A 270-hectare portion of critically endangered renosterveld in the Overberg, between Bredasdorp and Swellendam, has been secured for long-term conservation. The land, part of a property called Goereesoe, was purchased by the Overberg Renosterveld Trust (ORT) in partnership with the UK-based World Land Trust (WLT) and the philanthropic Mapula Trust.
The site protects one of the last remaining fragments of Eastern Rûens Shale Renosterveld—one of South Africa’s most threatened vegetation types. Only around 5% of this ecosystem still exists, with most of it lost to agriculture over past decades.
Critical breeding site for Black Harrier
Goereesoe is a key stronghold for the endangered Black Harrier, which has fewer than 500 breeding pairs remaining in the wild. The property supports up to 20 breeding pairs and has the highest known density of nests recorded in a single year.
“This is a significant win for renosterveld and the Black Harrier,” said Dr Odette Curtis-Scott, CEO of the ORT. “Goereesoe is one of the most important breeding sites for Black Harriers. By securing this land, we are protecting critical habitat and species whose futures are teetering on a knife edge.”
Together with neighbouring sites Haarwegskloof and Plaatjieskraal, which are also managed by the ORT, this renosterveld cluster supports around 30 breeding pairs—representing at least 6% of the global population of this endemic raptor.
Farming and conservation side by side
The ORT’s conservation model includes working directly with neighbouring farmers. Goereesoe borders Muurkraal, a property protected through a Conservation Easement agreement with the landowner. These easements are voluntary but legally binding, allowing farmers to continue operations while protecting biodiversity.
“It means that wildlife, especially our precious pollinators and invertebrates, can move freely and safely across these natural remnant patches in this highly transformed landscape,” said Curtis-Scott. “Our ultimate goal is to protect as much of the remaining biodiversity as possible, building ecological resilience to future land-use and climate change.”
The ORT has grown its footprint from 500 hectares in 2013 to over 1,300 hectares today. Goereesoe and Plaatjieskraal will both be declared Nature Reserves in due course. Together, they now form part of the largest connected stretch of renosterveld left on Earth.
Global support for local action
The Goereesoe purchase was supported by WLT’s Buy an Acre programme, which allows people around the world to contribute directly to land conservation projects.
“This acquisition will play an important role in renosterveld conservation,” said Dr Catherine Barnard, CEO of WLT. “It’s a culmination of a lot of hard work from Odette and the ORT team.”
Goereesoe also plays a role in ongoing research into the movements of Black Harriers, particularly their migration routes and their exposure to wind farms, which are having a significant negative impact on the species.