Sustainable Stellenbosch is an initiative of the Sustainability Institute, the University of Stellenbosch and TSAMA Hub, to promote sustainable development in the wider Stellenbosch through close collaboration with Stellenbosch Municipality (through the Reinventing Stellenbosch programme), community and business sectors. The focus of the initiative is to leverage the knowledge and experience within the University of Stellenbosch to support sustainable, community-driven development in Stellenbosch.
Science & Society
The emerging Science & Society initiative aims to mobilise civil society in partnership with the University, Municipality and business sectors around key sustainability challenges for the Stellenbosch Community. The main themes of this initiative include Energy, Water, Waste, Biodiversity & Food Security. The initiative includes stakeholder engagement, events and campaigns to promote knowledge sharing and collaboration in the wider Stellenbosch.
Stellenbosch Research Group
The Stellenbosch Research Group (SRG), comprising of students from the University of Stellenbosch focusing their research on sustainability in Stellenbosch, is supported by the Sustainable Stellenbosch initiative. Their research ranges from energy efficiency and renewable energy solutions to animal traction and local food economies in Stellenbosch. The SRG is not only researching sustainability in Stellenbosch, but actively participating in shaping the future of Stellenbosch through ongoing forums and dialogues.
Reinventing Stellenbosch Partnership
The University of Stellenbosch and Stellenbosch Municipality have entered into a formal Memorandum of Understanding to promote sustainability in the wider Stellenbosch Community that is supported by the Sustainability Institute. Some of the key projects within this partnership include:
- The Mayor’s Food Security Programme to promote food security at a community level through household and community food gardens, skills development, job creation and access to nutritional food.
- Land Reform with a focus on providing access to municipal commonage for emerging farmers. A Commonage Implementation Committee has been established to address land reform in Stellenbosch by the University of Stellenbosch, Stellenbosch Municipality and the Department of Land Affairs. The Sustainability Institute’s Sustainable Agriculture (hotlink to Sus Agri) programme is playing a key role in supporting this initiative.
- Implementation of the Sustainable Human Settlements Strategy which has been adopted by Stellenbosch Municipality to promote sustainable and integrated development in Stellenbosch. This includes addressing challenges such as energy, water, waste, biodiversity conservation, transport and housing.
Stellenbosch Development Forum
A call from the business and community sectors has culminated in a proposal for a Stellenbosch Development Forum to be established which would provide a long term, legally constituted platform for formal engagement with the challenges and opportunities for the Stellenbosch community. We are currently in the process of establishing this forum. Please contact us (information below) for more information.
Sustainable Stellenbosch Schools Initiative
We recognise the critical importance of promoting sustainability through schools and are currently offering a free educational service to all schools in Stellenbosch Municipality, including presentations at schools on a range of topics related to sustainability and fieldtrips to the Sustainability Institute. Please see Sustainability Institute Tours (hotlink) for more information. We are in the process of auditing and contacting schools in Stellenbosch Municipality to identify opportunities for promoting sustainability both on campus and in the curriculum further.
Knowledge Sharing & Networking | our website
An important part of our work is to support networking, collaboration and knowledge sharing which we achieve through our website and the research database, the monthly e-newsletter, various forums and workshops.
To learn more about our initiative, read our latest news, visit our calendar of Stellenbosch events, search our research database packed full with Stellenbosch relevant research or browse through our resources, please visit www.sustainablestellenbosch.co.za.
Sustainable Stellenbosch Gallery
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