Conservation training on Telperion, Mpumalanga: addressing critical and scarce skills shortages in the environmental sector

Abstract

In 2000, the Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT) created the Conservation Training Project, (CTP) to focus on mentorship and skills development of future conservationists. The project aims to prepare young conservation students with necessary sector skill requirements and experiences to take up positions within the sector. An agreement in 2008 lead to the use of the De Beers Nature Reserve, Telperion, being used to conduct conservation mentorship and skills development activities. Soil conservation, alien plants, fire, natural resource management, law enforcement, vegetation survey techniques, specie identification as well as communication activities, totaling 1399 hours, was made available to 66 students.