grassland ecosystems
conserve
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restore
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rehabilitate
ABOUT UC
Wild birds in Wild places
The directors of Upland Conservation – Craig Burmeister and Dr Justen Dralle FCA are passionate conservationists, wing shooters and fly fisherman.
We recognize that traditional conservation systems are inadequate in Africa and that the grassland biome is particularly threatened by commercial forestry, poor animal husbandry and the burgeoning population
Valuing the commercial benefit of sustainable wing shooting provides landowners with incentives to manage and rehabilitate grasslands
Our aim is to conserve, restore, rehabilitate and provide value to grassland ecosystem services
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CORE PROJECT
Eco system services
The grassveld biome is one of the most threatened in South Africa. Upland Conservation utilises a targeted approach that includes the use of GIS data, data and indicator species from the South African Bird Atlas project (SABAP2) and other data from government to identify areas of land that require appropriate management to further the conservation of the grassveld biome and eco system services.
Specific Landowners are identified and approached with a view to conserving and utilising their grasslands. The existing land use is categorised in terms of its veld assessment; grass cover and grass species composition as well as gamebird surveys and composition.
A specific management plan that incorporates appropriate burning, grazing and utilisation for wing shooting/ small game hunting is suggested. This is one of the ecosystem services that financially incentivises landowners to improve and conserve their grasslands.
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Additional
Projects
Social upliftment:
Working dog welfare
FEATHERS AND FUR PROJECT / SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT
There are a significant number of birds and mammals hunted for subsistence purposes in South Africa. While used as a food source the feathers and fur are for the large part discarded.
The Fly fishing community utilises these feathers and fur for the purpose of producing flies for fly fishing. There are a limited number of regional producers that produce feathers and fur on a commercial basis. Most of the commercially available fly tying material is imported.
The aims of this project are to create a sustainable small business model for someone from a previously disadvantaged and poor socioeconomic background by utilising the feathers and fur from sustainable wing shooting to produce fly tying material for the local and regional market.
CONDUITS TO CANINE WELFARE ORGANISATIONS
Most wingshooters have a deep love and affection for their canine companians
Rather than compete for the same funding UC is a conduit for donation to other animal welfare charities such as Wildlife ACT , GSP rescue South Africa
All of which provide for the care, upkeep and rehabilitation of working dogs