Environmental Rehabilitation and Rural Development

Rural people in South Africa depend closely on their natural environment, so our field staff apply sustainable management and conservation of natural resources in everything they do.

Our environmental division has built a strong base in the Upper Umzimvubu river catchment. Lima has been a principal member of the Umzimvubu Catchment Partnership (UCP) since 2014. The UCP is a group of organisations working to conserve the whole Umzimvubu River system through restoration and maintenance that brings local communities into the planning and the work, supports local jobs and strengthens the link between people and their land.

Alien invasive plant clearing

Lima is an implementing partner of the Working for Water Programme with the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE).

Catchment coordination

Our staff live and work inside the communities, so they are a direct link to local people and a resource for them. That lets us connect outside organisations with community members and bring communities into work happening in the landscape.

Lima coordinates in the Tsitsa catchment, part of the Umzimvubu. The Tsitsa Project is funded by the DFFE and run with several research institutions and local partners.

Natural resource security

Local communities rely on natural resources for water, land to grow food, and income. Covid-19 showed how much public health depends on water.

We protect and develop natural water sources such as springs, and work with livestock owners on better management of communal rangeland for healthier land and healthier animals.

Local green economy and market links

Income from natural resources gives people a long-term reason to look after the land. Lima works with service providers to bring mobile livestock auctions and sheep shearing facilities to isolated rural communities.

Rangeland management and carbon sequestration

With Meat Naturally, Lima runs rangeland and livestock management programmes with communities in Maclear. The project benefits farmers and society and is funded through the international trade in carbon credits.