Enkangala Grasslands Programme
The Grasslands region is South Africa’s largest biome and an area of high ecological significance in which WWF-SA works.
This high altitude, high rainfall temperate grassland area spans 1.6-million hectares in parts of the KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga and the Free State.
Approximately 30% of the Enkangala region has been developed for croplands, mining and industrial and urban developments. Some of these developments are unsustainable and uncoordinated, resulting in impacts on the conservation and service delivery aspects of these grasslands. This situation is further complicated by the ever-increasing spread of invasive alien species in the area, which impacts on livestock production and water production.
The Enkangala Grasslands Project has been established to develop ways of using the land more sustainably without causing further damage. The project aims to work with local landowners and other partners to secure and maintain the ecological integrity and cultural heritage of this important area. Innovative mechanisms are in the process of being developed to secure the biodiversity and relevant ecosystems goods and services of the grasslands. The project team is working closely with key stakeholders in the area, including commercial farmers, emerging farmers, land reform projects and business to get the necessary buy-in and ensure that their activities are supported and approved by key land users.
The project will focus on four main interventions for the next five years:
Approximately 30% of the Enkangala region has been developed for croplands, mining and industrial and urban developments. Some of these developments are unsustainable and uncoordinated, resulting in impacts on the conservation and service delivery aspects of these grasslands. This situation is further complicated by the ever-increasing spread of invasive alien species in the area, which impacts on livestock production and water production.
The Enkangala Grasslands Project has been established to develop ways of using the land more sustainably without causing further damage. The project aims to work with local landowners and other partners to secure and maintain the ecological integrity and cultural heritage of this important area. Innovative mechanisms are in the process of being developed to secure the biodiversity and relevant ecosystems goods and services of the grasslands. The project team is working closely with key stakeholders in the area, including commercial farmers, emerging farmers, land reform projects and business to get the necessary buy-in and ensure that their activities are supported and approved by key land users.
The project will focus on four main interventions for the next five years:
- Ecosystems Services: Quantifying and monitoring the water production capacity as well as the carbon storage value of these areas
- Protection: Securing 22 000 ha under formal protection by signing biodiversity stewardship agreements with landowners under the Protected Areas Act
- Sustainable land management: Supporting the Mabaso Community Trust, a land reform community, to pilot sustainable land uses
- Conserving the integrity of catchments: Developing appropriate alien clearing and weed control plans which provide employment as well as ensuring sustained freshwater delivery
Enkangala Grasslands sunset
