WILDLANDS
Greater eThekwini & Durban Port
BuffeLsdraai Restoration Project
Through a partnership with the eThekwini Municipality, the buffer areas of the Buffelsdraai landfill, a key waste disposal site in eThekwini, underwent reforestation from 2008 to date. The vision was to transform 800 hectares of sugarcane land and reinstate natural forest and woodland to act as a buffer (sight, sound and smell) between the surrounding communities and the landfill site and create a thriving habitat for biodiversity within the city. In addition to the biodiversity conservation value, the restored habitat is sequestering carbon to offset the climate change impact of Durban hosting the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
KwaZulu-Natal Midlands
Dartmoor Nature Reserve Project
Dartmoor, owned and managed by the WILDTRUST, is a property that forms an integral part of the Karkloof Nature Reserve in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands. The reserve protects 780 hectares of important grassland and wetland habitat for all 3 Crane species and Oribi.
UKhahlamba - Drakensberg World Heritage Site
Upper uThukela Project
The WILDTRUST Upper uThukela project is an ongoing ecological restoration and rangeland management initiative, working with the amaNgwane and amaZizi communities to improve the grasslands and reduce the anthropogenic pressure on the strategic water source. The uThukela catchment, while contributing significantly to KZN’s water supply is also one of the primary sources of water for Gauteng through an inter-basin transfer into the Vaal River system.During the 2024-2025 financial year, the project continued to implement at scale in the roll-out of IAP clearing of woody invasives to improve on water retention. The Herding for Health (H4H) programme, in partnership with Meat Naturally has moved into a ‘test-and-trust’ phase where farmers work on a limited commitment pasture resting phase and engage with the extensive training days, fire awareness and firebreak burning sessions, cattle vaccination roll-out and market readiness sessions provided by the programme. Finally, the project continues to engage with the AmaZizi and AmaNgwane communities around the establishment of a 32 000-hectare community owned conservation area to be declared as a protected area through the process of Biodiversity Stewardship.
iSimangaliso Wetland Park
iSimangaliso MPA EbA Project
The iSimangaliso Marine Protected Area (MPA) Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) project is a 4-year project funded by the Blue Action Fund that launched in August 2023. The project aims to deliver Nature-based Solutions (NbS) to climate change risk while enhancing the ecological, economic and food security prospects for dependent and vulnerable communities in the MPA. Through the protection and restoration of coral reefs, mangroves, swamp forests and coastal dune systems, the project will contribute to climate change mitigation and adaptation. By introducing effective management for the MPA and initiating Nature-based Solutions, this project will play a significant role in restoring the area to a productive and regenerative state that enables communities and the environment to become more resilient and thrive.
iSimangaliso Wetland Park
Living Lakes Biodiversity & Climate Project (LLBCP)
The Living Lakes Biodiversity and Climate Project (LLBCP) was started in August 2022 to improve the conservation and restoration of wetlands and the protection of related biodiversity in the long term. Through the LLBCP, successful practices and strategies for sustainable wetland management are being implemented, documented, and mainstreamed by local communities and organizations in 10 project countries and beyond. With the support of this project, WILDTRUST is focused on restoring some of the ecosystem functions of the Mkuze floodplain through agro-forestry, using trees nurtured by our local Tree-preneurs. This, together with other climate and biodiversity friendly agriculture techniques, will result in improved productivity, climate change adaptation, biodiversity, and protection of this strategic water resource.
Zululand & Maputaland Wildlife Zones
Somkhanda Community Game Reserve
The Trust has supported the Gumbi community in the establishment and management of Somkhanda Game Reserve since 2005. Our role has transitioned from active management of the reserve to a much more hands-off approach during the last five years, as the community has taken over the active management of both the conservation activities on the reserve and the commercial operations. During the last 12 months WILDTRUST supported the salaries and operational costs of the Anti-Poaching Unit. Funds are raised through our Adopt-a-Rhino programme and enhanced through a grant from the Conservation Capital Fund of the WILDTRUST. We continue to work with the community to build sustainable income streams for the reserve to reduce donor dependency for these critical conservation activities.
Zululand & Maputaland Wildlife Zones
Bhekula Biodiversity, Stewardship & Sustainable Livelihood Project
Bhekula-Tshanini is an important community owned section of the Usuthu-Tembe-Futhi Transfrontier Park. WILDTRUST is working with these communities to maintain, expand, restore, and formally protect this reserve. Through this project, this community is conserving the sand forest and associated savanna while developing eco-tourism based economic opportunities through the community hub and nature reserve. The project aims to increase the resilience and adaptation to global climate change of rural communities in the Tembe area through the sustainable protection and development of social, environmental, and economic livelihoods. This project is part of the larger initiative supported by BMZ, focusing on enhancing the socio-ecological resilience of rural communities in the Maputaland area.
uThukela
uThukela MPA EbA Project
Established in 2022 the 5-year uThukela Marine Protected Area (MPA) Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) Project funded by the Blue Action Fund, seeks to improve the social and ecological resilience in and around uThukela MPA, addressing threats to both biodiversity and the people that depend on it.
READ MORE www.uthukelampa.co.za
KwaZulu-Natal Midlands
FERNCLIFF NATURE RESERVE
The Ferncliff proposed nature reserve continues to provide a sanctuary for key species on the border between Pietermaritzburg and Hilton. Over the past year, the WILDTRUST has employed a small team to continue with maintaining the area cleared of Invasive Alien Plants (IAP’s) and planted 310 additional indigenous trees into the area. WILDTRUST continues to provide support for the Ferncliff Forest Wildling team and other organisations actively working together to help maintain and promote this important piece of mistbelt forest in the Pietermaritzburg landscape. Some key species that can be found in the forest are Bush Blackcap (Sylvia nigricapillus), Dark-footed Forest Shrew (Myosorex cafer) and Midlands Dwarf Chameleon (Bradypodion melanocephalum).
Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park
ECOStudy ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION PROGRAMME
WILDTRUST is proud to partner with ECOStudy to deliver an environmental education programme that fosters a deep understanding of biodiversity conservation and sustainable development in future generations through hands-on, experiential learning.
ECOStudy offers free educational excursions to the Sontuli Environmental Education Centre, located in the heart of Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
Each year, approximately 20,000 learners and community members from rural, under-resourced areas surrounding the Park will participate in the programme.
For many participants, it will be their first visit to the Park, an eye-opening experience that introduces them to the region’s rich natural heritage and the importance of its conservation.
ECOStudy is more than an education initiative - it’s a movement to inspire a lifelong connection to nature and reshape how future generations value and protect the natural world.
For more information visit: https://www.ecostudytrust.org/
UKhahlamba - Drakensberg World Heritage Site
IUCN GIANTS CUP TRAIL MAINTENANCE AND RIVER CROSSING
Working with Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, WILDTRUST implemented a COVID-relief project to maintain one of the hiking huts on the iconic Giants Cup Hiking Trail in the Southern Drakensberg, as well as to construct a river crossing. The hut is one of 5 sets of huts available within the reserve for hikers, which are used extensively by individuals and groups utilising the trail and are all in need of repair and maintenance. The river crossing (a pedestrian suspension bridge over the Mlambonja River), replaces one that was washed away in a flash flood, and provides for the permanent re-routing of the trail to exclude approximately 5km of hiking along a tarred road.
