photos by Elaine & Martin Potgieter
Mpumalanga Conservancy Association (MCA)
photos by Elaine & Martin Potgieter
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Conservancies & Reserves in Mpumalanga
KWENA BASIN CONSERVANCY:
The Kwena Basin Fly-fishing Challenge is an annual event held in May. The challenge is the most exclusive fly-fishing event in South Africa. 50 Fly-fishermen fish 7 kilometres of the upper Crocodile River for Tagged trout. Lucky anglers who catch the tagged fish are in line to win prizes ranging from a new Citroen Motor car to R75000 in cash to timeshare weeks away. Each fisherman will get something!!
Mark Hughes 082-906-5148, mark.dilly@icon.co.za
BRONDAL CONSERVANCY:
The Brondal Avo Festival is an annual fund raising event that has come to being after the first armed robbery incident in our community. The Brondal Community has put this unique festival on the map to finance certain identified projects like: the security of our whole Brondal Community, upgrading our local Brondal School, a HIV/AIDS orientation, testing and education programme...as well as for financial assistance to community members and matters in times of need.
Merle van Staden, 082 441 8952, panorama.guesthouse@telkomsa.net
Lauren Munn, 073 236 0979, panorama.guesthouse@telkomsa.net
Ralph Kirsten, 082 577 4898, ralph.kirsten@liblink.co.za
JOCK OF THE BUSHVELD CONSERVANCY:
Peebles Valley is a unique community. It boasts a Bible College, an Aids clinic, and orphan care project, a schools enrichment facility and viable productive farms, as well as many historic sites and wagon routes and some newly established nature trails and an eco-tourism programme.
The workshop will focus on the community outreach part, which includes the School's Enrichment Programme. Due to the high rate of HIV infection in the community, we have initiated an abstinence and Aids awareness programme within nine rural schools, which adjoin the conservancy.
We also expose the children to various aspects of farming, with the view to stimulate thinking as to possible career opportunities in agriculture.
Cobus Kok, 082 372 8380, info@khuvuka.co.za
Brenda Bense, 082 372 5464, africaoutreach@sxinet.co.za
HOUTBOSLOOP ENVIRONMENTAL ACTION LINK - HEAL
HEAL is a section 21 registered conservancy which aims to protect and nurture the Houtbosloop River Catchment. Landowners in the valley contribute to a fund which employs a full time conservation manager and assistant to remove snares, combat alien plants and liaise with landowners to attend to any environmental related issues. HEAL strives to include all of the valley’s inhabitants in its management and projects.
Philip Owen, (013) 733-5267, owen@soft.co.za
AMSTERDAM CONSERVANCY: Ethula Project
The Ethula Project was established by a cross-cultural group of residents as a vehicle to direct the upliftment of the town. It is hoped that the considerable natural and human resources, which the town undoubtedly possesses can be harnessed to establish a tourist industry. This in turn could provide relief for the burgeoning problem of unemployment in our area. We have experienced many frustrations and obstacles in our efforts to establish ‘momentum’ to these initiatives. We are undeterred in our determination to succeed however and look forward to benefiting from ideas and experience from other centres who face similar challenges to our own.
Maria Gallino, 082 553 8653, fax 017 846 9672
LYDENBURG CONSERVANCY: Black Leopards of Lydenburg Area
Black leopards have been sighted over a very long period in the Greater Lydenburg Area. It was only since a few reports of very close range sightings in a specific area were formally reported that the awareness about this phenomenon took place. As the current Ingwe Leopard Project (ILP) was already active, it was easy to extend this as a vehicle for awareness of the ILP. Knowledge of presence of this melanistic form of the leopard are dated as far back as in the early 1950’s up to as recent as 2004. Sighting reports have escalated. This phenomenon can be well utilised as a vehicle to promote the area and for leopard consciousness. The other spin-off from this awareness effort was the funding received that made the camera hunt for this elusive melanistic animal/s possible. Thus far it has contributed extremely to the total study of especially predators as well as other animal species in the system. A better understanding of the leopard’s behaviour also brought forward certain philosophies that need to be tested.
Gerrie Camacho, 082 353 9097, comacho@lantic.net
EKANGALA GRASSLANDS TRUST:
The Ekangala Grassland Project focuses not only on the protection, management and conservation of irreplaceable grasslands but also actively looks at ways to ensure the sustainable utilisation of this precious resource.
Development of partnerships between communities, landowners, farmers, local / national authorities and conservation initiatives that have similar or identical visions for grassland conservation, will facilitate adequate mainstreaming of the sustainable use approach. At the same time pure conservation related interests are addressed. The idea is to ensure that these high altitude grasslands are prioritised at all times when faced with potentially destructive land-use practices or developments whilst simultaneously recognising the need for utilisation of the resource in a sustainable manner.
Angus Burns, 084 400 1234, egtproject@mweb.co.za
INDIGENOUS MEDICINAL PLANTS
Hein Gehle, (013) 750 3039, essential@telkomsa.net
AMSTERDAM CONSERVANCY: INDIGENOUS GAME
Amsterdam is situated beneath the Lumbombo foothills within the historical area of New Scotland. It is surrounded by planted forests and is blessed with natural resources, as well as man-made structures such as the Jericho, Westoe and Morgenston Dams.
The Conservancy was established with the specific purpose of uniting efforts by individual custodians, to protect endangered indigenous species in our area: Eastern Springbok, Oribi, Reedbuck and Duiker. In broad principle, improved and coordinated policies and attempts to publicise and highlight the plight of these species among our local residents is the thrust of our endeavour.
Colin Forbes, 082 376 6504, colinjf@mweb.co.za
State of the Environment Report Limpopo
Links to Conservancies in the Mpumalanga Province:
Hazyview-Kiepersol Conservancy
Graskop Conservancy
