The International Association of Horticultural Producers (AIPH) members consist of thousands of growers of flowers and ornamental plants around the world who are together united by one essential goal – promoting the place of plants in people’s lives.
AIPH hosts several conferences, webinars and events such as the International Grower of the Year award throughout the year. Read about these along with the latest news about the association’s activities.
AIPH’s key aim is to stimulate demand for ornamental trees, plants and flowers worldwide. We are committed to supporting growers in achieving this by protecting and promoting the interests of the industry.
Sustainability is fundamental to the mission of AIPH: to build a balanced and prosperous future for all, sustaining the planet for this generation and the next.
How does the initiative demonstrate evidence of a track record of success against pursued objectives?
The best way of evidence is the monthly expenditure tracking per defined projects that is structured in such a manner that expenditure per project implementing agent, hectares cleared, days and other relevant management reporting is shown. Attached is the example of November 2021 as well as some explanatory mapping showing some of the specific project’s areas.
In the example attached 52,97 Ha of alien vegetation was cleared in the Alton Industrial area in Richards Bay and referenced as W12J100101507. As per the mapping provided (and attached) it can be seen that the following is mapped and updated; area to be cleared, contracts incomplete, contract completed as well as details in respect of environmental factors (including details of follow-ups), details of herbicide used as well as method of clearing.
The total area covered during the said reporting period was 384,2 Ha over a total of 149 days. As can be noted from the mapping and detailed reporting all is done under the banner of “Working for Water.” The total wages paid during the reporting period for the said project site is R43 218,62.
When considering the reporting provided three very important objectives are clearly reporting on, notably employment creation, environmental control and conservation as well as water conservation.
How has the initiative had a ripple effect beyond the scope of the initiative itself, thereby demonstrating a change in the city’s and/or its partners’ way of working with plants?
The uMhlathuze Water Stewardship Partnership (uWaSP) as a partnership with objectives of implementing measures to support a systematic and long-term approach towards mitigating water risks in the uMhlathuze river catchment, has had a successful ripple effect in as far as promoting water stewardship and sustainable economic growth is concerned. UWaSP has been successful in promoting water stewardship as some of its Partners have developed water stewardship practices and have changed the way in which they conduct their daily activities in order to protect the environment and promote sustainable development.
The Mondi Group: Mondi is one of the uWaSP Partners. They are a global packaging and paper producing company that is focused on promoting sustainable development in their operations. Mondi, together with the Worldwide Fund (WWF), have established the WWF-Mondi Water Stewardship Partnership. This partnership focuses on the agriculture and forestry sectors. By bringing together key stakeholders who share the same objectives, such as farmers and local government. Mondi’s operations rely mainly on trees and water, and through their sustainability and environmental protection initiative they have committed to reducing their water impact by growing and using tress that use less water, and by protecting water catchment areas and wetlands. At their Richards Bay mill, they have upgraded the technology on their plant equipment with water efficient technology and have installed flow meters that allow them to create a more accurate water balance (Mondi, 2021).
How have other cities expressed interest in the initiative, or what potential does it have to interest other cities and be customised to their own circumstances?
Catchment-based partnerships such as uWaSP are important in addressing water security challenges. As per SWPN South Africa, water stewardship is important for water sector partners in South Africa and requires a stakeholder-inclusive process that promotes water stewardship activities through equitable use of water and ensures environmental sustainability. Water stewardship is also important as it focuses on conserving, restoring, and managing water resources sustainably through all the stakeholders involved.
In 2015 the SWPN established a Water Stewardship Group was focused at promoting water stewardship best practice. (SWPN, 2020).
According to the WFF South Africa, “Water stewardship is about taking care of something you do not own. It is a long-term journey to improve your water use, reduce water impacts and act with others on the big water issues.”
The WWF recognizes the challenges that occur within a catchment water system that reduce flow and affects water quality, notably the fast spread of alien invasive plants that affect indigenous plants and dry rivers. WFF South Africa, partners in the uWaSP, works with different sectors in agriculture and forestry to support projects of alien invasive species clearing (WWF, 2020).
It is therefore clear that the development of the UWASP, and its initiative of invasive alien plants clearing project has the potential to interest other Cities in water scarce South Africa.
