GRAAFF-REINET NEWS — This past weekend, a highly successful annual Wildlife Ranching Southern Africa conference and awards dinner was held in Polokwane.

WRSA is the national wildlife ranching organisation that represents individuals in the wildlife industry here and from Namibia. Their annual awards ceremony recognises the top performers in this industry which consists out of approximately 9000 wildlife farmers.

The Eastern Cape was represented at the awards dinner on Saturday evening, March 24, by Graaff-Reinet locals Johan Bouwer and Katjana Ott as well as Woody Cape Wildlife's Warrick Barnard who were all nominated in the Game Rancher of the Year category.

While Barnard walked away with the prestigious Game Rancher of the Year Award, L'Ormarins was lauded for walking the extra mile to ensure sustainability for the wildlife industry and was presented with the Biodiversity and Social Responsibility Award.

Prior to this awards ceremony, L'Ormarins and Ott's contribution to conservation was recognised at the Eastern Cape WRSA's annual conference in 2017 when they were announced as the Eastern Cape's Conservation Rancher of the Year and Game Breeder of the Year respectively.

Since 2006, Johan Bouwer has been leading a team of eight managers responsible for the development of the L'Ormarins Farms in Graaff Reinet.

Living by their credo "Healthy soils to support a healthy ecosystem - to support healthy animals - to support our families", Johan and his team are at the forefront of regenerative land use in the brittle Karoo environment.

Towards their unprecedented conservation goals, he is the founder of the first-of-its-kind Herding Academy, launched in 2018. Johan was also the founding Chairperson of the Graaff Reinet Chamber of WRSA which was handed over to Katjana Ott and Chris Nortje end of 2017.

Ott is largely responsible for the development of the Glen Harry Game Reserve near Graaff-Reinet, as well as establishing top buffalo and sable genetics in the Eastern Cape.

Upon receiving his award, Johan commented, "What a privilege to have a job where giving back to conservation, our people, our community and industry to enhance our Brand South Africa is what our team strives for every day. Thank you to Wildlife Ranching South Africa for acknowledging this. This is for my team!"

Johan Bouwer receiving the Biodiversity and Social Responsibility Award at the annual Wildlife Ranching South Africa conference and awards dinner in Polokwane.

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