WWF South Africa says that it aims to inspire its compatriots to be heartened by its stories of success and embrace hope rather than despair.

The organisation adds that it wants everyone to 'Believe in Better' — three words that are a balm against the constant barrage of negativity we face from all directions and an uplifting reminder of the value of believing in something good.

The organisation says that at the heart of WWF's mission lies the protection of our invaluable natural heritage and the ambition to build a future in which we all live in harmony with nature.

The multimedia campaign '#BelieveInBetter' not only aims to celebrate some of WWF's major conservation milestones but also illustrates the positive leaps that are possible when people from different walks of life come together.

Restoring springs, reviving communities

WWF's partnerships have yielded a wide range of accomplishments to safeguard natural systems, which are vital for clean drinking water, food production, fisheries and ecosystem health, says the organisation.

Despite challenges such as a growing population, aging infrastructure and increasing industrial demands that threaten our ecosystems, WWF works to protect our land, wildlife and vital water sources, the organisation adds.

One noteworthy initiative is the focus on natural springs in the Drakensberg areas of the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal, where communities struggle to access clean water due to inadequate municipal infrastructure and the impact of invasive alien trees.

By bringing together a range of donors and working with communities and partners, WWF says it has helped to secure 44 natural springs in the grasslands of the Eastern Cape and has expanded this work to the Enkangala Drakensberg Water Source Area.

In another part of the country — the Kogelberg region of the Western Cape — WWF has built up a deep relationship with small-scale fishers over many years. One aspect of this work has been to upskill young people in the community as Marine Coastal and Community Monitors, enabling some to move on to other nature-based job opportunities.

The organisation adds that on the wildlife front, WWF's Black Rhino Range Expansion Project is celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2023, having worked over the last two decades to grow the populations of this critically endangered species in partnership with landowners and communities.

WWF's Land and Biodiversity programme has also added extensively to the country's network of national parks and other protected areas.

According to the organisation, these are all examples of WWF's work that tie in with the 'Believe in Better' campaign, encapsulating the spirit of hope and collaboration that defines WWF's dedication to a sustainable tomorrow.

"While it's easy to feel overwhelmed, behind the daunting troubles that face the environment, the economy and our society, there is a beacon of hope that shines brightly. That's the power of unity, collective action and positive change," says WWF.

Dr Morné du Plessis, CEO of WWF South Africa, says, "Environmentalists are, by their very nature, agents of hope. In our work, we have plenty of evidence that hope, supported by action, is far more powerful than the strangely seductive slide into despair."

"Just as we need to remember how far we've come as a society, we need reminding of just how exceptional South Africa's natural and social endowments are. We need to keep the faith in each other and appreciate that together we can transform our vision of a more sustainable future into a reality," concludes du Plessis. 

For more information, visit www.wwf.org.za. You can also follow WWF South Africa on Facebook, X or on Instagram.