GRAAFF-REINET NEWS - The Karoo is among the last untransformed spaces in South Africa, and the Endangered Wildlife Trust's (EWT) Drylands Conservation Programme aims to keep it that way.

At a meeting in Graaff-Reinet last month, EWT's Cobus Theron gave a thought-provoking presentation on the Karoo Safe Space initiative.

"The Karoo is a new frontier for conservation," explained Theron. "The area could provide increasing opportunities for the reintroduction and safeguarding of species, with traditional farming activities adapted to complement new activities."

The introduction of the vulture safe zone, from Cradock to Beaufort West, is a prime example of how conservationists are working together with farmers to protect the Cape vultures in the area, and this initiative will also benefit many other species.

Theron spoke of the need for training and skills development, and how digital innovations can unlock new opportunities, for example by monitoring changes in environmental parameters such as veld condition.

He confirmed that fracking is still a danger for the environment and people, although it is seen by many as an economic boost for the area. He stressed the need to develop viable economic alternatives.

The Karoo Forever Project for sustainable land management is one of these.

The Drylands Conservation Team: Cobus Theron, Bonnie Schumann, Este Matthew and Insauf de Vries.

This project gives farmers access to sustainable land management grants through the EWT's partnership with the Department of Environmental Affairs, the United Nations Development Programme and the Global Environment Facility. Participants are given training on sustainability, including guidelines on grazing and restoration of the land.

"We need everybody's buy-in to create a compatible environment for conservation and agriculture: landowners, agriculturists and wildlife farmers," Theron said.

'We bring you the latest Graaff-Reinet, Karoo news'