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Core Activities
Research
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Research comprises a main focus of the
EEU. We work on a wide range of environmental topics – from
co-management of natural resources, environmental assessment
methodologies, and strengthening sustainability practice in local
authorities, through to coastal management and trade in
biodiversity.
Our core areas of expertise are in the four thematic areas of Integrated
Environmental Planning, Management and Assessment, Integrated Coastal
and Small-scale Fisheries Management, Biodiversity
Commercialisation, Fair Trade and Social Justice, and Public
Participation.
We are strongly committed to action-orientated research and the
involvement of local communities in research processes, and to
multi-disciplinary and trans-disciplinary approaches that integrate
social, economic, and biophysical expertise.
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Our research results are presented at
workshops and conferences, are disseminated in academic journals, books
and other publications, and in many cases are also distributed in an
easily accessible format for particular target audiences. We
participate in research partnerships across institutions in South
Africa, the region, and internationally, and contribute to a number of
international and local policy committees and task groups.
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Consulting
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The EEU is one of the longest-standing
independent environmental consultancies in Southern Africa and consults
across a wide range of environmental topics. We consult to the public,
private and non-governmental sectors and place a particular emphasis on
developing policies, frameworks, methodologies and tools to strengthen
environmental sustainability practice at organizational, national and
international levels. Past consulting projects are available here. |
Training and Education
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The EEU has established itself as a
leading environmental training institution in Africa and has a long
history of developing, coordinating and implementing professional short
courses and training programmes aimed at mid-career professionals,
local and national government officials and politicians, and
communities. Senior staff also contribute to university courses and
programmes at the University of Cape Town and other tertiary
institutions in the Western Cape and supervise Masters and Doctoral
students.
Past short-courses and capacity building initiatives are available here.
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Community Outreach and Social Responsiveness
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The EEU has become increasingly
involved in community outreach activities which include providing
technical advice and support, training and capacity building, and
research to support historically disadvantaged communities. Outreach
often evolves from specific requests for information, training
interventions, interaction with government, or facilitation and support
to community projects. We place a particular emphasis on providing
support to subsistence and artisanal fishers, rural communities using
natural resources, as well as poor urban communities seeking to
establish environmentally sustainable projects.
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