Odette Curtis-Scott, the CEO of Overburg Renosterveld Trust, and veteran actor Dr John Kani received awards from the WWF on Friday, 14 November. (Photo: Steff Bosch / WWF South Africa/) 
The critically endangered Overberg Renosterveld in the Western Cape is one of the world's most diverse ecosystems, yet not many people are aware of its value.
The Overberg Renosterveld supports a rich biodiversity as a result of its highly fertile soil, which has attracted substantial agricultural activity, resulting in 95% of the habitat being destroyed. What remains of the Renosterveld is fragmented into small pockets, situated on steep or rocky plains.
However, on Friday, 14 November, the veil of obscurity surrounding the Overberg Renosterveld was lifted when the organisation working tirelessly to conserve it was given the WWF Living Planet Award at a ceremony in Sandton.
Veteran SA actor and playwright Dr John Kani was also honoured, receiving an award for his contribution to environmental advocacy. Kani is famous for his stage work and starring in major Hollywood productions, but what many people do not know is that he has had a long career in environmentalism, acting as one of the longest-serving trustees of the WWF Nedbank Green Trust, a position he filled for 32 years before retiring in 2022.
The internationally celebrated actor has used his talents to highlight environmental risks facing the Lower Zambezi River as a result of mining operations, narrating the documentary Wild Zambezi.
“My job, apart from making movies and having great fun and going around the world, is to sometimes think, what kind of a world will I leave my children and my grandchildren in? I really do the work I do because I truly believe what that work does for my people,” said Kani.
/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Dr-John-Kani-with-WWF-board-chair-Valli-Moosa-receiving-the-Living-Planet-Award.jpeg "Dr John Kani with WWF board chair Valli Moosa. (Photo: Steff Bosch / WWF South Africa )")
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Delivering a passionate address, Overberg Renosterveld Trust CEO Odette Curtis-Scott said winning the WWF Living Planet Award was a significant milestone for the small but impactful NGO, which operates on an annual budget of around R5-million and is driven by a dedicated team of just five members.
“Our journey has been rather challenging, to put it mildly,” said Curtis-Scott. “When I started the trust, people said to me, ‘Don’t do it, you will fail, it will not work.’ But here we are, maybe 13 years later, showing that persistence pays.”
The Overberg Renosterveld is part of the Cape Floristic Kingdom and, with more than 1,200 species recorded in the area, is renowned for its extraordinary plant diversity, many of which can only be found in the habitat and are endangered.
“This habitat supports not only a rich variety of plants but also numerous pollinators and animals that depend on this fragile system,” said Curtis-Scott.
Despite its ecological importance, the Overberg Renosterveld is often overlooked, and Curtis-Scott described it as “the ugly sister of the more glamorous fynbos”. Life-forms in the Overberg Renosterveld include tiny pollinators, rare spiders and endemic birds.
/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Dr-Odette-Curtis-Scott-from-the-Renosterveld-Overberg-Trust-with-Valli-Moosa-WWF-board-chair.jpeg "Dr Odette Curtis-Scott with Valli Moosa, WWF board chair. (Photo: Steff Bosch / WWF South Africa)")
The importance of partnerships
Curtis-Scott highlighted the vital role of partnerships in the Overberg Renosterveld Trust’s success.
She said the WWF had been a key supporter since the organisation’s inception in 2012, investing more than R20-million into its conservation initiatives. The trust also collaborates with landowners, private donors and local communities, engaging in land purchases and conservation easements that secure vital biodiversity corridors.
It invests in education, management and research, including developing a field guide and an upcoming children’s book to raise awareness among younger generations
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The recognition from WWF not only honours the trust’s work but also brings much-needed attention to the Overberg Renosterveld’s critical role in providing essential ecosystem services, supporting endemic species and helping maintain ecological balance in the Western Cape.
The Living Planet Award serves as a rallying point for continued efforts to protect and restore the Overberg Renosterveld, emphasising that even small organisations, when backed by resilient partnerships and community engagement, can lead to meaningful change to conserve the planet’s biological heritage. DM