Joslin Bauer, of Storms River Village, received the Women in Conservation Award at the SANParks Kudu Awards on Thursday, November 30.
SANParks honoured this community leader for “her contribution to sustainable conservation and for leading the way in a bold and influential manner in an industry that is under-served by female entrepreneurs”.
Bauer identified a need among children in the village to be outdoors and off the streets, so she started doing walks in the local forest and fynbos in 2019.
The children decided to call themselves the Earthlings, because of their love of nature. They also decided on their own values, not rules, and put these into practice on their ventures into the forest. Some of the values they have identified are respect for the environment, for yourself, for others, and for the law.
Bauer organises activities and events for the children with the help of the local school, organisations, and volunteers. One such volunteer was local artist and botanical expert, Marcel Terblanche, who accompanied the group to teach them about nature in the local forest.
“It was great to see the interest from the kids,” said Terblanche. “Jos’s dedication to her vision with the Earthlings is awesome.”
Bauer grew up in small village of Goesa, in the beautiful Tsitsikamma, and she remembers a childhood close to nature.
“I have the fondest memories of camping and fishing with my family in the park [the Tsitsikamma National Park area]. It is here where my passion for nature got nurtured.”
Today she gets tremendous support for her venture from SANParks in Tsitsikamma. The children get free entrance to all the local SANPark areas, and they also help with other resources such as books, and accommodation for visiting volunteers involved with her project.
The Women in Conservation Kudu Award celebrates and recognises women who are ground-breakers in conservation, environmental education, tourism, and socio-economic development areas. For Bauer the award is for the children and because of the children.
“The award may have my name on it, but it belongs to the Earthlings,” she said.
“Children are the future of our nation. The path we show our children today is the path upon which they will take the nation tomorrow.”
The Kudu Awards are hosted annually in recognition of both SANParks staff and external stakeholders and individuals for their contributions and efforts in enhancing SANParks.
A Lifetime Achievement Award was bestowed posthumously to another Storms River resident, the late Oom Popo Scott, of Storms River Village, with the award being collected by his family.
Oom Popo, who served SANParks for 45 years in the Tsitsikamma section of the Garden Route National Park, was one of the founders of the Otter Trail.
This reward honoured him for his contribution towards the establishment of the latter, as well as building the Dolphin Trail to the east of Storms River. He was also instrumental in building the network of trails at the Storms River Mouth.
