Our Vision
Rooiels is a conservation community.
Caring together today, for tomorrow.
United by our passion for nature, we pledge that here:
Nature will be nurtured
Flora, fauna and marine life, protected
Our every impact on the area, limited
Our custodianship of the environment, respected
Our community spirit, strengthened
So that our lives, and those of generations to come will be enriched by our care
Why the Vision Matters
Rooiels is more than just a village. It has long attracted people who value wild beauty, simplicity, and a more thoughtful way of life. What began as a scattering of holiday cottages has grown into a more populous, permanent community – but one that has consciously chosen not to become just another coastal town. Instead, Rooiels chose a vision.
The Vision is our north star and our compass. It guides decisions big and small, from how we prevent wildfires to picking up a piece of litter on the beach. It reflects a shared understanding that our actions today really affect the Rooiels we leave for tomorrow, and a commitment to care for the natural and social fabric that makes Rooiels unique.
How The Vision Was Born
The Rooiels Vision was crafted through community collaboration in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Residents recognised that living in a place like Rooiels was both a privilege and a responsibility, and came together to define what they wanted Rooiels to be – a place of conservation, respect and shared responsibility.
By 1999, committees were actively working on the Vision, and over the next few years it was refined, discussed, and repeatedly reaffirmed by residents in newsletters, community meetings and the pages of the Breeze magazine.
It continues to act as a guiding foundation. Not a rulebook, but a set of values that helps the community ask better questions:
- Does this respect and nurture nature?
- Does it respect the place and the people who share it?
- Does it help safeguard Rooiels for the future?
An Enduring Legacy
The Vision isn’t just words on paper – it’s a big part of what we stand for, and has been tested and strengthened over decades. In contrast to many other small coastal villages, Rooiels has succeeded in preserving and protecting what makes it unique.
The Vision in practice has helped Rooiels (to name but a few):
- stand together to prevent inappropriate development
- stop a military chemical operation that threatened nearby water, wildlife, and pristine mountain landscape
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largely remove invasive alien plants in the village and restore indigenous fynbos
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find ways for people and wildlife to coexist
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support neighbours through emergencies like fires, storms and flooding
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preserve the natural character of our roads, landscape and night sky
From high-profile environmental battles to the quiet, ongoing work of stewardship, the vision has repeatedly provided a foundation for collaboration, courage, and long-term thinking. It has also helped Rooiels speak with a clear, consistent voice about what kind of place this is, and what it intends to remain. It’s not only a guiding tool, it’s also a mindset, and a description of our community’s strength of character.
Living The Vision
The Vision only lives through our daily choices and decisions. It is strong, but fragile – easily diminished if ignored or neglected even by a small portion of the community. From how we light our homes at night to how we build, to how we dispose of our waste, being mindful matters. Living the Vision means making it practical in our daily habits, so that Rooiels remains a place where nature, community and values thrive together. Learn how to live the Vision on the Village Life pages.