Maloti-Drakensberg
Transfrontier Conservation Area
Maloti-Drakensberg
The Maloti-Drakensberg TFCA, spanning South Africa and Lesotho, is known for its high-altitude grasslands and rich biodiversity.
In the Eastern Cape's Umzimvubu catchment area, H4H addresses alien invasives, overgrazing and soil erosion, which threaten water resources and ecosystems. By promoting regenerative grazing practices, H4H helps restore the health of rangelands and catchments, benefiting both pastoralist communities and biodiversity conservation efforts. This integration of sustainable land use practices ensures water security and ecosystem resilience in the region.
South Africa, Lesotho
Reduced poverty, increased job security, community climate resilience, improved ecological connectivity within the M-DTFCA landscape, improved markets, thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem, greater involvement of women in decision-making
Planned rest and rotational grazing, veterinary support and primary animal health care, community governance through co-operatives, training and skills enhancement in governance, market access and wool shearing
1 million hectares (with partners)
41, 022 hectares
327 jobs created
598 beneficiaries
The Umzimvubu catchment area is a critical water source for the surrounding communities in the Eastern Cape. H4H focuses on reducing rangeland degradation, preventing soil erosion, clearing alien invasive plants and restoring ecosystems. By improving grazing management, H4H supports both biodiversity conservation and water resource management, ensuring that local pastoralists benefit from healthier livestock and more sustainable land use practices, which are essential for the resilience of the catchment and surrounding ecosystems. Several livelihood opportunities are being unlocked including access to markets through mobile livestock auctions, wool shearing and supporting farmers to adhere to responsible wool standards.
Seven insights from the beautiful grasslands of the Eastern Cape
Two partner organisations and two communal sheep farmers share their experience of what happens when a community-centred approach is taken to conserving land, ecosystems and biodiversity while also boosting livelihoods.
Conservation agreements could be a win-win for land and communal wool farmers
An invisible thread links high-end urban shoppers in luxury boutiques to farmers in some of the most rural places on earth.