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7 AUGUST 2020 farmer’sweekly 31

PARTNERING WITH FARMERSTo date, farmers have committed 2 700ha, with several more currently being completed. MG Lötter, a commercial farmer in the Caledon district, who signed 370ha of Renosterveld into conservation, has received assistance with several kilometres of livestock fencing, as a priority intervention identified was the management of livestock grazing.

“For years, I believed my veld had no value when compared with my production lands. I only saw it as a resource to exploit for some limited grazing. I’ve since understood how unique and special this veld is and have committed to looking after it, to the point where I’m not even sure I’ll ever put my sheep on it again,” he says.

Joshua Human and Nico Neethling, who respectively committed 200ha and 140ha along the Sout River, received assistance with ecological burns, alien clearing and livestock fencing.

Schalk Viljoen, with a 200ha easement in the ‘Central Rûens Shale Renosterveld’, south of Riviersonderend, had an ecological burn implemented and received the livestock fencing required to protect the newly burnt Renosterveld and allow it time to rest.

Hennie Eksteen signed up a total of 880ha across two farms on the Breede River. “It doesn’t help to make enemies with the farmers, otherwise you won’t be able to protect the remaining 5% [of Renosterveld]. And that was the attitude with which ORCT approached us: to work in a partnership and be friends with nature, not enemies with each other,” he says.

Eksteen received several kilometres of fencing material, and ORCT has committed to covering the costs of an ecological burn and the labour to erect the fencing as soon as the burn is completed in early 2021.

None of this would be possible without the support of donors such as the World Wide Fund for Nature. Despite these efforts, however, this magnificant ecosystem is teetering on the brink of extinction and the farmers of the Overberg hold its future in their hands. If farmers and conservationists are to see conservation and agriculture survive for the benefit of future generations, it is imperative to continue to work more closely together. • Email Dr Odette Curtis-Scott at info@overbergrenosterveld.org.za, or phone her on 083 551 3341. ▪FW

