Agriculture and conservation
Here’s what we know: Agriculture and conservation often work against each other.
Traditionally private landowners in the Overberg have made their income from agricultural activities, like grain and livestock farming.
AGRICULTURE
But that can be detrimental to the natural habitat and threatened wildlife. As costs rise, and pressure on farming operations increase, landowners could be forced to use more natural land, just to maintain their income.
But that’s where the Nuwejaars Wetlands Special Management Area is different.
Because we’re an organisation run by those living off the land, we actively addressed this age-old conflict. So new ways of conserving our wonderful biodiversity was sought on private land.
Landowners have changed their farming ways, from traditional methods, to greener, sustainable operations.
Farming operations have not been threatened, and food security is unaffected. This fits with one of our main overarching objectives: to promote sustainability in all forms of agriculture to be undertaken on the high-potential agricultural land.
Transferring green knowledge
Through our Agriculture and Agri-Industry Programme, the Nuwejaars Wetlands Special Management Area transfers ‘green’ knowledge. Agriculture products emanating from within the Special Management Area can also be marketed and branded as such.
The Nuwejaars Wetlands Special Management Area (SMA) has also signed a ground-breaking partnership with the Department of Agriculture. Through this Memorandum of Cooperation, we aim to work together – to strive for responsible and sustainable conservation farming.
Visit the area
If you love the outdoors, the Nuwejaars Wetlands SMA offers a natural world you won’t see anywhere else. More.
We work with
We work with
We work with
