22 November, 2010: The Overberg Crane Group (OCG) has secured a grant of almost R500 000 from the National Lottery. This will allow the group to once again employ a crane fieldworker in partnership with the Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT) for the Western Cape, and to upgrade its equipment. The OCG has been without a sponsor and a fieldworker for more than a year.
According to OCG Chairman Mick D’Alton, this will enable the group to address the pressing problems that face crane and biodiversity conservation in general. “As our national bird, the crane is still under threat. Through this grant, we hope to reinforce communication between the OCG, private landowners, and government stakeholders, who are all crucial in protecting the blue crane. For that, we are incredibly grateful to the National Lottery for making these funds available for crane conservation.”
The new project is expected to focus on research, education and awareness of blue cranes, monitoring and building resilience to climate change as well as inappropriate developments affecting the environment. Through close collaboration with both government departments and non-governmental organisations in these fields, issues affecting crane and biodiversity conservation can be aligned with policy, benefiting the Western Cape and the nation.