Melkbosstrand

Yzerfontein

Langebaan

SaldanhaVredenburg

Paternoster

Lambert’s Bay

Strandfontein

Lutzville

Clanwilliam

Wupperthal

Citrusdal

Uitspankraal

Bokhara

Rooiputs

Vaalputs

Garies

Kamieskroon

Springbok

Steinkopf

VioolsdriftOnseepkans

Keetmanshoop

Pofadder

Kleinsee

Port Nolloth

Alexander Bay

Luderitz

Walvisbaai

Swakopmund

Windhoek

Otjiwarongo

Hondeklipbaai

Kliprand

Brandvlei

KenhardtMarydale

GroblershoopKakamas

Augrabies Keimoes

Upington

Louisvale

Prieska

Noenieput

Rietfontein

Twee Rivieren

Bokspits

Hotazel

Dibeng

Sishen

Kuruman

Vredendal

Klawer

Vanrhynsdorp

Port Owen

Hopefield

Piketberg

Porterville

Saron

Prince Alfred Hamlet

CeresWolseley

De Doorns

MurraysburgThree Sisters

Beaufort West

Leeu-Gamka

Merweville

Fraserburg

Loxton

Williston

Carnarvon

VosburgBritstown

De Aar

Vanwyksvlei

Victoria WestHutchinson

Richmond

Hanover

Noupoort

Colesberg

Philipstown

Strydenburg

Hopetown

Douglas

Niekerkshoop

Ritchie

Kimberley

Barkly West

DelportshoopWindsorton

Warrenton

Jan Kempdorp

Hartswater

Griekwastad

Postmasburg

Daniëlskuil

Reivilo

Campbell

Petrusville

Sutherland

Calvinia

Nieuwoudtville

Loeriesfontein

Laingsburg

Touws River

Ladismith

Prince Albert

Rietbron

Willowmore

Joubertina

KareedouwHumansdorp Jeffreys Bay

Coega

Colchester

Addo

Kirkwood PatersonAlicedale

Grahamstown

Somerset EastCookhouse Fort Beaufort

Adelaide

King William’s Town

Potsdam

BerlinBisho

Kei Road

Komga

ButterworthCathcart

Sada

Tarkastad

Cradock

Hofmeyr

Rosmead

Steynsburg

OvistonVenterstadGariep Dam

Lake St Lucia

Lake Sibaya

Vaal Dam

Bloemhof Dam

Darlington Dam

Vanderkoof Dam

Kalkfontein Dam

Katse Dam

GariepBethulie

Rouxville

ZastronSmithfield

Vanstadensrus

WepenerReddersburgDewetsdorp

Hobhouse

Mafeteng

Mohale’s Hoek

Quthing

Patlong

Thaba-Tseka

MaseruRafolatsane Mokhotlong

Qacha’s Nek

Botshabelo

Thaba NchuLadybrand

Ficksburg

Fouriesburg

SenekalBethlehem Bohlokong

Kestell

ClarensPhuthaditjhaba Ladysmith Pomeroy

DundeeGlencoe

Dannhauser

NewcastleUtrecht

Vryheid

Kingsley

ColensoWeenen

Harrismith

Warden Verkykerskop

Memel

VredeWakkerstroom

Paulpietersburg

LouwsburgMkuze

Pongola Jozini

iNgwavuma

Volksrust

MkhondoAmersfoortStanderton

GreylingstadBalfour

DavelBethalSecundaEvander

LeandraBreyton

CarolinaVandyksdrif

Kriel

Witbank

OgiesDelmas

SpringsGermiston

Alberton

Johannesburg

Randburg

KrugersdorpRandfontein

Tarlton Midrand

MagaliesburgDerbyKoster

RustenburgSwartruggens

Groot Marico

Sun City

Northam

Carletonville

Fochville

Soweto

BenoniKempton Park

NigelHeidelberg

MeyertonSebokeng

Middelburg

Marble Hall

Bela-Bela

Modimolle

MookgophongRoedtan

Lebowakgomo

Haenertsburg

Tzaneen

Duiwelskloof

Morebeng

Giyani

Louis Trichardt

Thohoyandou

Tshipise

Musina

Polokwane

Zebediela

Mokopane

PengeHoedspruit

MicaOfcalaco

Phalaborwa

Vaalwater

Thabazimbi

Lephalale

Alldays

Vivo

Dendron

GroblersdalRust de Winter

Temba

Cullinan

Bronkhorstspruit

Centurion

PretoriaGa-RankuwaBrits

Hartbeesfontein

Hendrina

Waterval Boven

Mbombela MalelaneKomatipoort

White River

Hazyview SkukuzaGraskop

Sabie KiepersolLydenburg

BrondalDullstroom

MachadodorpBelfast

Pilgrim’s Rest

Ohrigstad

Barberton

Badplaas

Sheepmoor

Amsterdam

Manzini

Mbabane

Maputo

Xai-Xai

Inhambane

Mapinhane

Beira

Chimoio

Angoche Island

Nampula

Cuamba

Tete

Mbabane

Montepuez

Lothair

Ermelo

Cornelia

Villiers

FrankfortHeilbronKoppies

VredefortParys

Sasolburg

Vanderbijlpark Vereeniging

Oranjeville

Reitz

Tweeling

LindleySteynsrus

VentersburgVirginia

WelkomRiebeeckstad

Hennenman

