KZN Conservancies: Who, What and Why?
Conservancies KZN (KwaZulu-Natal Conservancies Association) is the largest and most active voluntary conservation organisation in South Africa. The Association was formed in 1981 and the first Conservancy started at Balgowan in the Midlands. There are now nearly 100 Conservancies in KwaZulu-Natal. Conservancies KZN is a registered Non-Profit Organisation (206-662 NPO) and a Public Benefit Organisation (PBO 930023747).
A Conservancy is a registered (with EKZNW) voluntary association between land users/owners who cooperatively wish to manage their natural resources in an environmentally friendly manner without necessarily changing the land-use of their properties.
- Needs the active participation of as many land owners, land users and residents as possible
- Should have approved action plans in place to address the ecological management of the area
Conservancies focus: saving habitats, saving wildlife, saving water and creating strong communities.
There are: urban conservancies, rural (agricultural) conservancies, industrial conservancies, urban conservancies in informal settlements and educational (schools) conservancies.
Conservancies near us on the North Coast and Zululand: Zinkwazi-Blythedale, Nyalazi (Mtubatuba), Mount Moreland (Tongaat area), Melmoth, Kwambo and Eshowe-Entumeni.
For more information on the KZN Conservancies Association and the work they do, follow this LINK: