Vision and Goals
The Biodiversity Corridor focuses on restoring and reconnecting wild spaces in South Africa’s Eastern Cape. At a time when the world is facing a biodiversity crisis and the sixth mass extinction, a biodiversity corridor represents a tangible solution, one that helps address habitat loss, fragmented ecosystems and the urgent need to create safe spaces for wildlife to move, thrive and coexist with people.
Our vision is to create a connected, secure and ecologically vibrant landscape that benefits both biodiversity and local communities. By expanding conservation areas and facilitating natural dispersal for species such as elephants and black rhinos, we aim to strengthen genetic diversity, reduce wildlife overpopulation pressures in existing reserves and promote long-term ecosystem health.
This project is designed to link fragmented habitats through protected corridors, restore degraded landscapes while supporting native species recovery and provide new rangelands for megafauna. At the same time, we’re working to foster nature-based economies, support sustainable community development and create a conservation model that balances wildlife needs with human well-being.
Partners
This project is led by Global Humane Conservation Fund of Africa and Wilderness Foundation Africa in collaboration with a network of landowners, conservation agencies and community stakeholders. The Conservation Landscapes Institute has been engaged to oversee the conservation management of some properties and they help facilitate the expansion of the corridor.
As part of a nationally prioritized conservation initiative, this biodiversity corridor also builds on alignment with South African National Parks-recognized land and wildlife management strategies. Ongoing partnerships with local communities and conservation groups ensure that both ecological and social priorities are addressed through every stage of the project.
Project in Action
The Biodiversity Corridor is centered in the Great Fish River to Addo Elephant National Park conservation area, one of the most ecologically rich regions in South Africa. This landscape includes seven of South Africa’s nine terrestrial biomes and is home to species such as elephants, black rhinos, leopards, whales and a variety of fish. With 85% of the Albany Bioregion already under wildlife management and minimal human settlement, the area presents a rare opportunity to establish a connected conservation landscape at scale.
To lay the foundation for this corridor, we acquired our first property adjacent to the 850-hectare Tanglewood Conservation Area. Together with three additional neighboring properties, this land forms the initial core of a developing conservation corridor designed to facilitate safe wildlife movement and restore degraded habitats.
Internal fences have been removed to open up rangelands for wildlife and baseline biodiversity assessments are guiding targeted restoration efforts from controlling erosion and removing invasive plants to rehabilitating grazing areas for large herbivores. Big-game fencing is being installed to protect reintroduced species and a dedicated wildlife protection team will be deployed to patrol the area and ensure the safety of both animals and people.
This initiative also addresses a pressing conservation challenge: the overpopulation of elephants and black rhinos in existing protected areas. While growth in these populations is a conservation success story, it can lead to ecological strain if not carefully managed. By creating new, secure habitats through the corridor, we provide opportunities for natural dispersal and humane translocation, offering a long-term solution that benefits both wildlife and ecosystems.
Beyond biodiversity protection, the corridor is designed to support people. Situated within a recognized Biodiversity Economy Node, the project has the potential to drive local economic development through eco-tourism, research, education and conservation-based employment. As we restore land and connect ecosystems, we’re also creating meaningful opportunities for communities to engage in and benefit from conservation.