The steps in establishing a conservancy:

1. Call a general meeting of all possible interest parties. A representative of Cape Nature Conservation can facilitate the meeting. Speakers from already existing Conservancies could give feed back on what has happened in their conservancy. This is the opportunity to sell the idea to prospective members. This is also a good opportunity to clear up any points people may be worried about.
   
   
2. The convenor of the meeting should ask for a vote to indicate if the majority are in favour of forming a Conservancy.
   
   
3. If the response is positive, a chairperson and steering committee should be elected immediately.
   
   
4. Elect a management committee for the establishment of the conservancy.
   
   
5. The establishment committee has the following duties:
   - Work out the maximum size of the conservancy
   - Getting more members onto the conservancy
   - Gathering the necessary information from all    possible members
   - Write a constitution in which all the aims and    objectives are clearly stated
   - Decide on an acceptable membership fee per    year
   
   
6. Call a meeting where all the possible members of the conservancy will vote on the constitution, aims, objectives, and management principals of the conservancy.
   
   
7. A committee must be elected for managing the conservancy and to take on projects for example, fund raising, environmental management, problem plant and animal control, fire management and management of eco – systems in the conservancy.
   
   
8. The chairperson musts now contact Cape Nature Conservation and inform them of the establishment of the conservancy its aims and objectives and the size of the conservancy, a copy of the constitution must also be sent to them.
   
   
9. Conservancies are based on the voluntarily agreement and are registered through Cape Nature Conservation in the Western Cape, a certificate will be issued for that particular conservancy after registration.
   
   
10. The Guinne Fowl is the national badge for conservancies.

The role that Free State Environmental Affairs and Tourism will play in conservancies:

• The Department promotes the conservancy idea in general.The
• Department will assist with the information meeting and will give support with the establishment of the conservancy, as well as provide a concept constitution document.
  
• The Department does not serve on Conservancy committees but can attend meetings on an ad hoc basis.
  
• The Department will register the conservancy and issue a certificate.
  
• The Department will provide GIS maps for each conservancy.
  
• The Department will provide information needed to write conservancy management plans with goals and objectives.
  
• The Department will provide help with the solving of ecological management problems and networking amongst conservancies.
  
• The Department provides free training to conservancy rangers.
  
• The Department will also train different categories of rangers for each type of conservancy.

FOR MORE DETAILS CONTACT:
Duart Hugo of the Free State Environmental Affairs and Tourism for more information or to order a booklet “ Forming a conservancy in the Free State“.