For ten years, the Greater Kromme Stewardship (GKS) has been quietly transforming conservation in the Eastern Cape — one partnership, one landowner, and one protected area at a time.

Now, after a decade of work behind the scenes, GKS is ready to celebrate — and to share how a small, determined team and their partners in green energy have built something extraordinary: a living legacy of stewardship, biodiversity, and hope.

From Quiet Beginnings to Measurable Impact

What began in 2015 as a few passionate conservationists working with willing landowners has become a model of sustainable collaboration — proof that progress and protection can exist side by side.

Over the past decade, GKS has:

• Declared 11 new Protected Areas, covering over one thousand hectares of high-priority biodiversity.
• Coordinated the declaration of another a thousand plus hectares across four sites.
  Pursued protection for a further six thousand hectares across six new priority areas.
• Worked with 59 landowners across 24 sites, conserving land rich in ecological value.

Each hectare represents a piece of South Africa’s natural heritage — landscapes where fynbos still thrives, where Black Harriers and Martial Eagles still soar, and where local school children are learning the value of living in harmony with nature.

Partners Who “Walk the Talk”

Behind this success are the wind farms that have done far more than putting funds into conservation — they’ve become its champions.

The Jeffreys Bay, Tsitsikamma, Oyster Bay, Gibson Bay, and Impofu Wind Farms are not just green in name; they are actively putting back into the landscapes they depend on. These partners understand that renewable energy must do more than generate electricity — it must generate lasting environmental good.

“This is what responsible green energy looks like,” says Maggie Langlands of GKS.
“Our wind farm partners are walking the talk. They recognise that it’s not enough for us to take from the land — we must give back. Together, we’re investing in a sustainable future for all life, ensuring that the puzzle pieces of energy, ecology, and community fit together perfectly.”

Through these partnerships, GKS helps member wind farms offset their environmental impacts by conserving key habitats for threatened species such as the Black Harrier, Martial Eagle, Jackal Buzzard, and Secretary bird.

Beyond Protection: Building Capacity and Inspiring People

GKS’s success reaches beyond boundaries and maps. It’s about empowering people — from landowners and local youth to future conservation leaders.

• 4 young environmental professionals have been mentored through GKS programmes.
• Environmental education and awareness initiatives have reached 466 children, 9 schools, and 4 youth groups across the region.

“True sustainability means creating opportunities,” says Langlands.
“We’re not only protecting land — we’re nurturing the next generation of custodians who will continue this work long after us.”

Community Connection: The ‘Plant for the Future’ Challenge

To celebrate a decade of achievement, GKS is launching the “Plant for the Future” Social Media Challenge — in partnership with a local nursery.

The campaign invites the public to plant an indigenous tree or shrub in honour of GKS’s 10 years of stewardship and share a photo on social media using #PlantForTheFuture and #GKS10Years.
Each post contributes to a growing digital “forest” of community action — a symbol of collective growth and shared responsibility.

“This campaign is about participation,” says Landlands.
“Whether you plant one tree or a hundred, you’re joining a movement that says: we all have a part to play in securing a sustainable future.”