Welcome Reception and Open House

The Director-General of the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DEAT), South Africa will host a Welcome Reception and Open House on Sunday August 27, 2006 for all GEF Assembly participants who are in Cape Town, and especially for those GEF Council members who would hopefully have arrived by that date.

The Open House will take place from 3 pm to 6 pm.This will be a relaxed, informal event, where people can walk through the world-renowned Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens. Cocktails and light refreshments will be served, and guests will have the opportunity to enjoy the sounds of Cape Town jazz.

The South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) was established on September 1, 2004, and expanded the mandate of SANBI's forerunner, the National Botanical Institute, of which Kirstenbosch is an integral element. SANBI works with the GEF on a number of projects, and this Open House will provide an opportunity for participants to get together and enjoy the splendour of the gardens, and also see for themselves some of the work that GEF's projects and personnel have undertaken. A display section highlighting some of the activities that have taken place will be organized by DEAT.