‘ Humble and compassionate ’ prof wins WWF Living Planet Award Mpumzi Zuzile
Current Address : South Africa Reprinted From : https :// bit . ly / 3otDqPQ
ACHIEVEMENTS
The World Wide Fund for Nature ( WWF ) has announced leading arid zone ecologist Prof Timm Hoffman as the winner of its prestigious Living Planet Award for 2020 .
The award was given to him for his contribution to both conservation and helping the people who are dependent on the land to make a living in some of the driest parts of South Africa .
The Living Planet Award is an annual award made to exceptional South Africans who , through their contribution to conservation , inspire people to live in harmony with nature .
Due to the coronavirus pandemic and the country ’ s lockdown regulations , this year ’ s award was made during a special online ceremony on Tuesday , 1 September 2020 . The ceremony also showcased the splendours of the Succulent Karoo .
The Succulent Karoo is a semi-desert biome ( or ecological region ) that stretches from the Little Karoo to southern Namibia and is home to more than 6,000 plant species , making it the most biodiverse of its kind in the world .
WWF South Africa CEO Dr Morné du Plessis said : “ Timm is not only one of South Africa ’ s foremost arid zone ecologists but is also one of the humblest and most compassionate people you will ever meet .”
Du Plessis said through the award WWF- SA acknowledged an individual whose work exemplifies how conservation truly can benefit both people and nature .
Hoffman , who hails from the Eastern Cape , has spent a lifetime working on dry land ecology , most recently as the director of the Plant Conservation Unit at the University of Cape Town .
He is also a long-standing member of the Leslie Hill Succulent Karoo Trust , which is administered by WWF , and celebrates its 25th anniversary this year .
Hoffman has co-authored over 130 scientific articles , contributed to more than 30 books , supervised numerous students , and added to the development of new knowledge and insights into both the Fynbos and Succulent Karoo biomes .
He also led the national review of land degradation for South Africa and has contributed significantly towards the understanding of the impacts of land use and climate change . Using fixedpoint photography , his work has highlighted massive changes that have occurred in South Africa ’ s ecosystems over
Figure 1 : Prof Timm Hoffman was given the WFF Living Planet Award an extended period .
Beyond his ecological research , Hoffman also works to understand the complex ways in which rural social , cultural and economic livelihoods interact .
According to Du Plessis , in the village of Paulshoek in Namaqualand , in the Northern Cape , Hoffman has contributed positively to the community by creating a long-term contract job , other occasional employment and training for community members , as well as funding for development projects .
Hoffman has served as a trustee of the Leslie Hill Succulent Karoo Trust ( LH- SKT ) since 2001 .
The trust supports WWF in the expansion of conservation land both through land acquisition and biodiversity stewardship agreements where landowners and communities continue to be the stewards of the land .
Hoffman has helped guide the trust , enabling WWF to secure nearly 290,000 hectares of land for formal conservation areas in the Succulent Karoo . This land includes the Namaqua National Park , the Tankwa Karoo National Park , the Knersvlakte Nature Reserve and several strategic stewardship initiatives .
Last year the award was won by Sissie Matela and Nicky McLeod , from Matatiele , who are behind a non-profit social enterprise organisation Environmental and Rural Solutions .
Accepting the award , Hoffman said : “ I feel honoured to have my contribution to conservation and sustainable development recognised in this way and I am humbled by the company I share among the previous recipients of this award .
“ Something of this nature doesn ’ t only reflect the work of one person . I am very grateful to everyone involved .”
Grassroots Vol 20 No 4 December 2020 04