Lima and the WWF Nedbank Green Trust

About the WWF Nedbank Green Trust

The WWF Nedbank Green Trust was founded in 1990 by Nedbank and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF). It funds projects that can help solve some of South Africa's biggest social and environmental challenges, under the line 'igniting new ways for people and nature to thrive'.

From conserving Kalahari lions and sea turtles to climate change, water conservation and environmental leadership, the Trust works with partners and communities who look after our natural resources. It has:

  • grown future environmental champions through its Environmental Leadership Project
  • protected water for people and species through the Enkangala Grasslands Project and the Duzi-uMngeni Conservation Trust
  • improved marine planning and management through the Kogelberg and Fish for Life projects
  • helped disrupt the criminal networks behind rhino poaching
  • worked with government and civil society on a food-secure South Africa through the Food Security Transformative Scenarios Project
  • started working with faith communities on living in harmony with the environment

Our project together

Smallholder farming and informal food trade stopped when Covid-19 lockdowns began, leaving many people in real hardship. The Trust made a special call for projects to protect the livelihoods and food security of people in these sectors.

South Africa has about two million smallholder farmers, many of whom feed their families from the land and sell any surplus. As part of its work on food security through sustainable farming, the Trust funded several organisations to help these farmers during and after the pandemic. Lima runs one of these projects.

Maloti Thaba Tsa Metsi protected environment

Since 2016 the uMzimvubu Catchment Partnership (UCP), a group of private organisations, NGOs, traditional authorities, government and residents in which Lima, ERS and CSA are key partners, has been securing land across six chieftainships into the Maloti Thaba Tsa Metsi protected environment.

The 48 500 ha area protects six vulnerable and threatened veld types. It is a strategic water source, with high-altitude seeps and wetlands providing over 80% of the base flow for the area and serving over a million people downstream. It sits on the border with Lesotho, and its rangelands support over 250 000 people in the Matatiele Local Municipality, about two-thirds of whom own livestock. Thousands of small farmers are improving grazing along the buffer of the protected area, linked to mobile auctions that feed the national red meat value chain.

The National Department of Land Affairs has given the go-ahead, and all participating communities have signed resolutions for their land to be declared a protected environment.

Securing the springs

Many people in the catchment have no direct access to safe water, even though they live in one of South Africa's strategic water source areas. Lima, with CSA and ERS, is protecting the springs people already rely on, using simple, low-cost methods, and teaching safe water handling.

The team is building 18 spring capture systems that will bring clean water to 600 households in 12 villages, about 3 000 people. Sites were chosen with the leaders of the six chieftainships. Brick or stone structures protect each spring from contamination, so households within 500 metres get at least 20 litres of clean water per person per day.

  • At least 450 households with better access to clean water, less disease and better food gardens, with hygiene training for up to 3 000 people
  • Traditional authorities and local government supported with a network of local facilitators
  • A 48 500 ha watershed added to South Africa's protected area estate

For more about the WWF Nedbank Green Trust visit greentrust.org.za or call 021 657 6600.