Green Trust Trustee not afraid to get her hands dirty

Saving the bullfrog, greening communities and establishing conservancies might seem like a lot of work to some, but for Green Trust trustee, Ann Mearns, it is all in a days work.

Working with a variety of groups including the Gauteng Conservancy/Stewardship Association (GCA) and Wilger Veld and Youth Conservation Club (WVYCC), Mearns has made significant contributions to environmental conservation.

Currently a committee member of GCA, Mearns has established two school conservancies and eight area conservancies. “Most of these conservancies are wetlands/grasslands and my main aim is to have these areas protected.  These areas are important for amphibians, wetland and grasslands birds and wildlife breeding.”

When she is not working on conservancies, Mearns together with the WVYCC are planting trees in schools, townships, parks, churches and streets. Thus far more than 47 000 indigenous trees have been planted.

She has also been instrumental in developing environmental education materials, setting up community food gardens, leading various teams to clear alien invasive plants and raising the awareness of conserving wetlands.

“At present I am involved with a frog awareness campaign for GCA. In our area we have the endangered bullfrog and we do whatever we can to protect this specie from extinction. One of our aims is to make people aware of the importance of frogs, wetlands and grasslands. The biggest problem is developments that are taken place in these sensitive areas.”

Mearns has been doing environmental work since 1983 when she joined the WVYCC and encouraged young people interested in the environment to become responsible decision makers for South Africa’s environment.

“Some of these young people are now geologists, professors, lecturers, teachers, accountants, principals, farmers and important environmental decision makers. One of our qualified youth has even helped to establish the course for the Green Scorpions,” said Mearns.

Although Mearns has worked with the WVYCC, she has also established a number of conservation entities including a Cultural Village in Mpumalanga, the Greater Benoni Environmental Society and helped to establish the GCA in 2000.

Mearns hard work and dedication never went unnoticed and received global attention when she was chosen in 1998 as a Global 500 laureate: Roll of Honour for Environment Achievement by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). She is also a member of the African Global 500 laureate Roll of Honour and received numerous other awards for her efforts to conserving nature. “These awards and achievements mean a lot to me and encourage me to do more.”

Despite all of this, Mearns has always made time to fulfill her role as a Green Trust Trustee which she has been since 1999 after being elected by former WWF CEO, Dr Ian McDonald.

 “Our environment is essential to all life. The balance between human life and the environment has consumed global dimensions commanding the attention of individuals, governments, conservationists, educationists and public and private institutions. We have to do something because what is ultimately at stake is the fate of humankind and the planet".