Gondwana Alive

Gondwana Alive is a NON-PROFIT COMPANY registered in South Africa. We are also a recognized Public Benefit Organization with 18a status, so donations are tax deductible.

Where We Work

We implement projects in biodiversity hotspots and critical ecosystems found along corridors of unparalleled, irreplaceable and inter-connected geological-biological-cultural heritage. Go to our Earth Alive page to find out more about Africa Alive–Gondwana Alive–Earth Alive Corridors. We also produce publications for world-wide distribution.

What We Do

PROGRAMMES

Our dream is to have 8 billion Earth stewards creatively protecting and restoring the diversity of life on Earth — so all human beings and other species sharing our planet can live in dignity.

Our holistic solution involves transforming knowledge into Earth stewardship that reverses nature’s extinction and brings dignity to all.

To this end we provide information, guidance and support to communities, individuals, institutions and organizations engaged in Earth stewardship along Africa Alive Corridors and beyond.

Gondwana Alive has 3 core programmes namely:

#EarthAlive,
#GrowGreen,
#GreenPaths.

Earth Alive produces a steady flow of educational knowledge and promotes celebratory events to instil appreciation of biodiversity, inspire and support Earth stewardship.

GrowGreen provides mentorship and training to Earth stewards to improve livelihoods, ecosystems and biodiversity, with a focus on creating an expanding network of grassroots sustainable livelihood mentors.

GreenPaths provides guidance and support to Earth stewardship projects, with a focus on grassroots examples that inspire replication. Our GrowGreen mentorship and training often aligns with these projects.

PROJECTS

We undertake a number of projects that fall into these different programmes – the projects are varied but generally all include an ecological and socio-ecological component.

IMPACT

We maximize our impact and that of our donors by:

• Training trainers – train one mentor, touch many lives

• Supporting projects that contribute significantly toward:

– Livelihoods
– Skills
– Conservation
– Sustainable Development

UNDERLYING CONNECTION

Underlying all we do is a process inspiring nature connection and driving inherent social change toward sustainability and dignity for all human beings and species that share our planet.

Experience (CV)

All the projects we undertake, whether internally or for third parties, are for public benefit and are dependent on donor or grant funds.

Selected experience over the past 12 years:

INTERNAL PROJECTS:

• Present-2018. As part of our flagship GrowGreen project we worked with Dr Tracey Phillips to distill 30 years of sustainable livelihood development experience into a mentor training process and workbook. This work was completed in 2020 and we are now fundraising to make the training available online and to pilot a roll-out mechanism to train grassroots mentors – with the aim of creating a rapidly expanding social movement toward Earth stewardship livelihoods. Self-driven and funded.

• Present-2018. As part of our emerging #NextGenGA programme we encourage and support individuals, non-profits, schools, home schools and community organizations to build an appreciation for nature through outdoor and creative activities such as gardening, music, art and photography — including GA Director Richard Cock and past GA Directors Alex and Jenny Anderson’s flagship Silver Mountain Music Festival project. Self-driven and funded.

• Present – 2009. As part of our EarthAlive programme we support Dr John Anderson with his educational scientific outreach projects, and implement an annual social communication plan to build and engage an audience of people and organizations that love nature. His list of publications are in the section below.

THIRD PARTY PROJECTS:

• Present-2015. As part of our Earth Alive programme we support Ujubee with research and projects to protect bee populations. Ujubee, South Africa with support from a variety of donors.

• Present-2013. As part of our GrowGreen programme we are involved in growth & development of !Khwa ttu, an indigenous San heritage centre located on an 850ha farm on the Cape West Coast of South Africa in the Fynbos — the World’s smallest and richest floral kingdom with over 9000 plant species. Services include strategic support to the Board & and operational team, assistance with project development and fundraising, sustainable livelihood internship curriculum development, mentorship and training of staff, and input on restoration and protection of ecosystems and biodiversity on the farm. The Centre is a partnership between the San (represented by a regional organization) and the Swiss Ubuntu Foundation. Ubuntu Foundation Switzerland / !Khwa ttu.

