Carl Grossmann - N.Dip Surveying M(EnvDev) FRGS

Carl Grossmann is the present Chairman of the African Conservation Trust.
He is an elected Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society – London. He is also the sole owner of Classic Events & Expeditions, a specialist adventure event company based in Durban, South Africa as well as GDS Enviro & Geomatics, an environmental consulting company.

He is the Fundraiser and Project Manager for the Programme of Geomatics (Land Surveying), University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban. Presently under his management is a R25million, National Lotteries Board funded suite of three projects to map and document the San rock art sites of the uKhahlamba Drakensberg World Heritage Site, document and create a GIS of all listed heritage buildings in the province of KwaZulu-Natal and undertake an aerial mapping of the Drakensberg Transfrontier Park.

He holds a National Diploma in Surveying from Technikon Natal and a Masters degree in Environment and Development from the University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg. Over the years he has been involved in many research projects as well as conceiving, fundraising and implementing environmental projects. His expertise is a valuable asset to the mission of the African Conservation Trust.

Len is a partner in eThembeni Cultural Heritage, an independent organisation specialising in heritage impact assessments, ancestral grave management and integrated environmental management. Len has 25 years of professional experience as a practising archaeologist and heritage resource manager in South Africa, Botswana and Mozambique. His research interests have focussed on the Iron Age of southern Africa, while his management specialisations are heritage impact assessments, community liaison and ancestral grave management.

Len's key heritage management, tourist guide training and research initiatives include: " Mnweni Valley cultural landscape management, northern uKhahlamba / Drakensberg - cultural tourist guide training, development of integrated land use and cultural heritage management plan, co-ordination of displays for interpretive centre. " Reichenau Mission, southern uKhahlamba / Drakensberg - cultural tourist guide training; permaculture design workshop, compilation of infrastructural development plan with local community, including establishment of a community Trust, upgrade of access roads, building restoration, skills training and empowerment. " Hundreds of heritage impact assessments and specialist studies in southern Africa, particularly South Africa. " Maloti / Drakensberg Transfrontier Conservation and Development Area project for the Global Environment Facility of the World Bank - assessment of heritage databases and organisational capacity of relevant areas of Lesotho and South Africa. " ICOMOS (SA) observer for uKhahlamba Drakensberg Park World Heritage Site assessment. " Implementation of the cultural resources management plan for the uKhahlamba Drakensberg Park (CURE), focussing on rock art management. " Specialist report on coastal zone management of KwaZulu-Natal for Environmental Evaluation Unit of the University of Cape Town. " Co-Director, Isandlwana Archaeological Project, with Glasgow University Archaeology Research Division. " Lead consultant - cultural resources assessment of uThukela Water Scheme for Department of Water Affairs and Forestry and Institute of Natural Resources. " Member of Ministerial Monuments Task Group committee to formulate KwaZulu-Natal Heritage Act No 10 of 1997. " Fencing and stabilisation of excavated deposits at Border Cave, Ingwavuma district. " Field Director of research project with University of Manitoba, Canada on Early Iron Age of KwaZulu-Natal at Ndondondwane. Fieldwork and analysis ongoing. " Principal Investigator - survey and excavation of heritage resources in Richards Bay Minerals' concession areas, KwaZulu-Natal, including oral history recording programme with traditional wisdom keepers to ensure appropriate mitigation. Procedures regarding discovery, retrieval and re-interment of human remains negotiated satisfactorily. " Excavation of middens at King Shaka's KwaBulawayo iKhanda in collaboration with Gavin Whitelaw (Natal Museum). " Cultural heritage management of greater Chobe Conservation area in Botswana - production of policy document for submission to World Wildlife Fund.

Len's community liaison experience includes: " Bhekeshowe Traditional Authority - investigated feasibility of developing King Shaka's KwaBulawayo site as a tourist destination. " Khovokeni and Mvutshane communities at Kosi Bay - investigated feasibility of declaring Tsonga fish traps as significant cultural landscape; " Communities affected by Phivane Dam - negotiation of appropriate mitigation for exhumation and reinterment of ancestral graves. " Mbonambi and Sokhulu communities - negotiated mitigation and future practice regarding exposure of human remains by Richards Bay Minerals' mining activities on ancestral lands. " Mngomezulu Traditional Authority - negotiated management of Border Cave archaeological site. " Nxamalala and Bhengu Traditional Authorities - investigated declaration of archaeological conservancy in lower uThukela River Basin. " Mpungose Traditional Authority - negotiated extended boundaries of Ondini Historical Reserve. " Mangwebuthanani Traditional Authority - negotiated establishment of Isandlwana Historical Reserve.