Conservation Space

The long-term preservation of southern Africa's wild lands and the conservation of its unique biodiversity cannot happen in isolation. Many of the communities living in and around these areas in South Africa live in poverty, and rely heavily on the natural resources provided by the land. Wildlands community conservation projects focus on creating linkages and corridors, and identifying and establishing new conservation areas where biodiversity is under threat. For this reason Wildlands is working closely with communities and other stakeholders to expand the existing land under conservation ensuring the effective management and sustainable use of these areas as well as ensuring communities benefit through eco-tourism initiatives. Our work involves capacity building, providing guidance and comprehensive conservation training to community members to develop and manage game reserves, and creating eco-tourism destinations that will be economically-viable for generations to come. We currently work in six priority areas in KwaZulu-Natal but we consult on an ongoing basis with key stakeholders working in community conservation in the country and in Swaziland and Mozambique.