We are delighted to announce the renewal of our relationship with Eskom for the next five years as part of the Ingula Partnership. This continued collaboration will see us maintain and expand our work at the spectacular Ingula Nature Reserve, one of southern Africa’s most important high-altitude grassland conservation areas.
Since the establishment of the Ingula Partnership in 2004, comprising of Eskom, BirdLife South Africa and Middelpunt Wetland Trust, Ingula has become a flagship example of how energy infrastructure and biodiversity conservation can coexist. The renewed agreement, which will run until 2031, builds on this legacy, with an ambitious programme that focuses on monitoring birds, surveying and restoring key habitats, empowering local communities and strengthening conservation knowledge across the region.
Protecting a remarkable bird community
The grasslands and wetlands of Ingula support an impressive diversity of birds. Over the next five years, BirdLife South Africa will continue comprehensive monitoring of the reserve’s birdlife, which includes 347 recorded species and 29 regionally threatened species. This monitoring provides vital data that help guide conservation management.
Special attention will be given to Ingula’s grassland and wetland indicator species through updated Species Action Plans. These species include the threatened Wattled Crane, Southern Bald Ibis, Yellow-breasted Pipit and Secretarybird. Regular field surveys, combined with modern remote-sensing techniques and habitat mapping, will help ensure that these species continue to thrive at Ingula.
Linear infrastructure can pose significant risks to birds, and BirdLife South Africa will continue to monitor roadkill incidents and conduct quarterly surveys of power lines to detect and address potential hazards, helping to reduce bird mortality and improve infrastructure design.
Caring for high-altitude grasslands and wetlands
Because the biggest threat to several grassland species relates to habitat loss, healthy habitats are the foundation of thriving bird populations. At Ingula, we will conduct regular grassland and wetland assessments to inform adaptive management of this globally significant ecosystem.
We will also provide scientific input into the stabilising of erosion gullies and rehabilitation of degraded wetlands using best-practice conservation guidelines. In addition, annual fire-planning and management will continue to be a major focus, with the aim of mimicking natural ecological processes and maintaining the structural diversity that grassland birds depend on.
Connecting people and nature
A key component of the Ingula Partnership is ensuring that conservation benefits local communities. Over the next five years, ecotourism opportunities will continue to be promoted in Ingula Nature Reserve, with the planned development of birding trail networks and easier booking of accredited local bird guides among the priorities.
BirdLife South Africa will also expand its support for community members throughout South Africa who have trained as birding guides, offering mentorship, business development support and vocational training. These initiatives not only strengthen conservation capacity, but also create meaningful livelihood opportunities linked to biodiversity.
Inspiring the next generation of conservationists
Environmental education and awareness remain central to the partnership. Environmental education programmes will reach local schools and communities around Ingula, helping to foster a deeper understanding of the region’s remarkable natural heritage.
Citizen science will play an important role as well. Training in tools such as BirdLasser, iNaturalist, Southern African Bird Atlas Project 2 (SABAP2) and eBird will empower local guides and birders to contribute valuable biodiversity data while building skills in ecological monitoring.
Strengthening partnerships for conservation
We will continue to work closely with landowners surrounding Ingula and in the rest of the eastern Free State to explore opportunities to expand protected landscapes beyond the reserve’s boundaries. Collaboration with government agencies, NGOs and international agreements, including the Ramsar Convention, Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds, and Convention on Migratory Species, will further strengthen conservation outcomes.
The partnership will also support environmental compliance for Eskom through biodiversity and wetland offset projects linked to infrastructure development.
Supporting a sustainable energy future
As renewable energy expands across South Africa, we will continue to provide technical guidance to Eskom on biodiversity screening and best practices in energy development. Maintaining databases of bird fatalities at wind turbines and contributing to sector-wide guidelines will help ensure that the country’s transition to cleaner energy is compatible with the conservation of biodiversity.
A model for integrated conservation
The renewed Ingula Partnership demonstrates how collaborative conservation can deliver meaningful outcomes for birds, habitats and people alike. Through science-based management, community engagement and strong partnerships, BirdLife South Africa and Eskom are helping to ensure that the high-altitude grasslands of Ingula remain a haven for birds for years to come.
CARINA PIENAAR, INGULA AND GRASSLANDS CONSERVATION PROJECT MANAGER
