Conservation News from the Overberg
CONSERVATION NEWS

From ruin to recovery: Restoration in the Nuwejaars wetlands
The restoration of the wetlands system has been incredible, with the presence of riparian species also establishing themselves. The removal of alien plant species is the

The quagga’s extinction and revival: Fact or fiction? | Rau Quagga
The 46 000-hectare Nuwejaars Wetlands Special Management Area hosts one of the biggest Rau Quagga populations in the country.

Making nature ‘real’ for children at the Nuwejaars wetlands
The Nuwejaars wetlands were transformed into a school laboratory in November. Three schools were hosted on an outing to the wetlands over the course of a

Fire Prevention Month: Managing wildfire risk on the NWSMA
As summer approaches, the risk of wildfires is increasing. This is especially true on the Agulhas Plain, where we’ve had a very dry year. Wildfires pose

Taking a lead in the name of nature
For the past four years, Denver has brought his love for and knowledge of this landscape to the Nuwejaars Wetlands Special Management Area (NWSMA). Denver and his team of three …

Farming and conservation: How the two can go hand-in-hand
“The ideal is to get farmers involved in conservation and work with them,” Ross says. That’s exactly the model introduced in the NWMSA – where farmers realised

A new fynbos lily discovered on the Agulhas Plain
The pretty pink and white flowered plants have only been found in two locations – both on the NWSMA. With fewer than 250 plants in total covering an area of less

Water for Africa’s tip: Why our coastal towns rely on the Nuwejaars
There’s an influx of people moving to the most southerly tip of Africa. And this mass movement means that the role of the Nuwejaars wetlands has never been more

What lies beneath: The tiny creatures hiding in our wetlands
The ink-black, acidic waters of the Nuwejaars wetlands and rivers hide tiny creatures that would do whatever they could to never reveal their presence

Job vacancy: Administration Manager/Bookkeeper
We are looking for a suitably qualified, experienced and enthusiastic person to fill our part-time Administration Manager/Bookkeeper position.

Prayer, punctuality and people: At the heart of James Mavusa’s successful small business
For small business owner, James Mavusa, success is determined by being punctual and by having a good attitude towards your work.

A species lost – and now brought back: The incredible buffalo journey
Buffalo have a rich history on the Agulhas Plain – dating back hundreds of thousands of years. Here in the Nuwejaars wetlands, we’re working to keep this

Searching for wetlands wildlife: Our Elim Primary School visit
The children of the Elim Primary School got to know the Nuwejaars wetlands – especially the frogs of our wetlands, during a recent environmental education outing.

The wood wide web of friendship and betrayal
Each type of fungi hosts specific species of plants and both are very sensitive to the surrounding conditions such as temperature and humidity. When for example temperatures

An army of Micro Frogs: An exciting Nuwejaars wetlands discovery
A new discovery in the Nuwejaars wetlands has created much excitement for amphibian experts and conservationists alike. A new subpopulation of the Critically

Unlocking Nature: Our wetlands in the limelight
Eugene and Ross joined the Leadership for Conservation in Africa webinar, called ‘Unlocking Nature’. We chatted about the importance of our wetlands, how we’re combining

A year with a difference: Our 2020/21 annual report
“Why do we do what we do in the Nuwejaars wetlands? I’m asked this question constantly. Many simply don’t understand why we would go to the trouble, and the costs, of

What on Mother Earth is an SMA?
There’s a global drive to recognise conservation structures, like SMAs, that may not fit traditional or more well-known wildlife-protection setups. Protected Areas, for example, are well

What makes THESE fynbos species special?
The Nuwejaars Wetlands Special Management Area is home to 207 threatened fynbos species (ranging from Near Threatened to Critically Endangered). Not all are fynbos endemics though.

Favourite fynbos flowers? Our team chooses…
Get to know some of the special plants you could find in the Nuwejaars Wetlands Special Management Area… and get to know our team members. International Plant Appreciation