Conservation and Sustainability

A focal aim of the Kalahari Research Trust is to promote and enhance conservation within the Kalahari ecosystem. The Kalahari Research Centre (KRC) both directly and indirectly enables this to happen with its work on-site and developing research. 

Research across the globe has been moving forward with suggestions towards the importance of restoring land and nature to its natural processes and ecosystems. Land that has often been altered to make way for agriculture and industrialization has been affected in its ability to adapt and provide natural protection from increasingly common extreme weather events as a result of climate change.

As the KRC is based on land which was used for agriculture before restoration towards a natural Kalahari ecosystem began with KRT taking over the area in the year 2000. This has included the removal of invasive alien vegetation as well as of domestic cattle stocks and the reintroduction of natural game species. Access across the reserve is via maintained sand roads or via foot, which - alongside direct vegetation removal and game management - enables the land to recover with native vegetation to thrive, the natural seed-bank able to be restored, and wildlife to naturally occur with little human impact or interference.

Drought years are becoming harsher, average temperatures as well as number of extreme hot days are increasing, and we have experienced years of extremely high rainfall more regularly in the Kalahari. These environmental changes can have physiological and social impacts on species, and impact the food chains and inter- species connections across the ecosystem. Many study species of the Kalahari have adaptations that allow them to live in a semi-arid landscape. It is vital that these species are monitored for how they may further cope and adapt to the changing conditions of the Kalahari, and the consequenses at the community level.

Much of the research carried out at the KRC is intrinsically linked to the ways in which species have adapted to their way of living, and how they may be changing over time. Our long-term data-sets are an incredible resource of information to use across studies. The set-up of the KRC allows new studies to be conducted and continue the valuable work of expanding our knowledge, understanding, and ways in which we can help species that may be suffering as a result of climate change.

As a commitment to ensuring the KRC improves the conservation of the Kalahari with minimal impacts, the KRC continually strives to put in place more sustainable methods surrounding the working of the research centre. The installation and use of solar panels enables much of the power use across the reserve to be renewable, and the preferred method of transport across the reserve is via specially adapted e- bikes to keep emissions low with minimal vehicle usage. The KRC is dedicated to improving methods of sourcing seasonal food more locally and sustainably, and continue to be closely linked to the local community while keeping up with modern technologies and methodologies to maintain a research station adjusted to the Kalahari ecosystem in the most sustainable way possible.

With the KRC located within a highly agricultural community of the rural Northern Cape, and many study species expanding their territories beyond land owned by the KRC, it is imperative that there is a positive relationship maintained with neighbouring farmers. The KRC is proud of the relationship it maintains with the local community, who enable the work and research to be continued with access to their land and further support. There is a commitment from the KRC to continually inform the local farming community on the importance of the work of the KRC, how they can be involved and assist the KRC's aims, and in turn how it can benefit them and their livelihoods.

Recently, the KRT has been able to purchase additional neighbouring land, from a farmer who have chosen to support the KRT's efforts through these land sale, but allows the family to continue to be involved. Other neighbours are supportive seeing the positive impact the KRC has had on the landscapes, and are interested to collaborate to maintain the nature of the Kalahari in a sustainable way.

Aiming to source much of resources locally not only supports the KRC's aims of reducing the carbon footprint, but also supports the local community and helps to support a sustainable relationship with them. The KRC is proud to be a part of such a closely knit community, and strives to improve the local economy and opportunities as much as possible. There are several opportunities that the KRC provides to members of the Van Zylsrus community to be educated on conservation and research by the KRC, as well as employment opportunities to up-skill and improve their career potential. More information on the education and outreach work carried out by the KRC can be found here.

Working closely with local hotels and guesthouses to provide guests with exclusive visits to the Kalahari Meerkat Project helps to further bring extra tourists and income to the area.