At the end of May,  Ashleigh Dore, Wildlife and Law Senior Project Manager, and I joined the Modderfontein Conservation Society to explore how law can drive real conservation impact in South Africa. We were thrilled by a warm, engaged audience, particularly older conservation champions whose passion and wisdom reminded us why this work matters.

Under Ashleigh’s watchful eye and guidance during our joint presentation, I had the opportunity to deliver my first public presentation since joining the EWT last year, becoming an excellent learning experience for me.  

In framing South Africa’s extraordinary biodiversity, we discussed a variety of matters in our presentation, including the Constitutional and legislative clauses that create the legal framework for biodiversity protection in South Africa.  These include Section 24 of the Constitution which guarantees the right to an environment that is not harmful to the health and well-being of all South Africans.  Our presentation examined how the Constitution underpins the National Environmental Management Act (NEMA) and the related National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act (NEMBA), which both guide and regulate the way in which our country’s natural environment is managed to the benefit of all people, and species.

We also explained the permit system for indigenous species under NEMBA, highlighting implementation challenges that institutions and individuals may face, or are facing, when securing permits for plants such as cycads planted in a garden, or to remove an indigenous or threatened tree from a homestead.

We proposed forward-looking strategies to modernise our biodiversity legal landscape by harmonising national and provincial legislation, streamlining permits, strengthening institutional capacity, and fostering meaningful community participation.

What stood out most was the enthusiasm of attendees who, despite the challenges we face, remain committed to finding practical, law-driven solutions that translate into real-world conservation outcomes. Hearing firsthand about their concerns, and the wisdom they have accumulated over years, reinforced our conviction that strong legal frameworks must be paired with collaborative implementation on the ground.

We extend our gratitude to the Modderfontein Conservation Society for hosting us and to everyone who attended. If you were unable to join us but would like to learn more, please visit the LAWS Unit website at  https://laws.ewt.org/  for access to resources and information on future events.

**  This work is made possible through the generous support of the Lewis Foundation and the Modderfontein Conservation Society.

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