Submitted by mahesh_admin on July 18, 2023
Ecological Infrastructure Ecotourism Wildlife Economy
R5 Million - R20 Million
Gauteng
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Crocodile River Reserve
Short Description
A unique world of natural and cultural heritage situated in Gauteng, and focused on environmental preservation, environmental education and socio-economic development.
Grant

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Goal

To conserve, restore and manage biodiversity whilst ensuring a clean and healthy natural environment. This will include supporting green economy initiatives, promoting sustainable social and economic development and ultimately becoming a conservation reference model for other initiatives.

Investment Range / ROI

R5 Million - R20 Million 
ROI - 4% p/a

Public or Private Sector

This is a Public and Private Sector Opportunity

Investment Readiness

Environment & Social Impact

• Ecotourism Development
• Skills Development
• Job Creation
• SMME Development
• Socio-economic Development
• Expansion of Protected Areas
• Community Livelihood and Prosperity
• Landscape Restoration
• Ecosystem Restoration

SDGs

Investment Opportunity at a Glance

 

Land Ownership and Governance

Land Ownership

Other

Total of 3600ha protected area per NEM:PAA 57 of 2003. Crocodile River Reserve has 3200 hectares of privately owned land comprising more than 100 land portions from the Crocodile River Reserve. The land portions were formally Gazetted as Nature Reserve and Protected Environment in perpetuity under the National Environmental Management: Protected Areas Act (NEM:PAA) on 2 October 2019. There is a further 400 hectares of land owned by the Gauteng Government that has recently been incorporated into the boundaries of the Reserve. The Crocodile River Reserve is listed in the South African National Protected Area Register (NPAR).

 

Governance Structure

Other -Management Authority:

The Crocodile River Reserve is managed by the landowners who formed an NPO (095-125) - the Grassland Stewardship Alliance (GSA), which has been appointed as the Management Authority of the Reserve. The GSA works towards meeting the regulations to administer Nature Reserves, managing the biodiversity, as well as acting on behalf of its more than 94 Members that have committed their land to conservation. There is a formal Collaborative Agreement in place between the GSA and the GDARD which outlines the co-operation between the two. The agreement provides detail on various areas of support from the GDARD, for example access to scientific expertise and the various government projects in place related to bio-diversity protection.

Land Size

3600 Hectares

Location

Gauteng

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Investment Opportunity Assessment

Wildlife Economy


Other - Activities/projects that protect biodiversity

 

Ecotourism

 

Core Operations

  • Other - Environmental education and recreation

 

Activities

  • Volunteering of Alien invasive plant removal/5 reserve sector projects
  • Environmental education programmes > 300 learners per annum
  • Cycling and walking around heritage and natural attractions - 500 per annum
  • Monthly awareness events (Walks & Talks) 2 
  • Monitoring of Eco-crime - prevention volunteers in poaching, snaring, stripping of indigenous resources - regular snare walks, security company co-operation

Ecological Infrastructure

 

Core operations

  • Land/veld management 
  • Wetland management 
  • Rehabilitation/restoration 
  • Invasive alien plant clearing and harvesting
  • Other - Environmental projects by voluntary teams

 

Activities

  • Alien Invasive plant removal projects, infestation monitoring, staff training (20/yr)
  • Wetland rehabilitation (outside services - Working for Wetlands)
  • Fire management, fire protection (fire breaks)  - CRR Fire Protection Association
  • Environmental Crime (prevention, awareness, support of contracted security company)

Investment Opportunities

 

  • Establishment of a Clear Boundary demarcation/Physical Access control 
  • Acquisition of Land for CRR consolidation into a cohesive reserve footprint
  • Development of SMME that supports local economic upliftment
  • Development and Implementation of Environmental Protection Services to prevent environmental crimes     
  • Purchase of Vehicle/s that transportstaff and equipment on a need by need basis
  • Purchase and erection of Signage to increase visitors' awareness
  • Development of Biodiversity Inventory Database

Investment Requirements

 

Investment Range Required
‍R5 million - R20 Million

Type of Investment Required‍

  • Capital Expenditure
  • Working Capital
  • Infrastructure Funding 
  • Technical
  • Other - Capacity Building - Environmental Consultancy Services

Funding Type for Financial Requirements
Grant

Non-Financial Requirements
‍Technical services
Capacity building

Value Proposition and Enablers

 

Value Proposition

  • Clearly demarcated protected areas 
  • Expanded and Consolidated protected areas
  • Contribution to the socio-economic advancement of surrounding communities
  • Prevention of poaching and removal of indigenous fauna and flora and irrepaceable species
  • Source of Transport for essential environmental services that is fire fighting, alien control, poaching and site maintenance 
  • Leader in Public awareness & advocacy limits footprint in sensitive protected areas and prohibited activities.
  • Biodiversity Information Repository - In-depth knowledge of CRR biodiversity assets

 

Key  Enablers

  • Knowledge  and ability to monitor biodiversity characteristics in the CRR and its buffer zone 
  • Landowners in the CRR and buffer zone that are aligned to conservation imperatives
  • Clear and understandable communication to shareholders on legislation and biodiversity conservation
  • Consistent and visible response to transgressions leading to effective law enforcement
  • Access to finance
  • Access to high level expertise

Business Operations

Wildlife Economy

Ecotourism

Ecological infrastructure

Primary Customers

 

The CRR hosts up to 3000 domestic visitors per annum (students biodiversity awareness conservationists, outdoor activities and sporting individuals/groups, urban families and researchers.

Active Business Entities

 

Grassland Stewardship Alliance (GSA) NPO 095-125

About this Opportunity


The Crocodile River Reserve (CRR) has been proclaimed as a Protected Area according to the National Environmental Management: Protected Areas Act of 2004.  By conserving biodiversity, CRR not only ensures that surroundings are richer and more diverse, but also secures the resources that will continue to provide improvements in the quality of human life. The Reserve boasts a variety of eco-systems and habitats within which there are many special species, some of them threatened and vulnerable. The Crocodile River Reserve’s programmes offer schools, universities and environmental interest groups the opportunity to learn about and experience biodiversity. Programmes envisioned by the Reserve takes into consideration that being on an urban edge there are a myriad of opportunities in identifying and working with established community leaders and organised groups in large areas where the population is diverse and highly fragmented.

The Reserve is looking to expand its impact on the natural and human environment, by introducing better security and access control, expanding through acquisition of adjacent land, SMME development, introduction of services to prevent environmental crimes, installation of signage to increase visitor awareness and development of a comprehensive biodiversity database.

 

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