• 2021-2019 As part of our GreenPaths programme we support The Nature Conservancy with their source to sea water pilot projects in the Western Cape. The Nature Conservancy – South Africa.

• 2019-2016. As part of our GreenPaths programme exploring new paths to sustainability, we undertook cooperative Implementation of a Land & Livestock climate change adaptation project in Namaqualand. This involved building the institutional capacity of a local farming Cooperative and the capacity of farmers to adapt their livestock and grazing to account for increasingly hot, dry and extreme conditions. The project was successfully completed in 2018 but we continue to participate in SGF learning forums in 2019. Adaptation Fund Small Grants Facility, SANBI, South South North, Conservation South Africa, Biodiversity & Redmeat Cooperative.

• 2019-2015. As part of our GrowGreen programme to build capacity for community stewardship, we support GA Director Ivan Groenhof to provide farmers with training on how to plan and eradicate alien vegetation, and train contractors on path building and maintenance. Conservation at Work; Chiltern Farms; Baskloof.

• 2016-2014. As part of our GreenPaths programme celebrating natural and cultural diversity and heritage, we supported the Grootvadersbosch Conservancy community-based efforts to restore indigenous forest, build a network of trails and develop the Silver Mountain Music festival. Donation of R1.5 million (R500 000 over 3 years) and technical support as needed.

• 2015-2013. As part of our GrowGreen programme we participated in the Groen Sebenza Jobs Fund Partnership Project. We were one of 44 partners engaged in building capacity of 800 young environmentalists from a rural community background, through 2.5 year mentorship & training programme. SANBI, National Treasury, Presidential Jobs Fund.

• 2013-2011. As part of our GrowGreen and GreenPaths programme, we mentored and trained a team of local people to develop and operate a network of trails in the Cape West Coast Biosphere Reserve and supported the Biosphere Reserve with preparation of grant proposals. Cape West Coast Biosphere Reserve & National Lottery Grant.

• 2012 – 2010. As part of our GrowGreen and GreenPaths programmes we developed and implemented a Coastal Community Stewardship and Mentorship project. Donation & National Lottery Grant.

Find out more about the projects we support.

PUBLICATIONS

Since Gondwana Alive’s inception in 1999, co-founder Dr John Anderson and his associates have published several articles and books raising awareness of the “Sixth Extinction” and calling for stewardship of Earth’s natural and cultural diversity and heritage.

Check out the latest series on Biodiversity & Extinction here.

