African Wildlife & Environment Issue 77 FINAL ISSUE

IN MEMORIAM

South Africa loses one of its most ESTEEMED CONSERVATIONISTS

A Tribute from the Timberwatch Coalition

The sudden passing of Keith Cooper on 20 June 2020 has left a void that will be difficult to fill. He worked tirelessly on many fronts and will be greatly missed by all who are passionate about protecting nature and caring for the Earth.

As the National Director of Conservation for the Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa (WESSA), Keith realised the importance of building coalitions to take forward the environmental struggle during the transition to democracy in the 1990s. At that time, groups were emerging with a focus on mountain and coastal issues. As such, Keith championed the formation of Bergwatch and Timberwatch, and played a role in establishing Coastwatch KZN. By 1991, it was evident that a watchdog organisation, committed to the protection of our mountain wilderness, was needed in the Drakensberg. This resulted in the formation of Bergwatch. Keith chaired Bergwatch from its inception and the passion and expertise within the group gave it considerable credibility with the Provincial Development and Planning authorities. Funding was secured when it became a formal project of WESSA. This enabled the employment of Merridy Pfotenhauer as a full-time co-ordinator. Bergwatch recognised that the traditional authority areas adjacent to the uKhahlamba Drakensberg Park were in dire need of conservation, and that this could only be achieved with the support and involvement of local communities. One of the traditional

KEITH HENRY COOPER 1937 – 2020

authorities invited Bergwatch to work with some of its most remote mountain communities in the beautiful Mnweni area of the northern Drakensberg. Bergwatch members worked closely with a number of these communities to identify ways in which conservation activities could be implemented while improving the lives of community members. The Rand Water Mnweni Trust aimed at developing a blueprint for community-based conservation projects. At this time, Bergwatch also started working with mountain communities on the conservation and judicious use of natural and cultural resources, including the ancient San rock art for which the area is famous. Interest earned from a two-million-rand capital injection into the Trust was initially invested in two

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