Land Restitution
Conservation-based Land Restitution Support Programme
This project is actively engaging in land claim settlement processes within the KwaZulu-Natal region to facilitate the establishment and implementation of benchmark solutions that will not only conserve hectares of critical biodiversity, but directly influence and inform the settlement of similar claims nationally.
The Wildlands Conservation Trust (WCT) have successfully engaged with the Reserve’s management team at Somkhanda Game Reserve, owned and managed by the Gumbi community who acquired the land through a successful land claim. This 22000ha reserve has become a tourist destination with huge potential for conservation and also community upliftment. This Green Trust funded project has played a key role in building the capacity of the reserve’s management committee as well as facilitating activities taking place on this newly acquired land.
Thanks to the Black Rhino Range Expansion Project, 11 black rhino was released onto the reserve in 2008.
While working closely with land owners and users, strategic partnerships have also been forged and resources pooled to protect Rhino habitat and two potential conservation corridors presented by South Africa’s Land Restitution Programme.
The potential conservation corridors are the proposed 60 000ha+ Zululand Conservation Corridor linking the Greater St Lucia Wetland Park to the Phongola Biosphere via Phinda, Thanda and the Zululand Rhino Reserve, and the proposed 50 000ha+ Lubombo Conservation Corridor linking the Usuthu Gorge CCA to Tembe Elephant Park via Ndumo and the Mbangweni Corridor.
Thanks to the Black Rhino Range Expansion Project, 11 black rhino was released onto the reserve in 2008.
While working closely with land owners and users, strategic partnerships have also been forged and resources pooled to protect Rhino habitat and two potential conservation corridors presented by South Africa’s Land Restitution Programme.
The potential conservation corridors are the proposed 60 000ha+ Zululand Conservation Corridor linking the Greater St Lucia Wetland Park to the Phongola Biosphere via Phinda, Thanda and the Zululand Rhino Reserve, and the proposed 50 000ha+ Lubombo Conservation Corridor linking the Usuthu Gorge CCA to Tembe Elephant Park via Ndumo and the Mbangweni Corridor.
Somkhanda Game Reserve, owned and managed by the Gumbi community who acquired the land through a successful land claim
