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Local Time: 2010/03/10 17:09 |
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Five years ago when Pezula Chairman Keith Stewart bought the undeveloped cliff-top real estate and the golf course totaling 1,000 hectares, some two-thirds of it was covered by commercial pine and blue gum forests. Stewart immediately initiated the largest private alien removal programme ever seen in Southern Africa. To date some 400 ha of land have been cleared and rehabilitated with indigenous vegetation and the exercise continues.
The removal of pine and eucalyptus has led to an increase in surface water and the regeneration of water-loving species in the wetlands. The natural fynbos and forest vegetation has reappeared on its own accord together with local wildlife, including numerous bird species. There are now over 130 species in the area where previously there were only 30.
Visitors now enjoy regular sightings of small mammal species, such as Cape Clawless Otters, Large and Small Grey Mongoose and Bushbuck. Plans are afoot to add to the Cape grysbok, blue duiker and bushbuck and release grey duiker, rhebok, bontebok and zebra onto the estate.
This commitment by the Pezula Group to the rehabilitation and preservation of the environment has been reaffirmed with each new addition to the estate, from Pezula Resort Hotel & Spa which opened in February 2005, to the Field of Dreams sports complex which is not yet complete. Wherever possible, Pezula strives to implement environmental practices which will achieve a harmonious balance with nature.
These efforts have not gone without notice and Pezula’s environmental programme has received international recognition with a number of awards. In February 2005, Homes Overseas awarded Pezula gold for Most Environmentally Aware Development in the World. In May 2006 Pezula received silver for Best Sustainable Development in the World from Homes Overseas, and in August of the same year Pezula received the IAIAsa Premium Award for excellence in environmental management in project execution.
Conservation Activities
- Pezula employs a full-time Environmental Manager to ensure that the estate’s environmental policies are adhered to;
- Pezula also employs a full-time Wildlife Manager to ensure the well-being of the wildlife returning to the estate as a result of its extensive rehabilitation programme. The Wildlife Manager also rehabilitates orphaned or sick fauna and birds found on the estate or in nearby Knysna;
- To accommodate the growing wild life an underground passage beneath the road has been designed to enable them to pass undisturbed from one section of the estate to the other;
- A nursery of indigenous plants has been established on-site and a botanical garden has been planted to represent all the plants of the afromontane forest biome and its transition zone in the Southern Cape;
- The roads which dissect the area are concrete strip roads with grass verges in-between and follow the same paths of the old logging tracks in order to reduce their impact on the environment;
- Throughout the Pezula Resort certain grass types are banned due to being invasive and requiring high water consumption and only organic herbicides and pesticides are used in gardens;
- Banks surrounding the roads, are planted with water-wise indigenous plants
- The intersections of the roads on the estate are lit only with low-level lighting;
- Natural elements such as rocks and logs are not allowed to be removed;
- The regenerated Pezula forest offers the site for the hotel’s hiking excursions - all paths are defined by recycled gums and pine chips, which were waste from the clearing process, therefore causing no additional damage to the environment;
- Guests at the hotel are encouraged to get involved and learn more about the surrounding environment - the resort’s Wildlife Manager accompanies guests on nature trails pointing out indigenous plant life and trails left by the local game and bush pigs, as well as educating them on the intricacies of preserving the environment;
- Executive Chef Geoffrey Murray, working with staff of the Private Estate, has established an organic herb and vegetable garden which supplies the restaurants of the hotel and club.
Management Systems & Procedures
- The hotel and entire estate has a strict environmentally friendly waste management policy. All waste is separated into wet waste and recyclable waste (paper, plastic, magazines, glass, tins, cardboard). This begins in the suites, where cleaners sort guests’ waste before removing it. In the kitchens of the restaurant and clubhouse, all waste is separated on site;
- Wherever possible, all products used on the estate are organic, biodegradable and environment-friendly, including food ingredients for the restaurants, cleaning products and stationery;
- Bulk buying ensures minimal packaging of products and therefore waste products are minimized;
- Pezula has a ‘dark light’ policy which ensures that a minimum of outside lighting is used at night in order not to interfere with the local environment and protect the wildlife;
- All plants used in the landscaping on the estate are indigenous;
- Water for irrigation of the golf course and for watering of all plants on the estate is recycled waste water;
- The golf course and hotel make use of environmentally friendly, battery powered golf carts ensuring that because no fossil fuels are burnt the natural integrity of the hotel’s environment is not compromised;
- The landscaping of the hotel follows the natural contours of the land to ensure as little interference as possible on the original property;
- Wherever possible natural, local building materials are used in construction including stone, wood, slate and reeds;
- The unique purpose-made range of in-room amenities for hotel guests, the Maruwa signature treatment product range, is manufactured from local fynbos ingredients.
Social & Economic Initiatives
- Wherever possible, all products used on the estate are sourced locally to ensure that Pezula supports local business and is therefore responsible for local upliftment, including computer and operating equipment, food & beverages, vehicles, fuel, gifts and give-aways and stationery. As one of the biggest purchasers in the area this has a significant impact on the local economy;
- Pezula Resort Hotel & Spa has launched an In-service On-site Experiential training programme where unemployed locals with no previous experience are given the opportunity to train as hotel staff and work on a full or part-time basis;
- Wherever possible all hotel staff are sourced locally and extensive training is provided. Pezula is the biggest employer in the area, contributing significantly to the upliftment of the local community;
- On the Private Estate, where thousands of alien trees have been removed, a Black Empowerment initiative was introduced to facilitate the setting up of local businesses to supply firewood to the community;
- All left over amenities from the hotel as well as blankets and linen, which are regularly replaced in the suites, are donated to local charities including the Dorothy Broster Childrens’ Home and Knysna Hospice.
Communication Systems
- The hotel has wireless connectivity which reduces the amount of cabling required.
Overall Awareness Creation
Pezula has demonstrated strong commitment to the preservation of the environment in the unprecedented size of its rehabilitation programme. This environmental awareness has been extended to include practices within the hotel. What sets Pezula apart is its ability to create a sustainable model that merges top quality and luxury with nature and the beauty of its surroundings.
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