Odendaalsrus

Maokeng

Bothaville

Viljoenskroon

VierfonteinOrkney

Kroonstad Petrus Steyn

Edenville

Hoopstad

Bloemhof

Taung

Terra Firma

Vryburg

AmaliaWolmaransstad

MigdolOttosdal

Delareyville

Klerksdorp Stilfontein

Potchefstroom

Coligny Ventersdorp

Lichtenburg

MahikengSlurry

Zeerust

Lobatse

Gaborone

Palapye

Kang

Serowe

Tonota

Harare

Bulawayo

Gweru

Mutare

Beitbridge

Francistown

Maun

Schweizer-RenekeMakwassie

Leeudoringstad

Stella

Setlagole

Wesselsbron

Marquard

Winburg

Theunissen

Bultfontein

Hertzogville

Christiana

Springfontein

Trompsburg

Edenburg

Koffiefontein

BloemfonteinPetrusburg

Boshof

DealesvilleSoutpan

Excelsior

VerkeerdevleiClocolan

Brandfort

Jacobsdal

Philippolis

FauresmithLuckhoff

Burgersdorp

Jamestown

DordrechtIndwe

Elliot

Barkly Pass

Barkly East

RhodesLady GreyAliwal North

Sterkstroom

Molteno

Middelburg

StutterheimHogsback

Seymore

Fort HareAlice

Bedford

Hamburg

Kidds Beach

East LondonBeacon Bay

Chintsa

Kei Mouth

Willowvale

IdutywaTsomo

Queenstown

Lady Frere

Coffee Bay

Port St. Johns

Lusikisiki

Libode

Flagstaff Port EdwardRamsgate

MargateUvongo

Port ShepstoneSea Park

Hibberdene

Sezela

ScottburghuMkomaasKingsburgh

Amanzimtoti

Durban

uMhlanga

BalitoSheffield Beach

Zinkwazi Beach

Gingindlovu

eShowe

eMpangeni

Melmoth

uLundi

Richards Bay

River View

Hluhluwe

Nongoma

Mtubatuba St Lucia

Kosi Bay

Munster

HardingKokstad

FranklinUmzimkulu

Ixopo

Richmond

Pinetown

KwaMashu

Tongaat

MpumalangaCamperdown

PietermaritzburgHowick

New HanoverDalton

Stanger

Greytown

Kranskop

LidgettonNottingham Road

RosettaBalgowan

Mooi River

EstcourtCathedral Peak

WintertonBergville

Donnybrook

BulwerUnderbergHimeville

BizanaMount Frere

Mthatha

Ugie

Maclear

Halcyon Drift

Mount Fletcher

CedarvilleMatatiele

Brooks Nek

AlexandriaKenton-on-Sea

Port Alfred

Bathurst

Bell

Port ElizabethSummerstrand

UitenhageDespatch

Bethelsdorp

Patensie

Steytlerville

KlipplaatJansenville

Aberdeen

Graaff-Reinet

Adendorp

Pearston

Hankey

St Francis Bay

Cape St Francis

Storms River

DysselsdorpOudtshoorn

CalitzdorpDe Rust

UniondaleHaarlem

Plettenberg BayKnysnaWilderness

George

Brakrivier

Mossel Bay

Gouritzmond

Robertson

Villiersdorp Greyton

CaledonRiviersonderend

Swellendam Suurbraak

Heidelberg

Barrydale

Stanford

ElimBredasdorp

Napier

Arniston

Witsand Stilbaai

Albertina

Riversdale

Herbertsdale

L’Agulhas

Montagu

Keisie Valley

Bonnievale

Sedgefield

Worcester

MoorreesburgTulbagh

Gouda

Malmesbury

WellingtonPaarl

Durbanville

Bellville StellenboschSomerset West

Grabouw

KleinmondHermanus

Gansbaai

Franschhoek

Darling

BloubergstrandMilnerton

Cape Town

Hout BayMuizenberg

Simon’s Town Gordons Bay

Strand

Middelrus

Roossenekal

OVERBERG RENOSTERVELD

1: A piece of intact Renosterveld on the Sout River, housing rare and threatened species, is protected through the Keykas easement with farmer Nico Neethling.PHOTOS: DR ODETTE CURTIS-SCOTT

2: Populations of the beautiful, endangered Moraea comptonii, as well as hundreds of hectares of Renosterveld, are protected through the Klipfontein easement with farmer MG Lötter.

3: Joshua Human (left) signs an easement with Overberg Renosterveld Conservation Trust chairperson Dirk van Papendorp.WESSEL WESSELS

4: Part of the only remaining population of Polhillia brevicalyx is protected through the Uitvlucht easement with the Streicher family. The species is found only on the family’s farm, Uitvlucht, and a few neighbouring farms in the Ouka River system.

5: The original extent of the Overberg Renosterveld.

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