What is a conservancy?


Much is said about the quality of the environment in which we live, but do we as residents do anything about it? Is there anything that we can do? Well, for a start, we can join the conservancy movement and make our voices heard.

A conservancy is a group of individuals, landowners or businesses who get together because they are concerned about the state of their environment and wish to enhance or monitor it. A committee is elected and registered with the local conservation agency or authority.

"Co-operative environmental management" means that a conservancy manages an area in accordance with sound environmental principles as prescribed by the various laws and policies of the nature conservation authorities in its area. These authorities will be at hand to advise the conservancy on the best environmental practices to adopt.

A conservancy need not be a vast tract of land full of wildlife. There are people in many urban and even industrial areas who wish to protect and enhance the biodiversity of their areas. Even educational institutions and town-house complexes can register as conservancies.

Does a conservancy have any legal count?

The answer is no, but with staff shortages and often a lack of resources, the local nature conservation authority can benefit from the vigilance of a local conservancy in reporting any environmental contraventions and crimes.

There are many ways in which a conservancy can make a difference in protecting the environment. Much of this is done by being vigilant and lobbying the conservation or municipal authorities when contraventions are detected. It is also important to be proactive and to promote programmes that will enhance the environment in which the conservancy operates.

How can a conservancy make a difference?

There are many ways in which a conservancy can enhance the environment. Monitoring river courses to improve biodiversity and prevent pollution is one of them. Our watercourses are generally severely weed infested and people tend to use them as dumping areas. The conservancy can assist the local authority by reporting to them instances of illegal dumping, poaching, bark stripping and illegal harvestin�­g of indigenous plants.

The authorities can be lobbied to remove invasive alien plants and to control industrial pollutants. Building developments can be monitored for unwise activities and the conservancy can register as an interested and affected party when environmental impact studies are undertaken. Rare and endangered species and areas of particular biodiversity or even aesthetic value can be monitored and the authorities notified of the special needs for these areas.

Of great importance are education and awareness campaigns. Alerting the press about particular concerns can make the public aware and hopefully concerned about the opportunities and needs of their local environment. People should be encouraged to plant more indigenous plants in their gardens. This is a step which will enhance the conservation of not only the plants, but the small creatures that have had their natural environments destroyed or that are under stress. The community and local authorities should be lobbied to set aside green belts and protect natural wetlands so as to ensure the free movement of wildlife.

The Ferncliffe Catchment Conservancy

One of the most important activities for members of a conservancy is to get to know their area, its problems and opportunities. The Ferncliffe Catchment Conservancy Committee is in the process of doing this and monthly tours of the Ferncliffe area have proved to be not only informative, but really enjoyable. Not many of us know what is going on in our areas. We tend to become negative about progress and it is uplifting to find that some really interesting activities are taking place.

Ferncliffe Conservancy Committee