HOEDSPRUIT: Communities come together for Conservation and Livestock Management
Richard Siwela, Deputy Chairperson of the cooperative declared that Ahitiriheleni members are “happy” to have signed the agreement, “I am sure that this partnership will work and help us to take care of the land so that our cows can grow strong and be sold”.
A day for celebration was held in Dixie Community on Wednesday, August 8 as the Ahitiriheleni Cooperative signed a Conservation Agreement with Conservation South Africa (CSA).
Traditionally communal rangelands or land used by the community for grazing allow the animals to roam freely resulting in degradation to the land from overgrazing. The reduced grass coverage from overgrazing causes soil and water erosion and bush encroachment affects the quality of the soil and prevents grass from growing back.
Terms in the agreement include using “planned grazing” where livestock like cows are herded to an organised plan to graze in specific areas to allow other areas to rest and recover and grow grass. This method reduces rangeland degradation brought on by overgrazing, excessive soil erosion and bush encroachment as it allows the resting areas enough time to recover during the rain season.
In return for doing this, CSA will provide locally produced cattle fodder during the dry season to Cooperative members, all of whom are cattle farmers, as well as assistance in accessing markets to sell livestock through Meat Naturally Pty (MNP) initiative. This agreement is part and parcel of CSA’s Herding for Health program, an initiative that seeks to encourage and promote sustainable agricultural practises in the Kruger to Canyon (K2C) landscape.
Read: Hoedspruit: Empowering local pastoralists through eco-friendly cattle management
Richard Siwela, the Deputy Chairperson of the Ahitiriheleni Cooperative represented the Community and Lerato Mogane, the K2C Stewardship Coordinator from Conservation South Africa were the official signatories of the agreement and are committed to its success.
This agreement is a first in this community under the UNEP funded Conservation Stewardship Program and is a result of months of consultation in which farmers who are part of the Ahitiriheleni Cooperative where engaged to determine the challenges they face and come up with feasible solutions. The agreement was collaboratively designed and negotiated by farmers and CSA and will be implemented with support from local structures including the Mnisi Tribal office, The Department of Agriculture, Ward Council and the Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA Mpumalanga).
The agreement is valid for one year, with opportunities for renegotiation and renewal. Richard Siwela, Deputy Chairperson of the cooperative declared that Ahitiriheleni members are “happy” to have signed the agreement, “I am sure that this partnership will work and help us to take care of the land so that our cows can grow strong and be sold”.
Michael Grover, landscape manager of CSA in the Kruger to Canyons, expressed his hope that this agreement would pave the way for better rangeland management in the long term and that the community would continue working with CSA to make this happen.
