Sustainable Ceder Wins Prestigious EOCA Funding

Cederberg, South Africa — Sustainable Ceder is proud to announce that it has won the Forests Category in the 2025 European Outdoor Conservation Association (EOCA) public vote, securing vital funding to continue and expand its conservation efforts in the Cederberg region of South Africa.

The EOCA supports grassroots conservation initiatives that protect the wild places and wildlife we all care about. In 2025, three projects were awarded funding of €30,000 each through a public voting process, with nominees spanning the globe. Sustainable Ceder’s project, Reviving the Critically Endangered Clanwilliam Cedar, captured the hearts of voters and earned the top spot in the Forests Category.

“We are absolutely thrilled to have won,” says Dawie Burger, Founder of Sustainable Ceder. “This funding from EOCA is a tremendous boost. It will allow us to deepen our reforestation efforts, expand our native nursery, invest in better tracking equipment, and involve even more people from the community in preserving this iconic species. It’s a huge vote of confidence in our mission, and we’re deeply grateful to everyone who voted.”

Sustainable Ceder congratulates all the nominees and celebrates the exceptional work being done around the world to protect our planet. A special congratulations to this year’s other category winners:

• Mountains Category: Protecting and Restoring Austral Patagonia’s UNESCO Jewel. Find out more.
• Wild Places Category: Promoting Tourism through Whistling Hunters. Find out more.

Thank you to EOCA and to every supporter who cast their vote — this achievement belongs to all of us who believe in the power of nature and community.

About Sustainable Ceder

Sustainable Ceder is a conservation organisation committed to protecting and restoring the Cederberg region’s natural habitat through sustainable reforestation of the critically endangered Clanwilliam Ceder Tree. To learn more, visit sustainableceder.org.

About EOCA

The European Outdoor Conservation Association (EOCA) funds grassroots projects worldwide aimed at conserving and protecting wild places and wildlife. Past projects have spanned continents, including the conservation of bears in Italy, orangutans in Borneo, and elephants in Thailand, as well as cleaning plastic pollution, restoring forests, conserving animal habitats, and promoting ecotourism to enhance conservation efforts.