Flower Valley Conservation Trust (FVCT)
PO Box 354, No.1 Heuningberg Building Sealy St
7280 Bredasdorp, Western Cape
South Africa
Contact person: Michelle Privett
+27 (0)284252218
+27 (0)284252855
info@flowervalley.co.za
michelle@flowervalley.co.za
http://www.flowervalley.org.za
Topics
- Environmental project
- Educational policy/project
About us
Flower Valley Conservation Trust (FVCT), established in 1999, is a public benefit organisation (PBO). The Trust aims to conserve lowland fynbos and empower vulnerable communities. We do this by promoting sustainable fynbos harvesting, and the profitable utilisation of this rich, yet rare, vegetation - found only in a small belt near the southern tip of Africa. We seek to develop skills in the fynbos industry, and educate youngsters through our Flower Valley school and in schools on surrounding farms and in local villages. The Trust and its school are based on Flower Valley farm near Gansbaai - a botanical treasure in the heart of the Cape Floral Kingdom in the Western Cape, South Africa.
The Trust’s initial objectives were to:
• undertake research, training and monitoring to inform the sustainable harvesting of wild fynbos on the Agulhas Plain.
• develop an auditing and certification system for sustainably harvested wild fynbos products, with an associated marketing strategy.
• test out the business case for sustainably harvested fynbos products, possibly creating a blueprint that could be used elsewhere on the Agulhas Plain.
• enabling landowners and rural people to use available resources creatively and sustainably through the development of micro-enterprises and education programmes.
• instilling in the children of local communities a love of their environment through an environmental education programme.
Programmes
• Sustainable Harvesting Programme: Conservation; Social development; Economic empowerment
• Accredited Fynbos Suppliers: Monthly meetings of the Trust`s Accredited Supply Forum – now a group of seven suppliers – ensures member participation in product development and marketing, and joint solutions to issues pertaining to training, accreditation and audits.
• Sustainable harvesting skills: The training is a capacity-building and empowerment activity that contributes to the development of individuals while meeting the Trust’s project objectives for certification and social responsibility objectives of suppliers and other partners.
• Alien vegetation across the Agulhas Plain: The encroachment of alien vegetation (introduced invasive plant species) is one of the major threats to the conservation of fynbos on the Agulhas Plain. The Trust coordinates alien clearing activities across the region
• Research
• Socio-Economic Development
• Environmental Education
• Early Learning Centre: The pre-school provides a comprehensive, needs-based education programme to the community and children of the area.
The Trust`s activities include:
• developing a certification system for sustainably harvested fynbos products and, by marketing these certified products, securing a niche market for them;
• monitoring the quality and quantity of fynbos picked on some 30 000 ha by various suppliers;
• enabling landowners and rural people to use available resources creatively and sustainably through the development of microenterprises, education, and arts and culture programmes;
• investing in children and local communities through social and environmental education programmes.
Michelle Privett is the FVCT Website Administrator.
For other net participants we can offer an expert guidance through trained staff, give an expert opinion, procure expert information and establish new contacts in the field of our work.