Conservation a priority for Overberg farmers

Image source: Groenlandberg Conservancy

The Groenlandberg, in the Western Cape, offers 34,000ha of fauna and flora, boasting some of the largest fragments of pristine renosterveld, which keeps this highly endangered vegetation type from extinction. The Cape leopard still roams the mountains while many bird, small mammal and antelope species abound.

Established in 1994 by a handful of farmers, under the chairmanship of Dr Paul Cluver, over two decades later the Groenlandberg Conservancy is making an ever increasing contribution to conservation on private land.

The forum of the Groenlandberg Conservancy promotes awareness of all environmental aspects of the Conservancy and current projects include river restoration and fire education and training. Earlier this year the conservancy was awarded the Cape Nature Silver Cape Fox Award for Best Managed Conservancy, testament to the hard work that active and passionate members are doing for their land and in their communities.

Members leading the change

Alison Green, conservancy chairperson and owner of the Green Mountain Trail, is leading a river restoration project along the Jakkals River, working closely with nine landowners, Cape Nature and Cape Pine. With determination and resilience she is managing a challenging but successful project and is pioneering a way forward for the next river project, the restoration and clearing of the Bot River.

Tony Davenport owns an exquisite piece of renosteveld up the Van der Stel pass called Porcupine Hills. He works closely with Cape Nature's stewardship program. Being an engineer he is also exploring interesting off-the-grid accommodation that creatively uses recycled materials.

Ferdi Coetsee and Barry Anderson, the viticulturalists behind Gabrielskloof, work closely with WWF's Biodiversity and Wine Initiative. The farm has conserved a quarter of its land, the untouched natural fynbos and renosterveld forming an integral part of the biodiversity that the farm prides itself in.

For more information on the Groenlandberg Conservancy, its members, projects and how to get involved, go to www.groenlandberg.co.za.