The southern areas of Johannesburg include large open tracts of unspoilt land stretching from the Klipriviersberg Range of hills in the north to the Klip River further south. The area is rich in natural resources, varying from the beautifully wooded Klipriviersberg range of hills, to grasslands and wetlands and to prolific birdlife along the Klip River, a tributary of the Vaal. It contains red data species as well as numerous heritage sites, such as the ruins of the dwellings of Sotho/Tswana people who lived there 300 and more years ago, an old Voortrekker farmstead, Boer war fortifications and sites of interest from the gold rush days.

The Klipriviersberg Nature Reserve, 680 hectares in extent and the largest proclaimed nature reserve in Johannesburg, lies at the centre of the area. The reserve, in which a variety of game roams freely, is an urban conservation jewel, is owned by the City of Johannesburg and is managed with the assistance of the Klipriviersberg Nature Reserve Association (KNRA). The wider area has considerable tourism, recreational, cultural, educational and developmental potential, but needs proper and careful environmental management and protection from untoward development.

With the above in mind, landowners and residents in the area are establishing the Klipriviersberg Conservancy to protect, promote and enhance the natural value and assets of the area.

LOCATION AND GEOGRAPHIC AREA

The core area of the conservancy is defined by the N12 highway to the north (the Southern Bypass), the R59 highway to the east (the Vereeniging Highway), the R550 and R554 south of the Klip River and the N1 Highway to the west (the Vanderbijlpark Highway).

The area of the Conservancy is approximately 150 square kilometres.

The Conservancy is located within the municipal areas of Johannesburg, Ekurhuleni and Midvaal.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

In terms of the Interim Constitution the aims and objectives of the Klipriviersberg Conservancy include:

1. To raise awareness in the community of the environmental, social and economic
   opportunities of the area based on its natural resources.
2. To raise awareness in the community of the environmental, social and economic opportunities of the area based on its natural resources.
3. To establish a mutually beneficial relationship between property development and conservation.
4. To encourage sound conservation and environmental practices by land owners and users in the area.
5. To retain the natural beauty of the area.
6. To conserve the biodiversity of the area
7. To preserve all heritage, archaeological and historical sites within the area.
8. To encourage residents, businesses and other organisations in the area to be environmentally aware.
9. To link in with a wider network of conservation areas and organisations