ALL things green are in the spotlight as the year draws to a close. First up, the Institute of Environment and Recreation Management (IERM) holds its convention, and then it’s the 17th Conference of the Parties meeting (COP 17).
Both gatherings are taking place in the coastal city of Durban – and Joburg will be at both of them, presenting its projects and discussing best practice regarding the environment and climate change, and the way forward with its national and international peers.
The IERM convention will be held at the Durban Exhibition Centre from 25 to 27 October. Its theme is Cities of the Future – Provide, Protect, Play. COP 17 takes place at the beginning of December.
Representatives from all three spheres of government, academic institutions and non-governmental organisations are expected to attend the former, and will discuss topics on water conservation, sustainable burial practices and the economic value of public open spaces, among others.
The first two days of the convention will be divided into park and recreation, and cemeteries. The third day will be set aside for site visits, with tours planned to several recreational facilities in Durban, including the Umlazi Sports Precinct, Moses Mabhida Stadium, and Durban Botanical Gardens.
Commenting on the convention, Patrick Meyer, the IERM president elect, said the convention had a pivotal role to play in ensuring knowledge was shared throughout South Africa.
“Working as individuals within the silos of our individual municipalities is not adequate anymore. We need more collaboration, active co-operation, sharing of information best practices and experiences in solving complex problems.”
There was a need to become more responsive to changes taking place within the environment, he explained. Meyer is also the operations executive for environment and infrastructure at City Parks.
A team of speakers from Joburg will be at the convention, including Meyer; Sydney Nkosi, the director of natural resources in the environmental management department; and Alan Buff, the horticulturist specialist in the technical support department at City Parks.
Meyer will explore the possibilities of expanding service delivery through partnerships. Nkosi will look at the conservation of water and demand side management, while Buff will speak on Bridging the Green Divide.
The green divide refers to the imbalance in the greening of Joburg, whereby the north has traditionally been lush and treed, while the south has been neglected. The City is working hard to green the once dusty south, hence bridging the divide.
The 2010 IERM convention was held at Indaba Hotel in Fourways, where strategic developments and trends affecting the recreation industry in preparation for the football World Cup were discussed.
The IERM is a non-profit association that links municipal officials who are responsible for the management of public parks, open space and recreational facilities throughout South Africa. Its aim is to promote sustainable and integrated environmental and recreation management practices.
For more information about the convention, call 011 789 1384 or visit the IERM website.
Source: Joburg.org.za