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CONSERVATION
Conservation and rehabilitation are the number one priorities of the Bezuidenhoutshoek Nature Reserve and the management team have implemented a number of initiatives and entered into a number of partnerships in order to promote awareness and support their ongoing efforts.
PARTNERSHIPS
Bezhoek Nature Reserve has been awarded “Irreplaceable Biodiversity” status and is privileged to partner with the Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT) in an effort to convert this to “protected” status due to the cultural and natural heritage of the area. This process was started in 2015 and we are overjoyed to announce that in May 2021 Bezuidenhoutshoek Nature Reserve was proclaimed a Protected Area in terms of the National Environmental Managememt Act 57 (Act 57 of 2003)
The EWT has worked tirelessly for more than 45 years to save wildlife and habitats – their vision being a world in which both humans and wildlife prosper in harmony with nature. The EWT’s team of field-based specialists is spread across southern and East Africa where committed conservation action is needed the most. Working with their partners, including businesses and governments, the EWT is at the forefront of conducting applied research, supporting community conservation and livelihoods, training and building capacity, addressing human wildlife conflict, monitoring threatened species and establishing safe spaces for wildlife range expansion.
INITIATIVES
Our partnerships support a number of rehabilitation and conservation efforts, which includes the eradication of alien and invasive vegetation within the reserve. The following four initiatives are of the greatest significance currently:
- Eradication of Black Wattle
- Eradication of Pom-Pom weed and bankrupt bush from our grasslands
- Eradication of Grey Poplar from internal streams and wetlands.
- Erosion Management
Undertaking these initiatives require intensive manual labour and extensive financial resources but the subsequent positive impact on the Olifants river and all its beneficiaries downstream is enormous. These initiatives will leave a long lasting legacy for generations to come and the management team remains committed to making a difference.
DOCUMENTS AND DOWNLOADS
The Bezuidenhoutshoek Nature reserve has an extensive management plan. In accordance with the recognition and status the farm enjoys we are accountable for the execution of the management plan and are required to submit periodic management reports.
A number of the downloads have been made available to provide readers with some insight into the biodiversity landscape in Mpumalanga and how the Reserve fits into this ecosystem.