A conservancy is a group of landowners who join forces to collectively monitor and promote the conservation of ecosystems, animals and land. Conservation is promoted through collaboration including increasing, challenging and changing awareness of and approaches to conservation.

All kinds of things but the common thread that runs through is the conservation of the environment, fire management, alien plant removal, environmental education and social responsibility.

The community shares in the management of the environment. Wildlife populations benefit and natural resources are sustainably utilised. There is an improvement in the environment’s conservation status, its economic and aesthetic value as well as in the provision of ecosystem services, such as pollination and water purification. Environmental awareness is promoted. Quality of life is improved due to a closer sense of community.

All conservancies are registered with the Dept of Environmental Affairs and the National Association of Conservancies and Stewardship of South Africa (NACSSA) which was formed in 2003.
There are currently 750 conservancies registered in South Africa and 99 registered conservancies in the Western Cape.

Our conservancy sits within the Cape Winelands Biosphere Reserve, one of 5 registered Biosphere reserves in South Africa (UNESCO 2007). The essence of the biosphere reserve model is about the combination of three complementary functions: conservation (of landscapes, ecosystems, species and genetic variation); sustainable development (fostering economic development which is ecologically and culturally sustainable); and logistic support (promoting research, monitoring, education and training). The CWBR landscape is being collaboratively managed in line with the UNESCO biosphere reserve guidelines,

The Renosterveld Conservancy and the Biosphere in which it sits, the Cape Nature reserves and Stewardship sites, forms part of the Protected Areas Network which covers approximately 26% of the Western Cape. There is currently a national strategy to get this to 30% under the United Nations Convention on Climate Change treatys which state that 30% of the earths needs to be conserved by 2030 (COP).

Conservation at Work aims to provide a single point of contact for stakeholders to engage with conservation minded landowners. The Renosterveld Conservancy is an active member of this umbrella organisation.