WESSA launches Green Coast Award on Wild Coast

The Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa (WESSA) officially launched the Green Coast 2020/21 season on the Wild Coast region of South Africa's Eastern Cape Province this month.
Green Coast Stewards hoist the Green Coast Flag awarded to Morgan Bay for successfully achieving Green Coast status after the 2019/2020 Green Coast season. L-R: Jiva Jilatjie, Simisumzi Roloma, Alex Tshijila, Masibulele Thofu, Mathabo Veldman, Miseka Magcoba, Andile Matatu, Mabhalane Maleyile.
Green Coast Stewards hoist the Green Coast Flag awarded to Morgan Bay for successfully achieving Green Coast status after the 2019/2020 Green Coast season. L-R: Jiva Jilatjie, Simisumzi Roloma, Alex Tshijila, Masibulele Thofu, Mathabo Veldman, Miseka Magcoba, Andile Matatu, Mabhalane Maleyile.

The Green Coast Status Award was presented at an awards ceremony that was held in Morgan Bay on 2 October. In celebration of their achievement, the five rural coastal sites, respectively Chintsa, Morgan Bay, Kei Mouth, Qolora and Bulungula, will now fly their Green Coast flags which represent a commitment from local government, civil society and the local businesses to co-manage these exceptional coastal sites and uphold the Green Coast criteria with consistent improvement year on year.

Tourism Green Coast Project

The Department of Tourism funded the Tourism Green Coast Project which was implemented between March 2018 and August 2020 which saw the upskilling and professional development of 119 youth from coastal communities along the Wild Coast. The participating youth were trained in tourism guiding, environmental education and coastal ecology and were instrumental in the development of Green Coast criteria at 20 Wild Coast beach sites. The five coastal sites subsequently applied for the 2020/21 Green Coast season. These sites will be the first to pioneer the Green Coast programme in the Eastern Cape.

Mzuzile Mhola and Mabhalane Maleyile from the Bulungula Incubator accept the Green Coast Flag for Bulungula presented by Zinzani Mselana from WESSA.
Mzuzile Mhola and Mabhalane Maleyile from the Bulungula Incubator accept the Green Coast Flag for Bulungula presented by Zinzani Mselana from WESSA.

“The Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa convinced us today to celebrate the hallmarks of development within our communities. We will leave this gathering encouraged by the prospects that linger within our communities. As Great Kei Municipality, our Local Economic Development Strategy promotes social dialogue and encourages public-private partnerships. This ceremony is the embodiment of that partnership. We must therefore build on the foundation that it has laid. Hence, as a municipality, we have resolved to support the Green Coast programme. We have committed to assist the Green Coast implementers by funding the applications for Green Coast status. Our commitment towards this programme is incentivised by its impact towards our developmental goals that speak to tourism, a green economy and the oceans economy,” said executive mayor Tekile of Great Kei Municipality.

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