Protecting Biodiversity by Supporting People

Catchment Stewardship in Upper Umgeni Area: Biodiversity Stewardship and WWF’s Water Balance Program

Grantee Name: World Wide Fund for Nature South Africa

Hotspot: Maputaland-Pondoland-Albany
Location: South Africa
Amount: $258,712
Dates: Apr 2012 – Sep 2015
Keywords: Freshwater, Habitat conservation and management, Payment for Ecosystem Services, Waste management, Ecosystem resilience, Invasive alien species

WWF South Africa is expanding its established Water Neutral Programme to the Upper Umgeni Valley, the major source of freshwater for Pietermaritzburg and Durban. Leveraging the contributions of corporations seeking to offset their use of water, the combined funds of CEPF and the private sector will lead to the clearing and maintenance of land currently overgrown with invasive and alien plants.

Strategic Direction : 3 Maintain and restore ecosystem function and integrity in the Highland Grasslands and Pondoland corridors