Environmental Partners Reap 'Green' Awards. (15 November, 1996)

Unique partnerships, innovation and excellence were recognised and rewarded at the annual Environment Awards of the Green Trust yesterday. Winners in the seven categories, which carry a total prize money of R85 000 were:

Tony Carnie of The Mercury, who won the Sam Mabe Media Award for excellence in environmental reporting. His prize of R10 000 was sponsored by Times Media Ltd and was for covering a variety of issues in a direct and informed manner.

The External Education Services Unit of Umgeni Water won the Water Conservation Award for the most original and effective water conservation project. The R10 000 prize, sponsored by the National Water Conservation Campaign of the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry, was for a series of environmental education programmes with schools.

The Environmental Group of Pick 'n Pay's Brackenfell Hyper won the Keith Kirsten Greening Award for the most innovative and effective tree-planting or greening project. Their prize of R20 000 worth of green goods was for the establishment of the 70 ha Brackenfell Nature Reserve.

The Department of Water Affairs and Forestry's 'Working for Water' programme to eradicate alien plants won the Green Trust Conservation Project Award for the most sustainable conservation project. The prize is R15 000 cash for project support.

Dr Gerhard Verdoorn won the Individual Award for personal commitment in recognition of his contribution to the conservation of vultures and raptors. He received R10 000 cash sponsored by South African Breweries' Beer Division.

Westville Primary School in Mitchells Plain won the Schools Environmental Project Award for the best environmental project by shool-children of any age. The R10 000 prize by Total South Africa was for various greening programmes.

Shell South Africa won the Environmental Entrepreneur Award for the most innovative and effective corporate contribution to conservation.

The Green Trust was created in 1990 when the local chapter of the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF-SA) and Nedbank joined forces to identify, fund and support practical and sustainable conservation projects, with an emphasis on direct involvement of local people. By Anita Allen. Courtesy of The Star.