S sustaina le agriculture tea

WWF-SA’S sustainable agriculture team does essential work with commercial and communal farmers. Whether working with wine producers, commercial dairy and sheep farmers, smallholder cattle farmers and subsistence vegetable growers, the aim is to achieve better land-use planning and farming solutions that benefit people and nature. The team promotes regenerative farming and agroecology. This work is a response to address high water use and the negative effects of our food system, which, while productive, has done more damage to the natural environment than any other human enterprise. The team focuses on farmers in places of national importance such as water source areas and biomes. WWF-SA, together with Sanparks, is championing efforts on the ground for the development of the 30 000-hectare high-altitude NE Cape Grasslands National Park near Lesotho. The approach is novel because it is in a working landscape where agricultural activities take place. The area is rich in endemic species, including the endangered bearded vulture, Cape vulture and crested crane. Grasslands are also where most of the country’s water sources are found and its wetlands act as sponges to retain rainwater. Another success is the Conservation Champions initiative in the Cape winelands in which two biodiversity hotspots occur — the Succulent Karoo and Cape Floral Kingdom. Today, 60 wine farms are environmental leaders in the industry. Collectively they own 48 156 hectares of land, of which 25 626ha are conserved.