This year, we have spent our youth-day long-weekend at a nature reserve, for our annual planning, and to do some much-needed updates to our website. During our stay, we learnt about how the establishment and organisation (of which we are now a part of) came to be. It all started with a proposed golf estate development, which threatened the existence of this nature reserve in the 1990’s. One person stood her ground, and, after she proved to be victorious, a non-profit organisation was formed to take care of the reserve.
We were saddened by the reality of how many times such large developments have threatened pristine pieces of land, and beautiful open areas, which we are supposed to maintain for future generations. Over the past two decades in the industry, we have seen how town planning and developments can bring both hope, but also destruction to the communities and amenities around us. What was once a beautiful piece of land, with wide open fields and vast stretches of acasia, would shortly be turned into a concrete jungle. Many developers would have seen any consultant or official from the private, municipal, provincial or national nature conservation departments and companies as the enemy. But, we are hopeful. We have seen a few who were willing to take hands with the local communities and nature conservation, to establish something which would be beneficial for both man and nature.
Maybe it is time that we should rethink our development strategies, and the recycling of old buildings and neighbourhoods. Maybe we should not see the “greenies” as our enemies, but rather as our friends who help us to create something which can be sustained for human and natural life. Maybe those people who cry out when their heritage is threatened by a development are not the real enemy. Maybe it is time for us to start incorporating more heritage sites and natural resources in our developments. Maybe “going green” is not just a trend, but something which is much more needed than we can ever imagine. Maybe the change that is needed can start with us, here, now, today.
If only we were all willing to think outside the box, then we will be able to look beyond the “challenges” that “green housing” and “conservation” pose to a development. There are many factors at stake, yes, but no challenge is ever too big to overcome. Let us start to rethink our development strategies, our planning, and the processes we use to implement what is required to really make a development sustainable. This will not only benefit us, but future generations as well.
