Press release
The first Conservation Servitude, initiated by the Endangered Wildlife Trust, has been registered.
The registration of the Lokenburg Conservation Servitude in the Northern Cape ensures the long-term protection of the Speckled Dwarf Tortoise (Homopus signatus), its habitat and the associated biodiversity on a farm that has been occupied by the same family for six generations.
The protection of dwarf tortoises is critical, particularly because they occur in very specific habitat types along the West Coast of South Africa inland to Namakwaland, and while this is a large area, they actually only occur in a few tiny remnant patches of critical habitat.
The Lokenburg Conservation Servitude has been registered across the Lokenburg farm. Specific tortoise conservation management areas have been designated within this area, where targeted management actions and development restrictions will be in place. Additional, species focused conservation actions will also take place across the broader landscape and include management of the Pied Crow (Corvus albus) populations in the area, which are unnaturally high, and through excessive predation, are driving the tortoise populations to extinction.
Lokenburg is situated in the district of Nieuwoudtville, widely known for its unique vegetation and springtime floral splendour. The farm is unique in two respects. It was the first farm in the area to receive Title Deeds in 1774, and it is the only farm in this area to host a dwelling built by each one of the six generations that have lived on the property. Situated in the Bokkeveld, an area previously known for its large Springbok population, the working farm boasts a large variety of plant species. The owners, Nelmarie and Herman Nel, farm sheep, cattle, and rooibos tea.
In 2023, they became members of the South African Essential Oil Producers Association and they have a vision to further expand the essential oil branch, to make it sustainable and economically viable for the benefit of the community and environment.
But critically, the family also aims to preserve their land for future generations, through sustainable farming practices alongside the preservation of the rich biodiversity found on their land.
The Lokenburg Biodiversity Management Plan (LBMP) concluded between the landowners and the EWT, provides the primary strategic tool for targeted conservation management of the Lokenburg Conservation Servitude, informing the need for specific conservation actions and operational procedures. It also makes provision for capacity building, future thinking, and continuity of management, enables the management of the Servitude in a manner that values the purpose for which it has been established, and ensures, through collaboration, that no detrimental forms of development, or agricultural activities, will take place within the focal areas.
Lokenburg is situated in the winter rainfall region and lies in the transition zone between the Fynbos and Succulent Karoo Biomes. This makes the farm particularly interesting from a botanical point of view as it also straddles no less than four Bioregions, namely: North-West Fynbos, the Western Fynbos-Renosterveld, the Karoo Renosterveldand the Trans-escarpment Succulent Bioregions.
The Succulent Karoo Biome, which boasts the richest abundance of succulent flora on earth, is one of only two arid zones that have been declared global Biodiversity Hotspots. The biome is home to over 6,000 plant species, 40% of which are endemic (occur nowhere else on earth) and 936 (17%) of which are listed as threatened.
Key to the management plan is the conservation and protection of tortoises. South Africa has more tortoise species than any other country. Nine of the 13 southern African tortoise species are found in the arid Karoo region where they face multiple threats, including habitat loss and degradation, predation, illegal collection and uncontrolled fires.
Other species highlighted for possible future monitoring and research across Lokenburg include the Vulnerable Species such as the Secretary Bird (Sagittarius serpentarius), Southern Black Korhaan (Afrotis afra) and Verreaux’s Eagle (Aquila verreauxii), as well as the Endangered Ludwig’s Bustard (Neotis ludwigii) and Martial Eagle (Polemaetus bellicosus).
Feature photo: Ludvig Hedenborg on Pexels
***
Read about the different Stewardship models on the Agribook “Biodiversity and ecosystem services” page.
