What is a Conservancy? “A conservancy is the voluntary co-operative environmental management of an area, by its community and user groups, and in respect of which registration has been granted by the relevant provincial nature conservation authorities.” This means that a group of individuals, landowners or businesses who are concerned with the state of their environment or who wish to monitor and enhance it, may do so by volunteering to be a part of a committee that is registered with their local nature conservation agency. “Co-operative environmental management” means that a conservancy manages an area in accordance with sound environmental principles as prescribed by the various laws and policies of the nature conservation authorities in your area. In adopting the conservancy concept, your authorities will be at hand to advise you as to the best environmental practices. There are various types of conservancies being:            -  Urban            -  Rural            -  Industrial            -  Urban in Informal settlements            -  Educational (Schools) St. Dunstan’s conservancy is the second educational conservancy in Gauteng to be established. Why Form a Conservancy? Unfortunately there are many that still believe that “nature” belongs only in formally protected areas and nature reserves. Past environmental ideologies have often focused on the preservation of species with the disturbing result that there are now species to be found in zoological gardens around the world that have very little or no habitat to be reintroduced to! Many rare and endangered species of flora and fauna are actually to be found outside of formally protected areas on privately-owned land. We may not have the “Big Five” in the area but there is a multitude of plants and small creatures to be found that are just as important to conserve. With irresponsible development and large scale industrial pollution, it is vital that we all help to conserve our natural assets if we and our natural environment are to survive well into the future. Why St. Dunstan’s Conservancy? The St. Dunstan’s Conservancy was established in September 2007 by a group of people to protect, maintain and restore the area’s health, aquatic and terrestrial habitats and ecosystems conditions through the application of management principles for a range of uses, values and services.  The conservancy was the second school conservancy in Gauteng.  The current conservancy consists of the entire grounds covered by the school.  The St. Dunstan’s Conservancy was registered for the nurturing and establishment of indigenous fauna and flora for the education of the youth and enjoyment of the community.  Negotiations are underway with local council to incorporate the open veld area into the management of the St Dunstan’s Conservancy. Environmental matters have in the past few years become a major International focus point.  Environmental degradation is not something that is seen straight away but the effect is only felt over time.  A quote from an unknown source highlights the concerns on environmental issues.  “The pollution caused today affects the generations to come.  Thus we do not own the earth but are only looking after it for our children and grand children”.  Educating the community on environmental matters will assist in either stabilising or reversing the damage The conservancy at St. Dunstan’s can be used for this purpose and assist the next generation to be more environmentally friendly.   Management objectives 1.   Increase awareness of stakeholders on conservation matters.             -            Development and issue of a newsletter             -            Development of an “Eco-club” at all levels of the school. 2.   Develop and maintain an area for the protection of the ecosystem in the area.             -            Arrange “Clean-up and Identification” days in the open area. 3.   Restore the natural ecosystem in the area.             -            Planting of only indigenous trees in the conservancy area. 4.   Become self-financing 5.   Minimise the effect of the conservancy on the use of natural resources.             -            Development of a waste recycling area             -            Reduction of water usage             -            Survey of electricity reductions options for the school             -            Solar panels for the pavilion. What has been completed? From the start of the conservancy the following environmental issues have been completed in the conservancy area:            -  Planting of over 300 indigenous trees.            -  Use of only enviro- friendly fertilisers            -  Development of a waste recycle yard in the college grounds.            -  Clean-up campaigns at the college and pre-schools            -  A vast increase in awareness            -  A weekly “Conservancy” slot in the newsletters.            -  Newsletter was issued to the local residents.            -  Increase in membership to 23 (various category members).            -  Establishment of communication with local councillor and park board.            -  Developed communication with “Polish the Jewel”.
PAPER RECYCLING Paper is an example of a valuable material that can be recycled. Its wood fibres are reused five to seven times before they become too short and brittle. Over 40% of paper consumed is recycled in South Africa. We still have a long way to go as the European Union and Canada recycled 64% and 58% in 2007 respectively. What can be Recycled?            -  paper and corrugated cardboard            -  egg cartons            -  fruit trays            -  old magazines            -  old telephone directories            -  Old memos / letters            -  Computer paper            -  Used photocopy paper            -  Windowless envelopes            -  Old books (but these should rather be given to libraries or schools)            -  Pale coloured paper (invoices, etc.)            -  Newspapers Some paper-based packaging products are, however, problematic to recycle. Among them are products that have had plastic and foil laminates included, as well as corrugated boxes treated with wax for water resistance.
Some Interesting facts about paper manufacturing / recycling:            -  The trees grown for pulp production are all from plantations - tree farms - and no natural forests are harvested.               Plantation forestry in South Africa is among the best managed in the world.            -  2.5 barrels of oil is saved by recycling 1 ton of paper            -  1 ton of non-recycled printing and office paper uses 24 trees            -  1 ton of non-recycled newsprint uses 12 trees            -  1 ton of 30% recycled copier paper saves 7.2 trees            -  1 ton of 50% recycled copier paper saves 12 trees            -  Paper made for newsprint, telephone directories, base sheet for low-cost coated magazine and catalogue               papers etc uses trees about twice as efficiently as paper made for office and printing, letterhead, business cards,               copy paper, base sheet for higher-quality coated magazine, catalogue, advertising papers etc.            -  Recycling 1 ton of newspaper eliminates 3 cubic meters of landfill.            -  The United States Environmental Protection Agency‎ (EPA) has found that recycling causes 35% less               water pollution and 74% less air pollution. "If you are planning for a year, sow rice; if you are planning for a decade, plant trees; if you are planning for a lifetime, educate people."  Chinese proverb The Bread clip competition is off to a good start with Grade 4H in the lead and is 2nd Grade 3D.  There are containers in each register class in the prep school.