Action Research: Working with farmers to establish sustainable management guidelines for the Renosterveld

The Renosterveld Working Group has been established to assist with exploring approaches to communication and implementation of research results. It brings together landowners, researchers, reserve managers and members of SANBI’s CREW programme. The first meeting of this diverse group was held in the field in August 2009. The group’s objective is to provide a forum where information about renosterveld can be exchanged, thereby improving veld management by both farmers and conservationists. The research group is housed within the newly expanded Agulhas Biodiversity Initiative (ABI). The footprint of ABI has been expanded for certain aspects of conservation to include the whole of the Overberg, with significant areas of renosterveld. Already farmers are approaching the group for veld management advice.