collective management of their environmental risks," says Kotze.
Furthermore, WWF will continue to support industry best practice and innovation through a Champion in Conservation label which will retain the logo of the sugarbird on the protea. This logo will be a symbol of farms which are leading in environmental best practise and operating beyond their farm gates to collaboratively manage key environmental risks. All 29 existing BWI Champions will remain key partners of WWF, and there is an open invitation to aspiring industry champions who are able to meet the rigorous best practice criteria.
WWF has been working closely with long standing industry partners such as IPW, South African Liquor Brandowners Association (SALBA), VinPro and Wines of South Africa (WOSA) to develop this next level of partnership and aspiration for the wine sector, as well as ensuring the momentum of efforts and commitments made by BWI members who will continue to promote and market their stories under the Sustainable Wines of South Africa banner.
"WWF is extremely proud that during the tenure of BWI, more than a third of industry producers committed to reducing their overall environmental impact as demonstrated through effective management of their vineyards, cellars and surrounding natural areas," says Morné du Plessis, CEO of WWF South Africa.
