Northern Cape

Contact details

Physical address:
McGregor Museum, Atlas street, Kimberley

Regional Chairperson: Suzanne Erasmus

Meet the team [PDF]

---

Introduction to the Region

The Northern Cape Nature Conservation Society was launched in December 1964, with a membership of 40 individuals.  The Society’s fields of interest included the establishment of nature reserves in the Northern Cape, the conservation of game, and hunting (with an annual hunting trophy competition!), as well as a programme of scientific talks and outings.  And, of course bird ringing; the latter was a given, with Dr Richard Liversidge as one of the first Chairmen.  These interests were shared with the much larger national Wild Life Society, and in 1968 the NCNCS was affiliated to that body as the Northern Cape Branch of the Wild Life Society, with a membership of 80, paying membership fees of R4 per year.    

WESSA Northern Cape has come a long way since those early days, but we have also not strayed too far from our roots, in caring for our special, arid part of the earth.  Our hard-working committee arranges a programme of activities for our members, including monthly talks on matters of environmental importance, as well as outings to places of interest. 

The first issue of the regional newsletter, the Griqua Gnus, appeared in August 1973, featuring the silhouettes of black and blue wildebeest, drawn by the well-known artist Jill Adams.   Since 1974 this newsletter has been printed monthly, growing into a professionally printed, informative booklet.  The newsletter provides information on the Region's outings, public meetings and projects.  In addition, other articles on a diversity of topics are included.

Many significant environmental education projects have been tackled over the years, including teacher training workshops, the production of educational material (including a series of Beginner’s Guides and Hidden Splendour, a field guide to the Kalahari), community greening and food gardening programmes, and, most recently, the Lotteries-funded McGregor Museum Outreach Project.  

For many years WESSA:NC has actively campaigned for the conservation of Kamfers Dam, establishing the Flamingo Environmental Trust, and joining forces with the Save the Flamingo Association, to protect the wetland against inappropriate development and to expand environmental education and ecotourism opportunities.  Information boards were erected and a flamingo breeding island was constructed by Ekapa Mining (a Corporate member)  (Visit www.savetheflamingo.co.za for more details details).

Through the intervention of WESSA:NC  the Kathu Camel Thorn Forest was proclaimed a Protected Woodland under the National Forests Act.  No deforestation or degradation of the woodland will be allowed, but the battle is far from over as the town of Kathu is still growing rapidly due to the expansion of iron and manganese mines in the area.  Unfortunately the loss of camel thorn woodlands for agricultural developments along the Orange River is also continuing.  WESSA:NC is kept very busy monitoring mining-related activities and, more recently, the construction of solar energy facilities throughout the Province.  WESSA:NC is also actively engaged with the proposed prospecting for gas in the Karoo and the issue of hydrological fracturing (fracking), networking with other WESSA colleagues, NGOs and concerned individuals. 

As an unstaffed Region we rely on volunteers and depend on the support and co-operation of other like-minded individuals and organizations, as well as generous funding obtained through our ‘parent’ body.  We are also indebted to the McGregor Museum, which has housed the Society since its inception.

---