Gauteng has grasslands that are being developed for ecotourism
Community conservation and resilience winner: Greening Gauteng’s Grasslands Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT)
Think of Gauteng and you instantly think of swathes of urban development and residential sprawl. But, broaden your mind and you’ll remember the tracts of grassland that surround its cities in all directions.
“Gauteng is South African conservation’s forgotten province,” says Emily Taylor, project coordinator of “Greening Gauteng’s Grasslands”, more formally known as the Gauteng Biodiversity Stewardship Programme. “Even though the rest of South Africa is arguably more famous for its biodiversity and scenic splendour, Gauteng contains an exceptional number of species that are unique globally. We are discovering property gems of astounding biodiversity and aesthetic value.”
As the country’s economic hub, Gauteng is under constant pressure. Natural areas are continuously being cleared for mining, agriculture, residential developments and industry. According to Taylor, more than half of the natural habitat in Gauteng has already been lost.
The Endangered Wildlife Trust recently entered into a partnership with the Gauteng department of agriculture and rural development (GDARD). Funded by the WWF Nedbank Green Trust, this exciting new project is working towards securing valuable biodiversity on privately-owned land in Gauteng in close collaboration with the local farming community, using the Biodiversity Stewardship approach.
“The stewardship programme aims to establish positive, proactive and formalised partnerships between conservation authorities and this farming community,” explains Taylor. “It aims to work with and support farmers to commit formally to the sustainable management and protection of the natural resources on their land, for the benefit of all citizens of Gauteng, into perpetuity, while still facilitating agricultural productivity and food security.” Landowners and employees of the farms will work with the relevant management body (GDARD and/ or relevant experts) to develop an Environmental Management Plan, which aligns with their produc- tion goals.
“Therefore, while the farmer’s team is assisted with legal agreements for the formal proclamation of their land as a Nature Reserve or Protected Environment, they also receive expert input into the farm Management Plan, as well as [an] ecological skills transfer,” says Taylor.
On proclamation of a Biodiversity Stewardship area, landowners retain ownership of their land and are able to continue with responsible farming practices, and therefore viable and profitable agricultural production. This allows for employment of members of the local community to assist with their normal farming activities, as well as cattle management, veld burning, fencing, alien plant removal and other key functions consistent with the maintenance of healthy grassland ecosystems.
“Many of Gauteng’s grasslands are owned privately or communally, and it is imperative that efforts to conserve these areas include consultation and collaboration with both sets of stakeholders. By taking this approach, our project follows a less traditional route to the establishment of protected areas. In addition, there is a strong focus on collaboration and capacity building between nongovernmental organisations and GDARD, which sets this project apart,” says Taylor.
“Grasslands support most of our agriculture. They are the breadbasket of the country, providing critical ecosystem services such as clean water and fertile soil. Therefore, this project supports South African society at large.”