K2C joins Mopani District Climate Change Workshop

Climate change is already being felt across the Lowveld, from recent flooding events to growing pressure on water resources, agriculture, biodiversity and local livelihoods. Responding to these challenges requires coordinated planning, strong partnerships and practical action across government, civil society, business and local communities.

On 10 June 2026, K2C’s Shoki Mafogo attended the Mopani Climate Change Workshop at the Mopani Fire Station in Tzaneen. The workshop was hosted by the Mopani District Municipality and brought together more than 53 participants from government departments, civil society organisations and business.

K2C attended the workshop to strengthen collaboration with district stakeholders, contribute to climate resilience planning, and share lessons from it’s landscape-scale conservation and community development work. The workshop also provided an important opportunity to understand the latest climate change priorities, strategies and action plans being developed by the Mopani District Municipality, particularly following recent floods in the region and the completion of the district’s Integrated Development Plan.

Key discussions included the Terms of Reference for a Climate Change Forum and a presentation on the district’s Climate Change Response Strategy, which was co-created with the CSIR. Participants also discussed how climate change is expected to affect communities, biodiversity, water resources, agriculture and livelihoods within the district.

For K2C, these conversations are directly linked to our work across the biosphere landscape. Climate resilience cannot be separated from catchment restoration, biodiversity conservation, sustainable livelihoods or community development. As climate risks increase, there is a growing need for nature-positive livelihood opportunities, ecosystem restoration that benefits both people and the environment, and inclusive planning that recognises the different ways climate change affects women, youth and vulnerable communities.

The workshop also created space to consider how climate responses can be more inclusive and equitable. From a gender perspective, this includes understanding how district climate plans address gender-differentiated climate risks, identifying funding and partnership opportunities that support women-led climate adaptation and green enterprise development, and promoting meaningful participation by women in climate decision-making and natural resource management.

Following the workshop, Mopani District Municipality intend to convene two forums: an Environmental Forum and a Climate Change Forum. K2C will participate as a member, with the opportunity to contribute to the Terms of Reference and support future collaboration.

K2C’s involvement in these structures aligns strongly with our strategic priorities around partnership development, living landscapes and conservation, and policy influence and advocacy. It also reflects K2C’s position as a landscape partner that can support the implementation of future climate-focused projects in the district.

At the same time, K2C recognises the need for careful coordination to avoid stakeholder fatigue. With several related forums and planning processes taking place, there is an opportunity to streamline discussions and ensure that climate change is integrated into existing environmental governance spaces wherever possible.

As climate impacts become more visible, platforms like this are important for building shared understanding and coordinated action. K2C will continue to engage with Mopani District Municipality and partners to support climate responses that protect biodiversity, strengthen