Restoring savannas to support people, wildlife and the climate
Kruger to Canyons (K2C) stretches across northeastern South Africa, linking the famous Kruger National Park with the dramatic Blyde River Canyon. This vast area is a patchwork of protected areas and community lands, where people and wildlife — such as lions, leopards, elephants, and rhinos — coexist.
Many communities in the area face extreme poverty, and the savannas they depend on for cattle herding are becoming increasingly barren. Overgrazing, invasive plants and climate challenges are making it harder for families to sustain their livelihoods, raising the risk of conflict with wildlife.
To address these challenges, Conservation South Africa (CSA), an affiliate of Conservation International, launched the Kruger to Canyons Rangeland Restoration Project. Working shoulder-to-shoulder with pastoral communities, we’re bringing back ancient grazing practices and Indigenous traditions that help the land rest and recover, allowing both people and wildlife to thrive. Simultaneously, we are investing in sustainable, nature-friendly projects — like eco-tourism, regenerative agriculture or wildlife restoration — to create jobs and provide food security for families.
The K2C project is a collaborative, community-led effort to protect more than 6,432 hectares (ha) with the potential for expansion to 82,300 ha of land, while establishing a replicable model to conserve savannas throughout Africa.
This is a story about people and nature trying to find a way to coexist in a place where both are very vulnerable. Our goal is to use the knowledge and resources that communities already have, to improve both conservation and livelihoods.
Theory of change
In many places in Africa, livestock serve as both an income and a status symbol and represent a cultural legacy that spans thousands of years. But when poorly managed, cattle can wear grasses down to their roots, triggering topsoil erosion and the loss of nutrients, microbes and biodiversity, all which are vital for soil health.
Mitigating global climate change
The project started in 2018 and aims to remove 3,458,420 metric tons of CO2 equivalent over its 30-year crediting lifetime.
The K2C restoration project uses an integrated approach that ensures cattle herding, rangeland management and conservation can work hand in hand. Through the initiative, farmers have begun grazing their livestock in a way that allows the land to rest and recover. As native grasses grow back, they provide renewed habitats for wildlife and develop extensive root systems that sequester climate-warming carbon deep underground. With more grass to eat, cattle arrive at market healthier, fatter and much more likely to command a premium price that sustains local livelihoods.
Though rooted in local practices, the effort stands to have a significant global impact. Today, grasslands and savannas account for 30 percent of all the carbon stashed away on land, making them critically important for our climate.
When people have their basic needs met, they are more likely to support conservation efforts because they no longer see nature as something that competes with their survival. Instead, they see it as an asset that can improve their lives.
Our strategy
Helping farmers living near protected areas adopt better management practices that unlock market access for farmers, while conserving biodiversity.
Supporting youth in low-income, rural communities by teaching them about the benefits of healthy ecosystems and well-managed natural resources through activities like recycling and environmental education, which will improve community well-being for generations.
Providing employment opportunities through the Greater Kruger Strategic Development Programme (GKDP), focusing on creating sustainable, nature-friendly jobs for women and youth, while also improving internet connectivity at schools and youth centers.
Promoting nature-friendly businesses by partnering with organizations to help grow sustainable ventures, offering training in financial literacy, business skills and governance, and supporting entrepreneurs with the tools they need to succeed.
