Khusela Ikamva ignites reflective and reconnecting nature conversation

A sustainable campus initiative called Khusela Ikamva (secure the future) is aimed at restoring not only the physical forest that was damaged by the fires in April 2021 but also the cultural and spiritual connections that the University of Cape Town (UCT) community shares with the natural fauna and flora.

An event called “Forest Conversations” took place on 1 October on UCT’s upper campus and saw students and staff, including the vice-chancellor, Professor Mosa Moshabela, gather to pay homage and reconnect with this restoration project.

This effort was an interdepartmental one between the African Climate and Development Initiative (ACDI), the Department of Environment and Geographical Science, the Faculty of Science and the Energy Systems Research Group (ESRG) and the Department of Chemical Engineering. The script for the event did not follow the convention of a formal programme of proceedings and had numerous group discussions and solo reflections.

Conversation about conservation

The Khusela Ikamva initiative was launched in 2020 and has five key themes:

• energy/carbon footprint
• sustainable water
• waste/energy/food nexus
• wildlife/waste/art nexus
• community of practice/social responsiveness.

This event formed part of the community of practice/social responsiveness theme. The initiative is headed by a senior researcher at the ACDI, Dr Britta Rennkamp.

“The ACDI wants to create a space for open dialogue, allowing the community to engage with each other and the environment without the constraints of formal procedures,” Dr Rennkamp said. “We work in interdisciplinary ways to support transitions towards sustainability. We aim to unlock the knowledge in different communities to co-create and develop ideas that change pathways towards climate resilience.

“The loss of the forest brought together many intersecting issues: deprivation and homelessness worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic, economic decline, climate risks, and the colonial legacy of pine tree cover.”

The project has been working on forest restoration since the fires of 2021. Initially, the focus was on building a community of practice within the project team. Through a series of workshops and events, the team worked to develop a shared understanding of concepts like sustainability, circularity, and nature-based solutions. Over time, the forest emerged as a priority area for restoration efforts, and ideas such as developing a carbon credit system were explored.

“We want to acknowledge the collective ancestry of each person in this space and pay homage to every descendant by honouring and welcoming the ancestors,” said Ausi Shihaam Domingo, an attendee, as the event got under way.

A new approach to engagement

Instead of following the conventional route of creating formal structures like communities of practice, Khusela Ikamva has opted for a more experiential, curiosity-driven approach.

“Our campus walks and dream walks, with a specific focus on the forest, have been more successful in engaging colleagues than traditional meetings,” said Dr Michelle Pressend, the primary organiser of the event. “This shift in strategy led to the idea of organising the Forest Conversations, a less formal, more open-ended gathering aimed at fostering connection rather than prescribing solutions.

“The goal is for participants to reflect on this piece of the world as part of our nature, to relate to it, and to develop their visions of what it could become.”

An inclusive gathering

Unlike many formal engagements at UCT, the Forest Conversations event is open to anyone who feels a connection to the forest and wants to participate. “Caring about the forest is the bond that links those who will attend,” Pressend added. “While there are no fixed outcomes or stakeholders attached to the event, the hope is that by opening up the conversation, the university can tap into a diverse range of perspectives that might otherwise go unheard.”

The conversation would not be limited to specific outcomes; instead, it is about opening minds to possibilities and creating a space where everyone — students, staff, and the broader public — can contribute ideas for the forest’s future.

Looking ahead

When asked about the long-term impact of the Forest Conversations, Pressend emphasised that sustainability transitions are about social innovation. “It’s about people doing things differently, and communication is key. The event is not about achieving immediate results but about creating an open space for ideas to flourish.

“We will find out where the conversation takes us. We don’t have prescribed measures. Instead, we will learn and will reflect on each participant’s ideas, and comments, and build on that.”

A timely conversation

The timing of the Forest Conversations is significant for several reasons. UCT is under new leadership, and there is a growing recognition of the importance of the physical environment to the university community. Additionally, the possibility of new infrastructure being built in the forest area makes it critical for the community to engage with the space and imagine sustainable ways to use it.

“This event is a chance for us to connect with nature and with each other in a non-threatening, inclusive way. The hope is that by doing so, the UCT community can begin to envision a future for the forest that balances ecological restoration with cultural and spiritual healing,” Pressend concluded.