BotSoc SO (Botanical Society of Southern Africa, Southern Overberg) took leave of two of its long-standing committee members, Stephen Smuts and Dorothy Biggs at its recent AGM.
Hermanus Times spoke to outgoing chairman Stephen Smuts about his time at BotSoc SO. He said: “On arriving in Napier in 2001, one of the first calls I made was to the Botanical Society. I have been involved with BotSoc SO for 22 years, 11 of which as chairman. I can honestly say that these have been the happiest and most meaningful years of my life.”
Smuts is a passionate conservationist who before his move from Johannesburg to Napier was the chairman of the Walkerville Agricultural Society.
“I have enjoyed making a contribution in some way,” says Smuts. “These include things like clearing alien vegetation.
“We have been able to re-establish fynbos in areas where it got damaged or was neglected. Sixteen years ago we established the Napier Mountain Conservancy and our property [a 340ha farm outside Napier] was one of the lynchpins for this project and from the start I was the chairman of this.”
Asked whether the youth is involved enough in conservation, Smuts replied: “No, they are not involved at all and that applies just as much to the parents, many of whom make a living out of the picking industry. Wildflower picking and farming of fynbos is a big employer in the Overberg.”
Over the last year or so BotSoc SO has, however, extended its footprint right through to Swellendam, to include Bredasdorp, Swellendam and Caledon and Eco Rangers groups consisting of young people have taken root in these three nodes, which, according to Smuts, the committee is very excited about.
“BotSoc SO helps with fundraising for bus trips for youngsters to visit places like Kirstenbosch to get that kind of exposure. Enormous credit must also go to Gretha Engelbrecht who has for years been going to schools all over the Overberg, educating the youth about conservation.”
Smuts (75) will be moving to Sandbaai soon and says: “I feel I am leaving BotSoc in very capable hands as there are some very strong and committed people on the committee. I wish them every strength and they will still see lots of me. And now Fernkloof and the Caledon Wildflower Garden are just about on my doorstep. I am not lost to conservation and I hope that until my dying day I will still be able to go out into the veld.”
