:: THE TABLE MOUNTAIN FUND

What is The Table Mountain Fund?
The Table Mountain Fund (TMF) is a Capital Trust Fund designed to provide a sustainable source of funding to support biodiversity conservation within the Cape Floristic Region (CFR) – the smallest and richest plant kingdom in the world. The main objective of the TMF is the conservation of the biodiversity of the Cape Peninsula and the CFR as a whole, including the adjacent marine systems.

The vision of the fund is that the people of the CFR are inspired to act collectively as custodians of our natural heritage. Biodiversity conservation will be seen as a necessity not a luxury, with conservation being an integral part of our economy able to deliver jobs and social development. Thus the natural treasures will be conserved, accessible and enjoyed by all South Africans.

How was it formed?
WWF-SA had the foresight to raise the start-up capital through a campaign launched by Sir Edmund Hillary in 1993. In 1996 The Tony & Lisette Lewis Foundation became Platinum Custodians of Table Mountain after donating a considerable amount to the fund; and in 1998 the Trust was registered with WWF-SA as the founder and South African National Parks (SANParks) and the Cape Peninsula National Park (CPNP) Committee as Trustee Groups.

How does the TMF operate?
The TMF initiates, develops and funds a programme of projects, guided by the C.A.P.E. strategy and TMF's six focal areas. It is implemented in the terrestrial, freshwater and marine habitats.

The programme development strategy is based on initiating projects in the six focal areas, according to the overarching C.A.P.E. strategy. These focal areas are:
1. Protection of Prioritised Habitats: Terrestrial, Freshwater and Marine;
2. Conservation of the Lowlands of the Cape Floristic Region;
3. Building Environmental Awareness through Active Partnerships;
4. Control of Alien Invasives and the Restoration of Natural Biodiversity;
5. Applied Research that Supports Biodiversity Conservation and Builds Institutions;
6. Enhancement of the Global Conservation Status of the Cape Floristic Region.

The TMF manager works with potential project leaders to sharpen the project's focus, develop partnerships and produce a viable business plan.

For more information on the Table Mountain Fund, please contact rfebruary@wwfsa.org.za

The Table Mountain Fund website: www.wwf.org.za/tmf.htm

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