This ecosystem, known as Renosterveld, teeters on the edge of extinction: Without our efforts to halt this otherwise inevitable loss, we will lose an entire ecosystem – including hundreds of beautiful species!

 You can help us prevent this tragic loss by leaving a bequest (legacy) in support of Renosterveld conservation. In so doing, you will be making a tangible and meaningful contribution towards the preservation of our beautiful planet. 

• We secured the purchase of the largest intact remnant of Renosterveld, through WWF South Africa: A 500-hectare farm known as Haarwegskloof. We now manage this purchase as the Haarwegskloof Renosterveld Reserve.
• We fundraised for, and developed, a research centre and accommodation at Haarwegskloof, creating a hub for post-graduate studies in Renosterveld, as well as environmental education among Renosterveld landowners, students and local school children.
• We converted the hearts and minds of many Renosterveld landowners – 20 of whom have already signed a conservation servitude, giving conservation status to their Renosterveld in perpetuity. Through this Conservation Easement Programme, we have (to date) secured over 6000 ha of critical habitat for conservation across the Overberg wheatbelt and have begun linking isolated patches via corridor easements.
• We published the first-ever Field Guide to Renosterveld of the Overberg covering over 1000 species of plants and animals. We also produce individual farm guides for the farms we work with.
• We have contributed towards the discovery of at least 10 plant species new to science.

In 2020, the ORCT published a book to showcase the phenomenal diversity that is Renosterveld, so that others may revel in, and understand, this previously overlooked habitat.

The book’s foreword is written by the highly-respected and accomplished Professor Richard Cowling. Richard states:

“Overshadowed by Fynbos – the iconic Cape vegetation – Renosterveld was neglected scientifically until relatively recently. And in the nick of time! Starting with the industrialization of agriculture in the 1940s, Renosterveld was relentlessly ploughed for cropping, mainly cereals and pastures. Today barely 5% of Overberg Renosterveld remains, almost all of which is restricted to untillable soils on steep and often rocky slopes. We may never know exactly what lived on the better developed soils of the gentle slopes and bottomlands. What we do know is that every remaining pocket of intact veld, no matter how small or isolated, is irreplaceable. Overberg Renosterveld is Critically Endangered.”

How your bequest will be used

Our work focuses on education and awareness, applied research and partnering with landowners  to secure the future of Renosterveld by helping to manage and restore it. We therefore undertake to do the following with your gifted legacy:

• We will secure more Renosterveld hectares: for conservation in perpetuity.
• We will restore and rehabilitate Renosterveld remnants: to ensure their long-term survival and viability.
• We will educate people about the importance of preserving our natural environment: from landowners and people who work on the land to local school children, teachers and conservation scholars.
• We will undertake crucial research: to enable a deeper understanding of these ecosystems, so that we can manage them more effectively, thus securing for future generations a fantastically rich and unique area of South Africa.

On a personal note…

I built this organisation in order to leave my legacy. I wanted to know that whatever footprint I left behind, it would be one that contributed significantly towards making our planet a healthier and happier one. My ambition is to save what is left of the magnificent Renosterveld, and to restore as much of this unique ecosystem as possible. But I cannot do this alone: Renosterveld needs your help. Please consider the Overberg Renosterveld Conservation Trust when you think about your legacy. In the process of making a will, this could be one of the most important decisions you will ever make. Without continued efforts to conserve and restore our ecosystems, we will lose the incredible diversity of plants and wildlife that we have been privileged to enjoy in our lifetime. – Odette Curtis-Scott, Founder & Director, ORCT

It is important to note that bequests to the ORCT are exempt from estate duty, as we are a registered NPO. This bequest could also help reduce your estate tax bill.