Steps in establishing a conservancy

1. Identify a potential area for a conservancy and define the purpose of the conservancy.
   
2.  Liase with all residents or land users and hold a conservancy information meeting to gain support.
   
3. Select a steering committee that will inform the participants about setting up and running the conservancy, which will set up a draft constitution.
   
4. Hold an inauguration meeting and elect a management committee consisting of at least the following:
   

• Chairperson
  
• Secretary
  
• Treasurer
  
• Additional members

The role that Gauteng Nature Conservation will play in conservancies:

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

Advantage of conservancies for Gauteng Nature Conservation:

• Conservancies are a form of privatisation of Nature Conservation, along with private game reserves and other options.
  
• Larger areas come under some form of environmental management.
  
• The broader public becomes involved in the nature conservation effort and become stakeholders in the environment.
  
• Sensitive natural areas or cultural sites gain public protection.
  
• Communities improve living conditions through greening initiatives.

CONSERVANCIES ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT CONSERVATION ACTIVITY FOR THE NEW CENTURY

For more information contact:
Gauteng Nature Conservation Help line at (011) 3551464