It was a great pleasure to today host a one of a kind #forestry #WaterStewardship workshop with members of the SA forestry industry under the theme "Water Source Partnerships: collaboration for a water secure future" 
On the back of the launch of the #WaterMasterPlan yesterday, @ColvinH2O opened the workshop with a fresh perspective on the role of the #forestry sector in the "just transition to a green economy" #WaterStewardship #Partnerships
A conversation on 'unlocking the catchment economy' is an essential one that must be had between the #forestry and #water sector @ColvinH2O added #ForestWaterNexus #CollectiveAction
#forestry also has a role to play in unlocking the bio-economy linked to clearing of alien invasive plants and restoring #EcologicalInfrastructure in #WaterSourceAreas #Partnerships #CollectiveAction
We cannot forget that "forestry is the critical link between our water and carbon cycles" through the miracle that is photosynthesis, commented @ColvinH2O #ForestWaterNexus #ClimateAdaptation #Resilience
"We are trying to address the governance crisis in #WaterSourceAreas through #WaterSourcePartnerships" #WaterMasterPlan #CollectiveAction #EcologicalInfrastructure #WaterStewardship #SharedValue #SharedBenefits
Many a challenge is faced by the #forestry and #water sectors in SA but the @CSIR Bruce Sithole gave us a glimmer of hope with the strides being made in the #biorefinery arena #DisruptiveTechnology #ForestWaterNexus
"We are currently extracting only 47% of the resource" due to inefficiencies in the pulp process #fibrerecovery #waste
A pulp mill can spend up to R20mil per annum on the handling, management and disposal of 'waste' ...this 'waste' is a resource, we must put "focus on waste biomass streams" #forestry #opportunities #greeneconomy
The SA #forestry sector has been on the decline over the last number of years but with #opportunities in #biorefinery we can bend this curve and drive #Sustainable growth in the industry, secure SMME development and #greenjobs
This will not come without challenges, as @MSilandela reminded us. A #Partnership approach is no easy task #WaterSourcePartnerships #CollectiveAction #WaterStewardship
Multi-stakeholder platforms will have many agreements and disagreements. We must remember that #Partnership does not mean consensus...#CollectiveAction must be at the center of a #partnership says @MSilandela #WaterSourcePartnerships #WaterStewardship
Trust and a Collective Agenda are essential in a #Partnership
But what does a #Partnership look like in the landscape? #WaterStewardship
We had Michelle Binedell from #SASRI and Brent Corcoran from #Mondi sharing their experiences of #Partnerships and #CollectiveAction at a sectoral and catchment scale respectively
The common lessons learned included;
1. #Partnerships and the solutions they design must be 'home grow'
2. They be context specific and respond to a shared risk
3. They must have 'boots on the ground' and local champions
4. They must have a clear action plan
1. #Partnerships and the solutions they design must be 'home grow'
2. They be context specific and respond to a shared risk
3. They must have 'boots on the ground' and local champions
4. They must have a clear action plan
To further dissect the question of "what does this mean for me?" Our participants headed off into lively group discussions to answer two questions and take ownership of the #forestry sector's #WaterStewardship journey #CollectiveAction
Social learning in action #WaterStewardship
To end of a wonderful day of unpacking #WaterStewardship with #forestry and the importance of #Partnerships, our participants closed with:
1. We must clarify where the challenges actually lie (what is the problem?) #ForestWaterNexus
2. We must develop a narrative of opportunity #biorefinery #greenjobs #ClimateAdaptation #Resilience
3. We must adopt a risk based approach to design fit for purpose and context solutions #WaterStewardship #CollectiveAction
4. Continue to drive best practice in the #forestry sector and ask the questions around management practices #Sustainability #EcologicalInfrastructure #Water
Together, we are committed to collectively find solutions to our shared water risks #WaterSourceAreas #WaterSourcePartnerships #forestry
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