In 2019 the Gouritz Cluster Biosphere Reserve (GCBR) initiated its Gouritz Ecological Corridors Project. At the starting point of this project, we aimed to enhance landscape scale ecological processes along mountain ranges and rivers associated with the Gouritz River mainly by engaging, learning from and sharing information and connections with landowners.
By means of growing collaboration between various landowners and other stakeholders, landscape level strategies for effective fire management, invasive alien plant control and improved river and wetland health was established. Over the years, as we have expanded this project across the GCBR region, it has become clear that quite a few landowners are already implementing strategies that directly benefit and contribute towards conservation but are unsure how to tap into a more structured and formal mechanisms that could contribute to the provincial and national conservation estate.
The GCBR has embarked on a journey to learn and share, through conservation partners in the landscape, what mechanisms are available to secure areas and unlock the value of land stewardship suitable for the various types of land use and landownership structures within the region.
Throughout the Western Cape and South Africa, there are various entities, state and NGO, that supports expanding South Africa’s protected areas and contributing towards global conservation estates.
On 21 February 2025 the Gouritz Cluster Biosphere Reserve hosted an event at Gourikwa Nature Reserve where some of these partners explained these various mechanisms to an interested audience.
Anita Wheeler, Cape Nature Conservation Stewardship Specialist, presented on the Western Cape Protected Areas Expansion and the mechanisms through which private land could be invested in conservation stewardship.
Kevin McCann, Conservation Outcomes Director, described in detail each of the formal mechanisms of land stewardship. What made his presentation so valuable was that he presented real examples of each mechanism under a range of land use and ownership conditions.
Grant Forbs, Overberg Renosterveld Trust Conservation Manager, shared a specific mechanism they implement namely Conservation Easements, and how they have contributed to significant conservation of the remnants of endangered Renosterveld in the Overberg Region.
Euguene Hahndiek, Nuwejaars Wetland Special Management Area Conservation Manager, showcased the wonderful work done by a landowners association and how they found an interesting way of conserving a threatened ecosystem and allowing these efforts to be recognised as part of the global conservation estate in the future.
Gareth Boothway, Biodiversity Stewardship Coordinator at WWF South Africa, shared their story of Conservation Championships and how through this mechanism landowners in an intensive production system could still manage for conservation and sustainability by committing to a conservation action plan. WWF’s programmes specifically focused on wine farms, but this can be replicated to other industries.
The GCBR team was humbled by the enthusiasm and willingness of all our partners to contribute their knowledge and experience to this information sharing event. We are greatly encouraged by the large number of landowners that took time out of their busy lives to attend this day, 40% of the participants were landowners or managers! This highlights these landowners’ commitment towards conservation and a resilient and sustainable environment.
To learn more about the mechanism to secure areas and unlock the value of biodiversity stewardship please visit the link below or download our information brochure here: