About us

How did the Greater Kromme Stewardship initiative start?

The Greater Kromme Stewardship initiative was started when two groups of people came together with a shared goal:

• The Kromme Enviro-Trust, (St Francis) is an environmentalist organisation, actively working since 1981 to preserve, protect and promote the many things of ecological value in the greater St Francis area.   From its original concern about the environmental impact of wind energy has grown a partnership with the wind farms dedicated to creating safe havens in the district for valuable plants, animals and habitat
• • Gibson Bay Wind Farm
  • Jeffreys Bay Wind Farm
  • Kouga Wind Farm
  • Oyster Bay Wind Farm
  • Tsitsikamma Community Wind Farm

  Together, these groups came up with a pioneering conservation project that would make sure the new wind farms were a positive force for the local environment. Conservation Outcomes, who are experts in Biodiversity Stewardship, were brought in to manage the project. The project also has the support of the Eastern Cape Parks and Tourism Agency.

  What does the initiative aim to do?

  The Greater Kromme Stewardship initiative aims to conserve the beautiful environment of the Greater Kromme area. To do this it works with a whole range of people and groups that are active in the area, including landowners, communities and government. The main focus is on using the Biodiversity Stewardship approach to help landowners conserve the species and ecosystems that occur on their land. There are a range of benefits for landowners who get involved, from management support to tax benefits.

  The aims of the Greater Kromme Stewardship initiative are:

  • Knowledge – Improve people’s understanding of why it is important to conserve biodiversity.
  • Protection – Create new protected areas, through Biodiversity Stewardship, that will conserve natural habitats.
  • Land management – Properly manage the land to keep it functioning in a healthy way.
  • Funding – Access new sources of funding for land management.
  • Sustainability – Reduce poverty by supporting entrepreneurs in sustainable green businesses.
  • Birds – Develop projects to help protect bird species that are threatened.