New South Africa park prioritizes landowner partnerships
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Thembanani Nsibande of WWF South Africa and South Africa’s Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, David Maynier, announced the creation of the Grasslands National Park in the Eastern Cape province.
The park began with the declaration of 10,226 hectares comprised of 18 properties, marking a new approach to conservation in the region. Unlike traditional national parks, this park prioritises biodiversity stewardship, allowing landowners to retain ownership of their land while committing to conservation efforts and sustainable farming practices.
The project shifted from a land acquisition model to one of collaboration after landowners expressed a desire to remain on their farms and continue agricultural traditions. WWF-SA negotiated agreements with property owners to balance ecological protection with ongoing farming. Delwyn Roberts, a participating landowner, explained that the arrangement will allow him to measure the impact of his farming practices on the land’s health and determine sustainable stocking levels.
The Grasslands National Park aims to protect a critical water source area and a biodiverse grassland ecosystem, where researchers recently discovered new plant species. SANParks will manage the park, focusing on challenges like fire management, invasive plants, and rangeland degradation, while also expanding the park beyond its initial 10,000 hectares with additional properties and communal land. Nsibande believes the park will ultimately exceed its initial target of 30,000 hectares.
