Every day we
Develop nature opportunities
Sustainable business for conservation
Objective 4: Unlocking nature’s value through responsible development
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
The Nuwejaars Wetlands Special Management Area (NWSMA) is more than just a conservation success story – it’s a pioneering model that shows how nature, community and sustainable business can thrive together.
Objective 4 of our Biodiversity Management Plan focuses on responsible, nature-based economic development that supports long-term conservation and benefits both landowners and local communities. This includes building a strong, values-aligned business model while ensuring that resource use remains sustainable and ecologically sensitive.
Responsible tourism: Nature-based experiences with purpose
Tourism offers a unique opportunity to generate income while connecting visitors to the value of nature. Our responsible tourism approach includes:
- Developing and implementing best practices for sustainable tourism that aligns with our conservation values.
- Exploring new tourism and leisure activities that are compatible with the landscape and beneficial to conservation.
- Ensuring that tourism revenue contributes directly to our conservation work.
A sustainable business model: Nature as an asset
We aim to create a resilient, diversified business model that supports conservation through compatible economic activities. This includes:
- Developing a revenue model that helps fund conservation activities and support operations.
- Identifying value-aligned income streams.
Sustainable livelihoods: Conservation that supports communities
We’re committed to supporting socio-economic development in our region. This includes:
- Creating meaningful employment opportunities linked in the green sector.
- Reducing social pressures that could impact conservation outcomes.
Building human capacity: Investing in people
The people who manage and care for the NWSMA are critical to its success. To ensure staff are well-equipped to implement the management plan, we focus on:
- Assessing the skills and training needs of all employees.
- Implementing ongoing staff development, led by line managers and supported by conservation specialists.
- Monitoring progress and adapting training efforts to build a skilled and motivated team.
At the Nuwejaars Wetlands SMA, we’re proving that conservation and business are not mutually exclusive – but are mutually beneficial. Through innovation, integrity and community partnerships, we’re creating a model where nature pays for its own protection.
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We work with
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