A printed version of the Cape Town Green Map has been launched to complement the existing online ‘green’ resource, www.capetowngreenmap.co.za.

The Cape Town Green Map is an online resource that is used by residents and visitors to make ‘green’ lifestyle choices. It features information about environmentally friendly ways to live, work and play, and encourages users to be aware of the city’s fragile ecosystems, the many threats to them, and how to sustain them.

Cape Town Green Map was initiated as a project by the Host City Cape Town's Green Goal 2010 Action Plan, the environmental programme for the 2010 Soccer World Cup™. It is a legacy project that will continue post 2010 as an invaluable source of information for visitors, residents and the commercial sector.

The printed version will be available free of charge at all Cape Town Tourism Visitor Information Centres. Cape Town Tourism is a contributing sponsor to the Cape Town Green Map.

Arne Purves, project manager from the City of Cape Town’s Environmental Resource Management Department, says: “Our main focus has been to provide places to visit as an integral overview of green Cape Town. The print map highlights the great green outdoors, parks and gardens, blue-flag beaches, green shops, responsible tourism accommodation and the like.” It is divided into easy-to-use sections that feature 'good food' - where to eat organically, 'local and organic markets', 'responsible tours', 'visit', which highlights places, projects and villages that are environmentally responsible, 'shopping', which is a list of stores that focus on eco/organic products, and a number of information boxes that highlight great green reads, online resources, recycling drop off points and the like.”

As Glen Adams from Urban Sprout, one of the team behind the Cape Town Green Map, says: “The map is chock-a-block with ‘green’ listings. We won't have included everything, as the market is now so big, and growing at a continuously rapid rate – which is fantastic!”

The online version features more than 250 listings, and continues to grow dynamically as users submit suggestions. It is powered by www.opengreenmap.org, which features similar maps from countries around the world.

The map is printed on SAPPI sponsored Triple Green paper, an environmentally-friendly paper stock made from chlorine-free sugar cane fibre, to support sustainable afforestation in South Africa. The printers use only vegetable based inks and presses rated amongst the most energy efficient in the world.

In true ‘green’ style, the printed Green Map launch was held as an open air event at the Tygerberg Nature Reserve. Contributors and sponsors were transported to the venue in ‘Green Cab’ vehicles that use green fuel technologies to reduce their impact on the ozone layer.

PDF versions are available on www.capetowngreenmap.co.za and www.capetown.gov.za/environment.