Klaserie social impact

Klaserie Private Nature Reserve is undergoing a process of increasing commercialisation as it shifts from a financial model, based primarily on commercial hunting to a model that is more focussed on ecotourism. In response to this, Conservation Outcomes and Kiéra Schoemann of the Collective Impact have undertaken an assessment, which provides an in-depth analysis of the effects of the activities and land uses within Klaserie to determine the impacts associated with these and the ways in which limits may be set that ensure that biodiversity is protected, ecological integrity maintained and that a sense of solitude and wildness is retained. The study is focussed on impacts associated with commercial and non-commercial activities that lead to impacts in Klaserie focussing on issues such as water use, the development of roads and tracks, use of vehicles (including off-road driving) and other environmental impacts such as waste management. It marks a bold approach to developing the commercial opportunities within a protected area whilst taking steps to limit environmental impacts and protect its biodiversity, wildlife, natural character and sense of place.