Hermanus Botanical society

A quiet but meaningful ceremony took place among the floral displays of the Hermanus Wildflower Festival at the Fernkloof Nature Reserve on Monday 22 September 2003.

Professor J H Giliomee, of the Department of Entomology at the University of Stellenbosch and president of the Habitat Council, presented the council's 2002 Habitat Award to the Hermanus Botanical Society "for its sustained contribution to creating awareness of and preserving the rich natural heritage of the Hermanus area over a period of virtually eighty years."

The Habitat Council, a South African environmental umbrella body that came into existence in l974 following a national conference , has a wide-ranging modus operandi and list of objectives where anything environmental is concerned.

The Habitat Award was instituted in l997 to give recognition annually to outstanding contributions in the field of conservation. The long list of the Hermanus Botanical Society's achievements include:

Building of the Cliff Path
Building of the Botanical Centre and Visitors'Centre
Establishment of Fernkloof hiking trails and map
Establishment of Hermanus Herbarium HER
Removal of alien vegetation
Encouragement of study of indigenous flora.
Establishment of indigenous plant nursery.

The Habitat Council salutes these "exceptional achievements."

Professor Gilliomee (right) presenting the Habitat award to Piet Joubert (left),
Chairman of The Hermanus Botanical Society.
Photo by Avis MacIntyre of The Hermanus Times

HABITAT AWARD FOR HERMANUS BOTSOC