Impacts: Coastal Erosion & Foods Coastal erosion is the gradual loss of shoreline caused by waves, currents, tides, and rising sea levels — often made worse by extreme storms.

ON THE NEWS! Ezemvelo, the South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity (SAIAB), two of WILDTRUST’s key partners, together with our scientists, have been featured in The Citizen article titled “Sea life thriving in uThukela Banks marine protected area.”

The KwaSokhulu and Nyembe communities were delighted to be guests at an event that they have been eagerly awaiting for. The event was hosted by WILDTRUST’s Small-Scale Fishers and Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) Project, in the respective communities last week.

WILDTRUST's Community Livelihoods team of the uThukela Marine Protected Area (MPA) Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) Project, funded by the @blueactionfund.org, recently hosted a women's and children's safety and awareness event in the Nyembe community under the Mkhwanazi Traditional Authority.

Yesterday, WILDTRUST’s Blue Port Project team partnered with Youth4MPAs to lead a beach clean-up at uShaka Beach to celebrate International Coastal Clean-Up Day. The initiative underscored the importance of keeping this popular tourism destination clean and free from pollution.

In celebration of Arbour Month, WILDTRUST’s Ocean and Awareness team visited six schools in the Macambini and Mkhwanazi Traditional Authorities in northern KwaZulu-Natal. During these visits, the team donated more than 20 indigenous trees, including Wild Plum, Red Stinkwood, and Pepper-bark

Calling all youth ocean champions attending the WIOMSA Symposium! Join us for Mini Symposium 12: Ocean Literacy, a dynamic mini-symposium focused on Connecting Young People & The Ocean. 🗓 Date: Monday, 29 September 2025 🕓 Time: 16h00–17h40 EAT 📍 Venue: Black Marlin RSVP here!: bit.ly/3ImuECZ

Climate Change Basics What is climate change, and why does it matter to you? It’s the long-term shift in temperature and weather patterns, caused mainly by human activities like burning fossil fuels.

Recently, WILDTRUST hosted a two-day training session for Youth Employment Service (YES) assistants at the Mabibi Community Resource Hub. The session was facilitated by Siyabonga Shabalala, Hubs Facilitator and Trainer, and focused on professionalism in the workplace.

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After a week of inspiring and thought-provoking presentations, the South African Marine Science Symposium (SAMSS) 2025 officially concluded today.

Yesterday, wrapping up day three of the South African Marine Science Symposium (SAMSS) 2025, WILDTRUST’s Research Assistant Sibusiso Mkhabela delivered an eye-opening presentation on the Ecological Impact of Plastic Pollution in Durban Bay, South Africa.

Day two of the South African Marine Science Symposium (SAMSS) 2025 has officially concluded after a day filled with captivating and thought-provoking presentations. From powerful science storytelling to cutting-edge research.

Ecosystem Benefits From shielding our coasts to storing carbon, healthy ecosystems deliver benefits we often take for granted — but can’t live without. In this post, we explore five powerful ways nature supports climate resilience and community well-being:

The South African Marine Science Symposium (SAMSS) kicked off today at the Southern Sun Cape Sun in Cape Town, Western Cape.

Earlier this month, the iSimangaliso Marine Protected Area (MPA) Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) project, funded by the @blueactionfund.org, hosted a Women Empowerment Graduate Workshop at the KwaDapha Community Resource Hub.

Mangroves act as nature’s coastal shields, with roots that store up to four times more carbon dioxide than rainforests. Mangroves are climate superheroes. They shelter fish and crustaceans, buffer wave energy, and protect communities from extreme weather.

To promote sustainable living and climate-smart gardening skills, Vusumuzi Tsipa, the Ecosystem Restoration Coordinator, and Mazwi Dlamini from Mahlathini Development Foundation hosted a permaculture and organic gardening workshop at the eNkovukeni Community Resource Hub for YES assistants.

Earlier this month, WILDTRUST attended the Wildcoast Community of Practice session at Ikhaya Labantwana Pre-School in Coffee Bay, Eastern Cape. The event brought together ten other pre-schools from the Wildcoast/Bulungulu Incubator network, a rural-development non-profit organization.

Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) involves using healthy ecosystems, such as forests, wetlands, mangroves, and grasslands, to help people adapt to climate change.

Over the weekend, The Ocean Stewards Project Team hosted their Annual Science Communication Workshop at The Hatchery in uThukela, northern KwaZulu-Natal.

WILDTRUST Environmental Educators are working tirelessly to keep environmental learning alive in the vibrant communities of the iSimangaliso Wetland Park World Heritage Site. Through creativity and a deep love for the natural world, they turn weekends into windows of discovery for local children.

Last week, WILDTRUST, in partnership with Nedbank through the Youth Employment Services (YES), held a progress and review session for the YES assistants working at the eNkovukeni Community Resource Hub under the iSimangaliso Marine Protected Area (MPA) Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) Project.

Last month the National Department of Social Development (DSD) continued its Siyavuya programme at the eNkovukeni Community Resource Hub. The initiative is designed to reduce child maltreatment and improve developmental outcomes for children from high-risk, low-income families.

WILDTRUST’s uThukela Marine Protected Area (MPA) Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) Project recently hosted an Efficient Cooking Demonstration at the Nyembe Hub under the Mkhwanazi Traditional Authority. The event aimed to promote energy and water conservation, healthy cooking, and organic farming.

