ABOUT US

About the

Vermont Conservation Foundation

The Vermont Conservation Foundation South Africa (VCFSA). We were established in 2023 as a Non-Profit Organisation, but were previously known as the Vermont Conservation Trust. 

The need for a conservation organisation became clear in the late 1990s, when residents in Vermont, a suburb of the town Hermanus, situated along the south-western coast of South Africa, became extremely concerned about the remaining natural areas. 

Threats to conservation efforts included: poaching; vagrancy; illegal dumping of building rubble and garden refuse; and encroachment into greenbelts and the coastal zone by owners of bordering properties. 

Since 2003, the Trust (and today the Foundation) launched a suite of projects to address these and other threats, and to encourage greater awareness among residents to protect our natural environment.

In 2023, the Trust was renamed the THE VERMONT CONSERVATION FOUNDATION SOUTH AFRICA (VCFSA) and registered as a Non-Profit Organisation: 284-429 NPO.

The Foundation is overseen by Board members, made up of Vermont residents. Board members are appointed on a voluntary basis and are not financially compensated. The board members meet at least four times a year, but the Chairperson may at any time convene a meeting of the members. An accounting officer will audit the accounts of the Foundation annually, and hold an Annual General Meeting.

Our 2023-24 Board is:

  • Duncan H W Heard [Chairperson]
  • Johan Myburgh [Vice-Chair]
  • Grant Pilliner [Treasurer]
  • Galvin Lloyd Secretary
  • Peta Kennedy
  • Anne Droomer
  • William Keenan
  • Penny Wieffering [Administrator (non-executive)]

Today we operate according to the following objectives:

(1)

To conserve the natural environment and conservation of cultural heritage in the natural landscape through awareness, advocacy and responsible use.

(2)

To promote co-management with relevant authorities who are responsible for safety and environmental management as well as other interested stakeholders.

(3)

To ensure good governance and sustainability through securing non-financial and financial resources for implementation of projects and operations.

Why Vermont is different

Established in 1913

While most development started here in the 1980s, Vermont was actually established in 1913, according to an old surveyor’s map. Since 1985, the region has changed and evolved into the suburb we know today. Click the arrows to view changes over the years, and  READ MORE about Vermont History here.

2002

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2024

In fact, the origin of Vermont goes hand-in-hand with nature. The original street names were proposed by famous resident, Jan Rabie.

Jan was well known for his contribution to promoting the French culture in South Africa, including translations from French to Afrikaans. But he was also a nature lover, spending much time snorkeling off the Hermanus coast.

He was very knowledgeable on subjects related to the ocean, birds, and coastal vegetation. And as such, his preferred street names also celebrated the natural world.

Today you’ll drive through Kandelaar Street, Scallop Close, Lynx Road, Albatross Street, Siffie Crescent, Sepia Avenue and many more in Vermont.

Vermont is also unique in South Africa in that it has large pockets of natural bush interspersed between residential erven. In addition to these greenbelt corridors, the coastal zone and paths, the Saltpan and wetlands of Vermont are also part of the natural environment. And these have been maintained and protected over the course of more than four decades through concerned and caring residents, in partnership with the  Overstrand Municipality.

That’s why, as the current guardians of our wild spaces, it’s our responsibility as Vermont residents to ensure we continue to live in harmony with our environment.  Read more about Vermont’s natural areas here.

Vermont Conservation Foundation (SA)
cooperative partners include:

•  Vermont Ratepayers and Environment Association

•  Onrus Vermont Special Rating Area

 Vermont Coastal Path Committee

•  OnverWag Neighbourhood Watch

•  Whale Coast Conservation

•  Overstrand Municipality

•  Hermanus Tourism

•  CapeNature

  Credits for photographs: Mark Detwiller, LOVEGREEN COMMUNICATIONS and William Keenan

In 2013, the Trust joined partners, the Vermont Ratepayers and Environment Association, Overstrand Municipality and CapeNature to develop an Integrated Management Plan, to provide a management policy framework for the greenbelts of Vermont aligned with management objectives and policies. The planning was kicked off with a stakeholder session on 13 June 2013. And together we created a combined mission, that:

The Overstrand Municipality will strive in partnership with the local community to conserve, sustain and maintain the natural Greenbelt System environment of Vermont for the benefit and enjoyment of present and future generations.