Community Conservation

Community-based conservation is a broad term to describe how local communities can work with and benefit from the conservation of Important Bird Areas (IBAs). These community projects work intensely with the broader community to address a number of social and conservation needs around IBAs.

BirdLife South Africa believes in real change, which leads to real benefits. Therefore our community conservation projects focus on areas where there is a real threat to the natural habitats from human activities, and often vice versa where conservation methods are impacting negatively on local livelihoods. We work in conservation and in social and economic development.

The secret to our success is no real secret. Here's what we do:

• we bring environmental education and awareness to schools and communities; we establish 'management committees' that represent the entire community, local government and NGO's;
• we improve resource users' access to and sustainable use of the resources (e.g. reeds, grass and forest products);
• we develop a culture of birding enthusiasts, especially among the youth;
• we develop community-owned businesses linked to conservation.

The idea is to create real social benefits linked to the continued conservation of a site, so as to ensure local buy-in and continued conservation impetus at a local level.

BirdLife South Africa can boast a number of successful projects, such as community-owned enterprises bringing impoverished communities additional income, joint management committees that have positive impacts on habitat conservation through, for example, better fire management and reduced illegal trade in species.

For more information, please contact Joe Peu, Community Conservation Project Manager on +27(0)11 789 1122 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it