Through our Biodiversity Stewardship programme, we work hand-in-hand with landowners to secure long-term protection for South Africa’s most valuable grasslands. By combining practical land management, legal knowledge, and tailored support, we turn willing farms into connected, functioning conservation landscapes. Our approach is proactive, collaborative, and evidence-based: we don’t just mark boundaries on a map, we work on the ground to ensure conservation works in practice alongside productive land use.
Protected Environment Declarations – We help landowners navigate the process to formally declare portions of their land as Protected Environments. These declarations safeguard thousands of hectares of priority grasslands while allowing continued sustainable land use.
Landowner Engagement – Extensive, hands-on engagement with private landowners builds trust and ensures lasting buy-in. Repeated site visits, technical guidance, and ongoing support are turning individual farms into a connected landscape of well-managed habitats.
Flagship Species Research – Species such as Botha’s Lark and Rudd’s Lark are central to our stewardship strategy. Our field surveys and research inform management decisions, raise awareness, and inspire conservation action at both local and national levels.
Practical Support & Innovation – Landowners receive guidance on grazing management, fire regimes, and habitat restoration. Innovative initiatives, including insect trapping and investigating the ecological effects of veterinary pharmaceuticals, ensure livestock production and conservation thrive side by side.
Through this integrated approach, our Biodiversity Stewardship programme transforms individual farms into a mosaic of well-managed habitats, ensuring South Africa’s grasslands and their unique species are safeguarded for generations to come.
