​Our annual AGM was a fantastic evening filled with interesting conversations, inspiring talks and a wonderful celebration of the work being done across the Grootvadersbosch Conservancy.
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This year, we were fortunate to have two excellent keynote speakers, Nic Wiltshire from eCRAg and Barbara Seele from Conservation Outcomes, who shared their knowledge and perspectives on some fascinating and important aspects of conservation.

Discovering the Stories Written in Stone

Our first speaker, Nic Wiltshire from eCRAg, took us into the fascinating world of rock paintings and the stories they can tell us about the people and landscapes of the past.
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Nic spoke about the importance of protecting rock paintings, how their age can be determined, how they change over time, and some of the incredible information that can be gathered from these ancient artworks. Nic dubbed one of our newest Landowner Committee members, Michael Raimondo, the “super user” for contributing to the records of new sites in the area.

Michael has been doing incredible work recording rock paintings throughout the Grootvadersbosch Valley, including many paintings that had never been formally recorded before.

How healthy are our rivers — and are they changing?

​Each year, we monitor selected rivers in the Hessequa and Overberg to build a picture of their ecological health. We look at simple indicators including aquatic life, riparian vegetation and visible impacts such as pollution, erosion, invasive vegetation and land use. We bring these results together into a simple State of the River report card, making it easier to see whether river health is improving, declining or remaining stable.
From monitoring to learningThe programme is about more than collecting data. We use what we learn to support environmental education and community engagement, helping young people understand the rivers in their own communities and why they matter.

A bacterial bee disease known as American Foulbrood (AFB) arrived in the Western Cape in 2009 and is a serious threat to our bees. The Cape honey bee (Apis mellifera capensis) is a subspecies of the African honey bee, and this subspecies is susceptible, as are all honey bees, to a bacterial infection known as Paenibacillus larvae or American Foulbrood. This bacterium was not found in Southern Africa until spores arrived in contaminated honey in 2009. The spores attack bee larvae of 2 days old and younger and clinical symptoms then appear in the colony resulting in its demise.

Fortunately, the bacteria are not harmful to humans. However, the negative effect they have on bee populations is a real concern, not only for honey production, but as honey bees are responsible for the pollination of crops in the Western Cape, they are a real threat our food security. A threat to bees means that farmers suffer in general. Beekeepers depend on honey sales. Agriculture depends on bees to ensure fruit and seed set.

Over the past six months, the Grootvadersbosch trail network has remained closed due to the Foot-and-Mouth Disease outbreak affecting the agricultural sector. We know this has been disappointing for many riders, and we would like to sincerely thank everyone for their patience and understanding during this period. Protecting agricultural activities and supporting our farming community will always be a priority. The Grootvadersbosch trail network exists because of the generosity and goodwill of local landowners who allow access across their properties, and we remain committed to supporting them during times of challenge.

A Draft Environmental Maintenance Management Plan (EMMP) has recently been released for public comment regarding proposed repair and maintenance works to the Barend Koen track and bridge within the Boosmansbos Wilderness Area, which is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The proposal has generated significant discussion among neighbouring landowners, conservationists, and members of the broader conservation community — not only because of the practical implications of reopening the route, but also because of broader questions regarding wilderness management, protected area legislation, and the long-term vision for these landscapes.

​This review aims to provide an overview of the proposal, outline some of the key issues being raised, and encourage informed public participation in the comment process. 

For many conservation projects, success is measured in hectares restored, invasive species removed, or trees planted. While these ecological indicators are critical, they overlook a vitally important question:
How does restoration change the lives of the people doing the work?

In 2024, we started implementing a restoration project supported by the IKI Small Grants programme, part of the International Climate Initiative of the German Federal Government. From the outset, the project was designed with two equally important goals: restoring degraded ecosystems and strengthening the livelihoods and skills of the local people working in these landscapes.
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While the ecological outcomes focused on restoring forests, the project also aimed to create meaningful employment opportunities, build restoration skills, and deepen participants’ connection to the natural environment.

To better understand these social outcomes, we conducted a social and livelihood assessment among restoration team members who participated in the project.

Some of these results are summarised below

South Africa is currently facing renewed concern around the spread of Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD), a highly contagious viral disease that affects cloven-hoofed animals such as cattle, sheep, goats, and pigs (WOAH, 2025). While the disease poses little risk to humans, it can have devastating impacts on livestock health, farming livelihoods, and the agricultural economy (WOAH, 2025).
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Recent outbreaks in several provinces have prompted the national government to intensify efforts to control the disease. Containing FMD requires a coordinated response between farmers, veterinarians, government departments and agricultural organisations.

​As the new year begins, we’re filled with excitement for what lies ahead at the Grootvadersbosch Conservancy.

We certainly didn’t ease into January. A serious wildfire swept through the Grootvadersbosch Valley, turning the landscape into a scene of urgency. In the face of a threat far greater than any single landowner or team could handle, the community came together in an inspiring show of solidarity. Firefighters, neighbouring landowners, and support teams worked side by side, sharing resources, information, and support. Despite challenging flare-ups, the outcome could have been far worse.  We are grateful that damage to infrastructure was minimal, and even more grateful for the people who stood together when it mattered most.
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The total area burned was estimated at 6,310 hectares, including Renosterveld, Fynbos, and the forest boundaries (forests play a major role in controlling fires and cooling them down; that is one of the reasons we protect them!).

Our heartfelt thanks go out to everyone involved, from those on the fire lines to those coordinating communications, to the many who prepared and delivered food parcels to keep teams going.