Management certificates

Management skills: Guests and candidates who completed the WWF-South Africa Marine Protected Area Pilot Training programme.

Sixteen Marine Protected Area managers enjoyed a passing-out parade at the Environmental Evaluation Unit (environmental and geographical science) in April, celebrating the completion of a six-month course piloted for them.

The course, the WWF-South Africa Marine Protected Area Pilot Training programme, was developed by Rhodes University's Environmental Education and Sustainability Unit and implemented by the EEU.

Guests at the certificate ceremony included members of the World Wildlife Fund-SA, who funded the programme, the national Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, the Marine and Coastal Management directorate, South African National Parks and the City of Cape Town.

Speaking at the function, Aaniyah Omardien of the WWF Sanlam Marine Programme, paid tribute to the managers who made time to attend training and complete assignments, despite their tough working conditions.

"I remember sitting in on some of the training, with Robin Adams and his team arriving late because they had to chase some poachers before arriving!"

She said feedback on the participants would be incorporated into their training and would be rolled out to other Marine Protected Areas over the next few years.