Participants from more than 50 organizations discussed how to build a network that systematically and simultaneously addresses conservation, poverty reduction and sustainable development during a Southern African World Conservation Learning Network event. The WCLN is a project of the World Conservation Union’s Commission on Education and Communication (IUCN CEC).

The regional event, "Innovative Learning for Conservation, Poverty Eradication and Sustainable Development in Southern Africa," was held 2-4 May in Stellenbosch, South Africa.

Organizers included the WCLN, the Sustainability Institute (a South African NGO) and the University of Stellenbosch’s School of Public Management and Planning, which hosted the event at its campus near Cape Town, with the support of the IUCN Conservation for Poverty Reduction Initiative.

Participants represented institutions of higher education and training, NGOs and governments from the Southern Africa region; national, regional and international IUCN offices; and the donor community. They included experts and practitioners in the inter-related fields of conservation, poverty reduction, sustainable development and "new learning".

Participants discussed the links between these areas and answered key questions, such as: What is the region’s current capacity for conservation learning? How can it be strengthened? What is the demand for conservation knowledge? Where should work focus in the future?

Amongst other, presentations by the Southern African Development Community Regional Environmental Education Programme (SADC-REEP), the National Business Initiative in South Africa, the Sustainability Institute and Leadership for Environment and Development (LEAD International) highlighted the importance of partnership.

The meeting resulted in several project proposals to guide the network’s growth in the region. These include: (1) mapping and developing a database of capacity needs assessments and existing capacity building interventions; (2) defining a regional framework for sustainability education; (3) exchanging and building on innovative examples of multi-sectoral, inter-university master’s programmes; and (4) sharing local level land-use planning toolkits throughout Southern African drylands. A project development expert is refining the project proposals, which will be made available in the near future.

The University of Stellenbosch’s School of Public Management and Planning will be the institutional coordinating centre for the Southern African regional network, under the auspices of the Head of the School, Kobus Muller.

Professor Muller will lead an interim coordinating group with the following members: Josephine Msangi (Dean, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Namibia), John Kalenga Saka (Professor of Chemistry, University of Malawi) and Johan Nel (Executive Head, Centre for Environmental Management, North-West University, South Africa). Caroline Gwature will participate ex-officio in the group as the IUCN staff liaison in the IUCN Regional Office for Southern Africa.