SELECTED SCIENTIFIC PAPERS and SCIENCE-BASED PUBLICATIONS

Anderson, J.M. 2000. Towards Gondwana Alive. Earthyear: the essential environmental guide 21: 155-157. Anderson, J.M. 2002.
Biodiversity and the Sixth Extinction. In D. Parry-Davies (ed.). The Enviropaedia: World Summit Edition, 2 pp. Anderson, J.M. 2003.
Under one roof. In: Princess Irene of the Netherlands (ed.) We are nature. 2 pp. De Wit, M.J. & Anderson, J.M. 2003.
Gondwana Alive Corridors: extending Gondwana research to incorporate stemming the Sixth Extinction.
Gondwana Research 6(3): 369-408. Anderson, J.M. & De Wit, M.J. 2004. Celebrating biodiversity to stem the Sixth Extinction: along Gondwana Alive Corridors. In D.D. Pant Commemorative Vol. ca 15 pp. Anderson, J.M. 2004.
The Sixth Extinction. Enviropaedia, 2 pp. Anderson, J.M. 2004. Gondwana Alive Corridors. Enviropaedia, 2 pp
Anderson, J.M. & De Wit, M.J., 2005. Gondwana Alive: at the threshold, Abstract, 12th International Gondwana Symposium, Mendoza, Argentina, November 2005.
Anderson, J.M. 2006. Humanity & the Sixth Extinction of life on Earth. In: Secular Spirituality as a contextual critique of religion, (eds) C.W. du Toit & C.P. Mayson. UNISA, Pretoria, pp 25-27.
Anderson, J.M. 2006. Biodiversity and the Sixth Extinction. Enviropaedia, pp 34-35.
Anderson, J.M., de Wit, M.J. & Mashua, T. 2008. Africa Alive Corridors: A continental network of Earth, life and cultural heritage. Geobulletin of the Geological Society of South Africa. December 2008, 10-25.
Anderson, J.M., de Wit, M.J. & van Heerden, A. 2008. Earth Alive; 101 strategies towards stemming the Sixth Extinction & global warming. Minimag, Pretoria, 27 pp (this was first published by Minimag, a magazine for South African schoolgoers, as a 10-part monthly series through 2007).
Anderson, J.M., de Wit, M.J. & van Heerden, A. 2008. Earth Alive; 101 Strategies towards stemming the Sixth Extinction & global warming (pack of 101 playing cards & game box; based on the booklet of the same title above).
AEON & SANBI. Anderson, J.M., Mashua, T. & de Wit, M.J. 2008. Africa Alive Corridors. Quest 4, 56-59 (a special edition prepared for the African launch of UNESCO’s International Year of Planet Earth (IYPE), Arusha, Tanzania).
Anderson, J.M. 2015. Biodiversity & Extinction, Part 1 Introduction. Supernova, the mag for curious kids, 4.4 (2015), 34-35.
Anderson, J.M., Koekemoer, M. & van Wyk, B. 2015. Biodiversity & Extinction, Part 2 Flowering Plants. Supernova, the mag for curious kids, 4.5 (2015), 34-35.
Anderson, J.M., Davies, G. & Chinsamy-Turan, A. 2015. Biodiversity & Extinction, Part 3 Birds. Supernova, the mag for curious kids, 4.6 (2015), 34-35.
Anderson, J.M. & Owen-Smith, N. 2015. Biodiversity & Extinction, Part 4 Mammals. Supernova, the mag for curious kids, 5.1 (2015), 34-35.
Anderson, J.M., Scholtz, C. & Eardley, C. 2016. Biodiversity & Extinction, Part 5 Insects. Supernova, the mag for curious kids, 5.3 (2016), 34-35.
Anderson, J.M., Griffiths, C. & Phillips, T. 2016. Biodiversity & Extinction, Part 6 Molluscs. Supernova, the mag for curious kids, 5.4 (2016), 34-35.
Anderson, J.M., Thackeray, F. & Visser, K. 2016. Biodiversity & Extinction, Part 7 Hominins. Supernova, the mag for curious kids, 5.5 (2016), 34-35.

SELECTED SCIENTIFIC BOOKS
Anderson, J.M. (ed.) 1999. Towards Gondwana Alive: promoting biodiversity and stemming the Sixth Extinction. Gondwana Alive Society, Pretoria, 140 pp.
Anderson, J.M. (ed.) 2001 (revised edition). Towards Gondwana Alive: promoting biodiversity and stemming the Sixth Extinction. Gondwana Alive Society, Pretoria, 140 pp.

SELECTED SCIENCE-BASED POPULAR BOOKS IN PREPARATION
The following five books (the first three, multi-contributor) are well advanced; the aim is for them to all be ready for publication end- 2022.

For the ‘Africa Alive Corridors’ project, a further series of 20 volumes are planned (aimed at publication by Springer-Verlag over the following five years); there being one for each of the 20 selected ‘AAC’ corridors, the last being an ‘Out of Africa’ volume. Each volume will be co-ordinated by an Earth scientist closely associated with the corridor who is currently at the forefront of research in their relevant fields; and will include many contributors living along each corridor.

Anderson, J.M. & de Wit, M.J. eds (in prep). Africa Alive Corridors: Autobiography of the continent told along 20 corridors. Springer-Verlag, Berlin (ca 450 pp, with over 50 top African & international contributors)

Anderson, J.M. & de Wit, M.J. eds (in prep). Homo sapiens Corridor: Tracing humankind’s earliest journeys along the southern Cape coast. Springer-Verlag, Berlin (ca 450 pp, with over 50 top South African & international contributors)

Anderson, J.M. & de Wit, M.J. eds (in prep.). 1st-person Short Stories: Following the Homo sapiens Corridor. Springer-Verlag, Berlin (ca 200 pp, with 20 contributors).

