WATERBERG NATURE CONSERVANCY
The Waterberg Nature Conservancy (WNC) was formed in 1989 among three landowners – Lapalala Wilderness, Touchstone Game Ranch and Kwalata. The WNC currently has 52 members and welcomes all applicants who support the following objectives:
To promote, conserve and protect the fauna, flora and wilderness areas, historical sites, river
systems and natural heritage sites within the Waterberg MountainsTo promote the awareness of environmental issues by way of education, research, sustainable utilisation and tourism.
To promote the upliftment, education and needs of the people employed within the Conservancy and surrounding rural communities.
To promote, support or oppose legislation or other measures affecting the Conservancy and its
members.To represent its members in dealing with government departments, other authorities and the public generally and to do all such things as may be in the interests of the Conservancy.
Four meetings including the annual general meeting are held each year. Meetings are most often held at the Waterberg Academy in Vaalwater.
Recent meetings have covered conservation and environmental topics such as the ground hornbill conservation; elephant herd size management; fish in Limpopo Province, particularly the Mokolo and Phalala Rivers; the invasive pom-pom weed; groundwater; a screening of “An Inconvenient Truth”; and The South African Bushveld, A Field Guide from the Waterberg.
The Conservancy has interests in such matters as residential tourism development and the application of the EIA Guidelines prepared by the WNC; land claims in the area; Municipal Property Rates; the Waterberg Biosphere Reserve; community-driven projects (such as the Telekishi walking
trail, financially supported by the WNC); SMS-transmitted fire warning system and many other activities in the region.
There are two membership levels:
Class A members operate businesses or are landowners in the area with a vested interest in the environmental conservation of the Waterberg.
Class A
members will be entitled to have their names recorded on public documents of the Conservancy, to make use of their membership status
in promoting their businesses and to send as many representatives of their businesses as they wish to attend meetings of the Conservancy. They are entitled to five votes. Annual dues: R550.00.
Class B
members are individuals who have a sincere interest in the conservation of the Waterberg and the affairs of the area but are not landowners or business operators. This membership class is limited to a single individual person who may, however, nominate another person (a proxy) to attend meetings and, if need be, to vote on his or her behalf if he/she is unable to do so. Annual dues: R150.00.
The Executive Committee will determine in which class the applicant falls.
Interested applicants may complete and return the Membership Application Form to the Secretary(Carolyn Ingram, details below).
Waterberg Nature Conservancy;
PO Box 415;
Vaalwater 0530;
South Africa
Carolyn Ingram: 014-721-9901;
Waterberg Nature Conservancy Newsletters (PDF)