As part of the broader KZN Biodiversity Stewardship program being driven by Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, the Wildlands Conservation Trust (Wildlands) has assisted in facilitating the proclamation of Usuthu Gorge as a new Protected Area. This step will ensure the conservation, in perpetuity, of 3000ha of prime northern KZN bushveld situated to the west of Ndumo and belonging to the Mathenjwa community.The community formed the Usuthu Trust, which has successfully claimed Ndumo Game Reserve, and now aims to incorporate Usuthu Gorge into the Ndumo reserve.
According to Wildlands Strategic Manager for Stewardship and Protected Area Expansion Kevin McCann, the incorporation provides for a much more natural seasonal migration path for the animals of Usuthu Gorge. “The extended area goes up into the Lebombo mountains, so it provides a natural altitude gradient. Usuthu has very little water in winter, but once the fences are dropped Usuthu animals will be able to move down into the Pongola floodplain in the dry season. This effectively recreates their historical Maputaland migration paths,” says McCann. “As temperature increases due to climate change, animals will have the ability to also gradually move higher into the mountains if required.”
The creation of a larger reserve creates further benefits of scale. For example, the Usuthu Gorge Nature Reserve management costs will be reduced, since man-made water points don’t need to be created in the gorge as a result of the access to the Pongola floodplain. “This is a result of collaborating with nature, rather than working against it by creating unnatural boundaries,” explains McCann.
The final step in the proclamation process is for the Mathenjwa community, with the permission of the Ngonyama Trust (which manages some 2.7 million hectares on behalf of the Zulu King), to enter into an agreement with the KZN MEC for Agriculture, Environmental Affairs and Rural Development. By early 2012 the new reserve will be in place at which point Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, which already manages Ndumo, will drop the fences between the two land parcels. This will effectively make Usuthu Gorge part of the Transfrontier Conservation Area.
Plans to develop ecotourism facilities at Usuthu Gorge will focus on the area as a hunting destination, but could incorporate other tourism initiatives such as4x4 tracks and birding facilities. “Stewardship brings the land under formal protection, and gives landowners financial and non-financial rewards,” says McCann. “It costs money to manage a protected area. Wildlands brokers these kinds of deals in order to reduce the management costs to the landowner and unlock ways they can use it for a viable income. In Zululand that income typically comes from game farming and ecotourism.”
McCann points out that the proclamation has the dual benefits of protection for species and habitats, and allows economically viable conservation-related development. Benefits for the owners of protected areas include financial benefits such as:
· Access to cost-free reserve management and business expertise, including experts from Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, the Department of Agriculture, Environmental Affairs and Rural Development, WWF, SANBI – CREW (Custodians of Rare and Endangered Wildflowers), SANBI Grasslands Programme, the Wildlands Conservation Trust;
Wildlands is developing a formal partnership with Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife for them to take over the management of the extended reserve once the proclamation is final and the fence is dropped. This initiative forms part of Wildlands’ vision to create conservation corridors across the province, linking protected areas, improving the stewardship of the land and ensuring community benefit.
Photo Credit: Maryann Rivers-Moore
WILDTRUST (registered as the Wildlands Conservation Trust - IT No: 4329/1991/PMB)