INCLUSIVE LIVING LANDSCAPES WITH THRIVING COMMUNITIES

The document advocates for the use of community champions—locally selected youth who act as intermediaries between rural residents, traditional leadership, and external agencies—to improve the management of the water-energy-food (WEF) nexus. It highlights the 'Ecochamps' program in the Eastern Cape, where youth aged 18-35 are trained in technical and social skills to facilitate dialogue, conduct citizen science, and promote sustainable practices. The text argues that this model enhances social cohesion and environmental stewardship by integrating indigenous knowledge with scientific research, and suggests that such models are scalable globally to foster more inclusive governance.

• Community champions are selected local members who represent their community in the decision-making and implementation of natural resource management alongside governments and NGOs, operating across sectors such as healthcare, water planning, and ecosystem services.
• The 'Ecochamps' initiative in Matatiele, implemented by the NGO Environmental and Rural Solutions (ERS), upskilled over 135 young people between 2017 and 2025 to serve as agents of change in the uMzimvubu River catchment area.
• Ecochamps, typically aged 18 to 35, perform diverse daily activities including alien plant clearing, spring protection, biodiversity bioblitzes, veld condition assessments, animal husbandry, and climate-smart agroecology.
• A primary value of community champions is their ability to act as liaisons who translate technical information for local communities and mediate relationships to resolve conflicts caused by cultural differences, language barriers, or historical mistrust.
• The Ecochamps program has provided significant employment pathways; since 2017, more than 50% of participants have secured permanent employment in local NGOs or started their own enterprises in fresh produce sales, animal husbandry, and charcoal production.
• The document recommends establishing formalised local knowledge hubs to better manage and aggregate traditional and scientific data, which would enhance the impact of community champions and researchers in the region.
• While Ecochamps facilitate co-creation and represent community views, the document notes they are not the sole representation of those views, especially as their employment by an NGO may limit their independence.

APA

WWF South Africa (2025). INCLUSIVE LIVING LANDSCAPES WITH THRIVING COMMUNITIES. https://wwfafrica.awsassets.panda.org/downloads/wef-community-champions-factsheet_web.pdf

Chicago

WWF South Africa. INCLUSIVE LIVING LANDSCAPES WITH THRIVING COMMUNITIES. 2025. https://wwfafrica.awsassets.panda.org/downloads/wef-community-champions-factsheet_web.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=WWF South Africa |title=INCLUSIVE LIVING LANDSCAPES WITH THRIVING COMMUNITIES |date=2025 |url=https://wwfafrica.awsassets.panda.org/downloads/wef-community-champions-factsheet_web.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{wwfsouthafrica2025inclusive, author = {{WWF South Africa}}, title = {{INCLUSIVE LIVING LANDSCAPES WITH THRIVING COMMUNITIES}}, institution = {WWF South Africa}, year = {2025}, url = {https://wwfafrica.awsassets.panda.org/downloads/wef-community-champions-factsheet_web.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }