Gauteng Conservancy and Stewardship Association (GCSA)

The Gauteng Conservancy and Stewardship Association (GCSA) was formed in 2003 to promote conservation initiatives on private land within the Gauteng province.

The GCSA represents around 50 rural and urban conservancies, which in range in size from a few to tens of thousands of hectares.

  
 Gauteng Conservancy Association Logo

Conservancies can seek the advice of the GCSA in addressing a range of problems including illegal mining and development activity, dumping of refuse, land use, over-grazing, poaching, theft of plants, tree planting, alien plant management, veld fires and many other issues.

Formerly the Gauteng Conservancy Association (GCA), the recently named GCSA is particularly active in petitioning the relevant Government authorities, including the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (GDARD). They seek to influence emerging policy and assist land owners in fighting to preserve some of the most environmentally sensitive areas within the province.

The GCSA are exceptionally good at what they do. In 2006, they were recognised by the National Conservancies Association (NACSA) and bestowed with the Gold Aardvark Award for Best Performing Province. The judges comments speak for themselves:

"This Association has not been going for a very long time and yet has demonstrated a steady growth in its membership and activities. This Association is involved in a very wide variety of projects, including environmental education, biodiversity monitoring, capacity building with members, alien invasive removal and awareness, working with the local council and department, pollution clean ups etc.

The GDACE Roll of Honour is a particularly good example of the latter, as is their excellent working relationship with this department. The Tag-a-Dumper project is innovative and fresh! Communication to members and beyond is exemplary with a web site and regular newsletters.

The GCA's efforts to support other fledgling associations and to further the cause of conservancies through the South Africa is to be applauded."

Klipkop has been a member of the GCSA since 2003. We have also won a handful of awards from the annual competition run between conservancies in Gauteng. In 2009, Klipkop won a Silver Award for Wetlands Management, and a Gold Award for Best Biodiversity Practise (co-sponsored by the Endangered Wildlife Trust). In 2010, Klipkop won Gold in both categories.

For more information on Conservancies

There is a wealth of information on the GCSA web site about conservancies -

  • definitions and history
  • establishing rural, urban, informal settlement and educational conservancies
  • drafting constitutions
  • strategic and management planning, and
  • application forms (the GCA handle this on behalf of GDACE).

Best to look at the contact information on their web site, if you wish to speak to someone - but Ivan Parks (President) might be a good place to start.