Spaces

Plains of Camdeboo

Private Nature Reserve

The Plains of the Camdeboo Private Nature Reserve is situated in the Great Karoo region in the south-east interior of South Africa, north of the town of Pearston in the Eastern Cape Province. It covers 8,827 hectares. The primary aim of the reserve is to conserve, and where necessary, restore the natural landscape and its constituent habitats, species, ecological process and cultural heritage.

Contact: Angus Tanner (Senior Manager: Conservation Programme), angus@wfa.africa

Augrabies

Landscape Project

The Augrabies Landscape Project (ALP) is a collaborative conservation initiative to protect the unique biodiversity, natural resources and ecological integrity of the greater Augrabies landscape. Spanning the area (Lower Gariep basin) downstream of the Augrabies Falls National Park along the Orange River towards Gamsberg Nature Reserve, the project works in partnership with landowners, conservation agencies and neighbouring stakeholders, including partners in Namibia, to expand and strengthen South Africa’s protected area network. Through the Biodiversity Stewardship Programme and other protected area expansion mechanisms, the project supports landowners in securing formal conservation status for their land while providing technical support, improved land management opportunities and long-term protection against incompatible developments such as prospecting and mining. By fostering collaboration across the landscape, the ALP aims to conserve this globally significant region while delivering lasting benefits for biodiversity, local communities and future generations

Contact: Ben-Jon Dreyer (Project Manager: Augrabies Landscape Project) ben-jon@wfa.africa

Tanglewood

Conservation Area

The Eastern Cape is one of the most biodiverse regions in the world, housing seven different biomes and a high proportion of endemic species.

Tanglewood Conservation Area is within the “Bushman’s River Corridor” in the Eastern Cape of South Africa, and focuses on restoration and research of ecological infrastructure and the benefits this holds for ecosystem-based adaptation and that supports sustainable development by improving climate change resilience for both ecosystems and communities. This forms part of a broader vision to link Addo Elephant National Park to the Great Fish River Nature Reserve through the formation of connected conservation land via a series of biodiversity and nature corridors and the expansion of protected areas.

Support to Namaqua National Park

Securing Critical Succulent Plant Populations

In response to the dramatic escalation of poaching of and illegal trade in succulents from the Succulent Karoo Biome, this project looks at developing a programme to secure the succulent diversity of Namaqualand with a focus on protected area management support, investigative support and community engagement.

Contact: Matthew Norval (Chief Operations Officer: Conservation), matthew@wfa.africa

LITA BEUKES COLE MEMORIAL

CONSERVATION AWARD

Lita Beukes Cole was a passionate botanist and conservationist from the Kamiesberg Region of Namaqualand. She made a lifelong contribution to the protection of the region’s flora and fauna, as well as demonstrating the important links between conservation, sustainable use of natural resources and enhanced livelihoods. When Lita passed away Ben-Jon Dreyer (Project Manager: Augrabies Landscape Project) and Matthew Norval (Chief Operations Officer: Conservation) decided to honour Lita’s life by creating an annual award in her name.

To honour Lita’s memory, Wilderness Foundation Africa makes an annual award recognising conservationists, students, researchers or others who have made an outstanding contribution to the conservation of South Africa’s arid landscapes and who share the same values that Lita stood for. Past award recipients include: Annelise le Roux; Professor (Emeritus) Timm Hoffman; Giel and Emmerentia De Kock; Manyana Malebo; Malinda Gardiner; and Dr Ute Schmiedel.