Anderson, J.M. et al. (in prep.). Angiosperm Timetree Cookbook. Publisher to be decided. 444 pp.

Anderson, J.M. et al. (in prep.). A Journey Through Earth Time; Microcosm of the World, Amphitheatre natural sculpture garden. Publisher to be decided. 220 pp.

The GA Team

 

Gondwana Alive is directed and run by a group of volunteers – Dr Tracey Phillips (Managing Director), Ivan Groenhof (Director), Associate Prof. John Anderson (Founding Director) and Richard Cock (Director).

They are supported as needed by a broader team of associates and previous interns – Georgina Stirrup (finance), Sheree-Ann Jooste (communication), Nolo Gwangqa (permaculture and community development), Mandlakazi Mgwebi (Environmental Management), Etienne Basson (Gondwana Kids and Trails), Jozua Lambrechts (Agricultural & Community Development Facilitator), Michele King (marketing and sales, social media) and Jordan King (writer).

Gondwana Alive works on complex socio-ecological projects requiring multi-disciplinary teams. Paid project teams are put together on a case by case basis. All projects are of public benefit and are funded through donations or grants.

Etienne Basson

Etienne Basson

Environmental education

Etienne (BSc) does wonderful work with inner city kids in gang ridden areas, schools and matriculants. He specializes in environmental education, community development, trail building and has a passion for hiking.

Dr Tracey Phillips

Dr Tracey Phillips

CEO

Gondwana Alive’s CEO & Co-Director, Dr Tracey Phillips, has an ecological background and 20 years of experience in sustainable development, project management, capacity building and small business.

Noloyiso

Noloyiso

Community Development

Nolo has interest, skills and some work experience in ecological aspects of sustainable development work including:\

  • Applied research.
  • Monitoring
  • Rehabilitation
  • Conservation
  • Permaculture
  • Community development and stakeholder engagement.
Ivan Groenhof

Ivan Groenhof

Co-Director & Senior Associate Consultant

Ivan works for GA on several of their projects, and was recently appointed to the GA Board of Directors (registration in process).He is an experienced project manager, facilitator and mentor.

Michele King

Michele King

Marketing and Development

A versatile and results-focused Marketing professional with over 20 years marketing experience who is passionate about the personal development of people and brands. Her background in Education and Business Development/Sales Management have positioned her perfectly to combine her skills to creatively find marketing solutions, and deliver results.

Mandlakazi Mgwebi

Mandlakazi Mgwebi

Environmental Management

Mandlakazi (Honours in Environmental Management) has interest, skills and some work experience in EIA supporting sustainable development work/projects including – applied research, project management, environmental impact assessment, monitoring, stakeholder and community liaison.

Richard Cock

Richard Cock

Silver Mountain Music Festival

Maestro Richard Cock is one of South Africa’s premier conductors. He is the musical director for the popular Baroque in the Bush concert held annually in the Kruger National Park. He has been a Director of Gondwana Alive since 2009 and over the past few years has worked with Aileen, Alex and Jenny Anderson to develop and conduct the Silver Mountain Music Festival – a celebration of music and nature in the Grootvadersbosch Conservancy, South Africa. Our aspiration is to produce a Gondwana Anthem synthesizing indigenous music from around Gondwana, with lyrics ennobling nature.

 

Sheree-Ann

Sheree-Ann

Sheree-Ann Jooste (Tourism Diploma) with an interest, skills and some work experience in social aspects of sustainable development work, including – public relations, hospitality & tourism, stakeholder engagement, facilitation and training, communication and reporting.

Jozua Lambrechts

Jozua Lambrechts

Agriculture and Community Development

Jozua Lambrechts is an educator by training and facilitator by nature. He specializes in land and livestock management, personal and community development.

References

Ubuntu Foundation Switzerland

“… your work and Chris’ input are what bankers call ‘triple A’, not even to mention the very rewarding working relationships.”