PROTECTING THE UMKHOMAZI CATCHMENT

The WWF-Sappi partnership, established in 2021, focuses on strengthening water governance and biodiversity conservation in the Umkhomazi catchment. Key initiatives include the creation of the Umkhomazi Catchment Working Group, the clearing of 188 hectares of invasive alien vegetation to replenish 205.2 megalitres of water, and the implementation of sustainable rangeland management across 2,323 hectares. The project aims to secure 30,000 hectares of key biodiversity land, particularly within the Southern Drakensberg Strategic Water Source Area, while providing employment and environmental education to local communities.

• The partnership aims to secure 30,000 hectares of key biodiversity land in the Umkhomazi Catchment by promoting sustainable land management to enhance water security and climate resilience.
• The Umkhomazi catchment is a critical ecological area supporting 1.5 to 2 million people and contains the Southern Drakensberg Strategic Water Source Area (SWSA), the largest in South Africa, of which only 14% is currently protected.
• Efforts to clear invasive alien vegetation, specifically wattle, have covered 188 hectares and resulted in the replenishment of 205.2 megalitres of water in the landscape.
• Sustainable rangeland management has been implemented across 2,323 hectares to prevent land degradation and improve species diversity, utilizing the Herding for Health (H4H) model to support two Grazing Associations in the Impendle community.
• The partnership has fostered local socio-economic development by creating 83 jobs for community members and establishing a Citizen Scientist programme for youth to monitor river health and water quality.

APA

WWF South Africa (n.d.). PROTECTING THE UMKHOMAZI CATCHMENT. https://wwfafrica.awsassets.panda.org/downloads/wwf-factsheet---protecting-the-umkhomazi-catchment_final.pdf

Chicago

WWF South Africa. PROTECTING THE UMKHOMAZI CATCHMENT. n.d. https://wwfafrica.awsassets.panda.org/downloads/wwf-factsheet---protecting-the-umkhomazi-catchment_final.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=WWF South Africa |title=PROTECTING THE UMKHOMAZI CATCHMENT |url=https://wwfafrica.awsassets.panda.org/downloads/wwf-factsheet---protecting-the-umkhomazi-catchment_final.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{wwfsouthafricandprotecting, author = {{WWF South Africa}}, title = {{PROTECTING THE UMKHOMAZI CATCHMENT}}, institution = {WWF South Africa}, url = {https://wwfafrica.awsassets.panda.org/downloads/wwf-factsheet---protecting-the-umkhomazi-catchment_final.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }