Conservation

Conservation

Benfontein Nature Reserve

Supporting the Diamond Route and sound conservation initiatives and business ventures, Benfontein is practicing up to date management, ethical practices and protocols regarding research, limited hunting and breeding and distribution of plains species to other conservation areas, encompassing intra company and private reserves alike. Only the latest and most effective game culling and capture methods are applied. Benfontein is, through more than a century of dedication and conservation, a benchmark site in terms of the Karoo/Kimberley Thornveld/Grassland zones. In terms of hybridization, Benfontein can be considered pivotal in conserving and nurturing one of the only remaining genetically “pure” Black Wildebeest herd in South Africa.

Brenthurst Garden

Secure from development in the heart of continually expanding mega city, Brenthurst plays a crucial role as a green lung and haven for wild life. The garden has become the site for a number of conservation research projects on wild life, specifically birds, butterflies, insects, honeybees and bats in urban environments, several of which also involve the transfer of skills. Ongoing surveys are producing ever increasing bird and butterfly lists for urban Johannesburg, evidence of the attraction of veld grasses and indigenous shrubs and trees. Chameleons have also been reintroduced, with great success. Other creatures such as mongoose, frogs, reptiles and various small rodents have found their own way ere, adding steadily to the diversity of life. Research is also being carried out into the effects of electromagnetic devices, light pollution and scent on insect abundance and diversity.

Dronfield Nature Reserve

In keeping up with the Diamond Route and first-class conservation and business initiatives, Dronfield is practicing up to date management, ethical practices and protocols regarding the breeding and distribution of savanna/high value species to other conservation areas, encompassing intra company and private reserves alike. Only the latest and most effective game capture methods are applied. Dronfield, through more than a century of dedication and conservation, can be considered the benchmark site in terms of the Kimberley Thornveld veld type and conservation as a whole.

Ezemvelo Nature Reserve

Natural resource based education for sustainable living and community development. To create the most attractive adventurism destination in the area that will attract local and international nature lovers to the reserve.

Namaqualand Diamond Coast

The Strandveld Game Park is sprawled across 31 000ha between Koingnaas and Kleinzee and comprises a number of farms owned by De Beers Consolidated Mines Limited. It is managed in terms of an agreement by the Strandveld Conservation Committee (‘SCC’). The principal objective of the SCC is to create awareness, encourage and foster an interest in fauna and flora, whilst preserving the land and natural environment by managing the large numbers of amongst others, gemsbuck, springbuck and ostrich, through controlled hunting and culling operations. These operations generate a dependable revenue stream which is ploughed back into other conservation initiatives. The Strandveld Conservation Club is a non-profit organisation and work carried out by club members is entirely voluntary. A further objective is the creation and development of sustainable eco-tourism initiatives and potential. Also of great importance to the De Beers legacy of diamond mining are large-scale restoration and rehabilitation processes that surpass legislative requirements and have been successful beyond expectation.

Rooipoort Nature Reserve

Rooipoort’s progressive conservation philosophy clearly shows wildlife to have more than aesthetic value. Several wildlife management strategies are in place and include hunting and the capture and sale of live game in order to reintroduce species into other conservation areas. Rooipoort is amongst the largest private supplier of wildlife to reserves and game farms in southern Africa. Only the latest and most effective methods in game capture are practiced – some of which have been developed on the reserve. Rooipoort has played a pivotal role in ensuring the survival of several species, most notably the red hartebeest which was threatened with extinction in the 1940s.

Tswalu Kalahari Reserve

In aspiring to the challenge of “Restoring the Kalahari to itself”, Tswalu’s conservation management is progressive and adaptive. We actively encourage applied research on the reserve that in turn can lead to informed decisions being taken. Collection of baseline data on many different species is an ongoing and integral part of our management, enabling us to track changes over time. With the annual increase in game populations, the live capture of animals and relocation to other reserves fills an important niche of the reserves activities.  An important aspect of our conservation ethic lies in the principle of reducing our impact on the land as far as possible including the design of buildings, the management of water resources and the education of staff. Waste management is a priority for Tswalu with the majority of refuse being recycled. Our field guides also fill an important role in creating an awareness of the Kalahari system to guests that are exposed to Tswalu Kalahari Reserve.

Venetia Limpopo Reserve

The VLNR recognises that biodiversity conservation means more than species protection and therefore management of the VLNR is centered upon conservation of the landscape, wildlife, plant and animal diversity, and all aspects of cultural and historical significance. To this end the De Beers Ecology Division and EO and Sons constructed a regional research centre at the VLNR with the aim to make a meaningful and lasting contribution to ecological research in the Limpopo Valley.