Thabina Management Plan Development: Site Visit

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Written by: Wehncke van der Merwe
Thabina is a communal protected area that was declared in 2018 as a Protected Environment through the GEF Protected Area Programme (a partnership project between LEDET; SANParks; MTPA and Kruger 2 Canyons Biosphere). It is 1612ha and forms part of the Wolkberg and Lekgalametse protected area complex lying in the north western part of Kruger 2 Canyons Biosphere along the northern Drakensberg. The area extends from the mountainous areas of the Drakensberg escarpment down into the Lowveld on Bathlabine Traditional Authority land. 

The area is important from a water perspective as it forms part of the Strategic Water Source Areas that has been nationally prioritised in order to insure that this vitally scarce resource gets better conserved within the context of the water scarcity that we as South Africa face. The area also has a large dam that is managed by the Department of Water and Sanitation. The dam supplies water to certain areas in the Lowveld, including local villages.


As part of the GEF PA Programme, Thabina was highlighted as critical because of the assistance it needs in improving its management effectiveness. On 11 November K2C; LEDET and the Bathlabine Traditional Authority held discussions and conducted a site visit to get a better understanding of the area. The primary priority for the area, as identified through the Management Effectiveness Tracking Tool and the meeting on the 11th of November, is the development of a management plan. LEDET and the K2C will partner with the Co-Management Committee, the Bathlabine Traditional Authority and key local stakeholders on this endeavour. We aim to have a Draft Management Plan completed within the next six months. We look forward to helping the Traditional Authority; LEDET and local community develop a concrete plan to help manage the area better from an ecological perspective but also very importantly to see what kind of opportunities can be facilitated to see improved community beneficiation from the reserve.


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