Working with local communities to create lasting, cooperative relationships can be incredibly rewarding, but it is also not without its challenges. Conversations can quickly become tense, emotional, or even confrontational.

After 15 years of dedicated research, scientists have confirmed a third species of manta ray, Mobula yarae (the Atlantic manta ray) - joining the reef manta (Mobula alfredi) & the giant oceanic manta (Mobula birostris). Read article via Oceanographic: oceanographicmagazine.com/news/scienti...

Behind the scenes with SPOILED... We have recently launched our short documentary feature, titled SPOILED, a South African story of resilience and hope. WATCH the short film here: m.youtube.com/watch?v=7IHo...

Last month, in honour of World Youth Skills Day, GreenMatter and WILDTRUST hosted an inspiring Youth Dialogue that brought together emerging environmental leaders across South Africa.

Last week, the KwaDapha Community Resource Hub team and partners from Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife hosted an inspiring Ocean Connection Workshop at Bhanga Nek Beach.

On Saturday, the Extension Officers and Environmental Educators of the iSimangaliso Marine Protected Area (MPA) Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) Project hosted a vibrant Weekend Club session at the KwaDapha Community Resource Hub in celebration of Marine Protected Area Day.

Today, we celebrate 8 years of WILDOCEANS, the marine programme of the WILDTRUST. It has been eight years filled with passion, persistence, and purpose, made possible by the people who show up with heart and commitment every single day.

To mark World Mangrove Day, the Ocean and Awareness team from the uThukela Marine Protected Area (MPA) Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) project hosted a special celebration at uMlalazi Nature Reserve yesterday.

"SPOILED" The stakes are high. The time to act is now. SPOILED is a South African short film about local communities, small-scale fishers, and environmental groups defending our ocean against oil and gas giants. Official launch date: 29 July 2025

WILDTRUST recently hosted the uThukela Marine Protected Area (MPA) Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) Project Mini-Symposium. This engaging two-day gathering brought together an inspiring network of government partners, conservation leaders, and researchers.

In preparation for World Mangrove Day, the Ocean and Awareness team of the uThukela Marine Protected Area (MPA) Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) Project, funded by the @blueactionfund.org, spent yesterday at the uMlalazi Nature Reserve learning about the mangrove ecosystems.

Last night marked the launch of Phase 1 of a new exhibit titled “Shark Smart: How Do We Keep Sharks & People Safe?” at uShaka Marine World Aquarium in Durban, KZN.

Honouring Mandela Day Through Acts of Service Today, WILDTRUST proudly joined the rest of South Africa in honouring the legacy of our former President and global icon, Nelson Mandela. In the spirit of Madiba, our teams dedicated the day to uplifting the people and places we serve and protect.

The iSimangaliso Marine Protected Area (MPA) Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) Project, funded by the @blueactionfund.org, continued its Weekend Club activities last week at the KwaDapha Community Resource Hub, engaging local schoolchildren through fun and educational sessions.

WILDTRUST held a series of Climate Risk Preparedness Workshops from June 30 to July 4, 2025, across five local villages in KwaSokhulu: Holinyoka, Ntongonya, Thukwini, Hlanzeni, and Hlawini. The workshops aimed to raise awareness about climate-related risks and enhance community preparedness

Last week, the eNkovukeni staff hosted a lively Debate Day at the Community Resource Hub, taking advantage of the school holidays to engage local schoolchildren in an educational and thought-provoking session. The debate topic was “Is aquatic life more important than terrestrial life?”

The youth of the WILDTRUST seek to continue challenging the systems, practices, and inequities that threaten our marine ecosystems and, ultimately, our planet and future.

This week, the Community Resource Hubs of Northern Zululand, came alive with energy & purpose. The various communities came together with vibrant celebrations to commemorate the historic Soweto Uprising of 16 June 1976.

This past week at #UNOC2025 a workshop, co-hosted by South Africa’s Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) and France’s Office Français de la Biodiversité (OFB).

Tracy Khuzwayo, WILDTRUST Future Leaders Initiative Manager recently had the incredible opportunity to join ocean leaders from around the world for a conversation on integrating local knowledge, management, and leadership into ocean conservation efforts at #UNOC2025.

Yesterday at #UNOC3, the WILDOCEANS programme of WILDTRUST, in partnership with the Blue Action Fund, hosted a session titled “Strengthening Africa’s Marine Resilience: Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) for Africa.” @blueactionfund.org @oceanweigand.bsky.social @oceanknigge.bsky.social

Yesterday, the WILDOCEANS programme of the WILDTRUST hosted a side event at #UNOC2025 in partnership with key donors and partners, Blue Action Fund, Oceankind, Oceans 5, Shark Conservation Fund, Bloomberg Philanthropies Ocean Initiative and the Ocean Risk and Resilience Action Alliance (ORRAA).

Last week, the uThukela MPA EbA Project team participated in a Gender Sensitisation Workshop facilitated by WOMANIKO at the WILDTRUST Durban offices, KwaZulu-Natal. The session was led by gender experts and facilitators Rikky Minyuku and Thembela Njenga.

Last weekend, WILDTRUST staff were involved in global conversations shaping the future of our oceans, participating in two key events linked to the upcoming third United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC-3), currently taking place in Nice, France.

We are excited to announce that our short film “Caleb - Beyond the Bite” won gold at the International Tourism Film Festival Africa Awards Ceremory in Johannesburg on Friday night. The short film follows Caleb Swanepoel’s emotional return to the ocean to swim with sharks. @wildtrustssa.bsky.social