Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife has confirmed the declaration of the iNkonjane Nature Reserve, a 182 hectare protected area adjacent to iMpendle Nature Reserve in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN).
The announcement was made by KZN’s MEC for Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs Musa Zondi on May 6. It represents strategic expansion of the provincial protected area network, supporting multiple threatened species.
The new reserve provides critical foraging habitat for the critically endangered blue swallow and is home to four of the country’s remaining 30 breeding pairs.
iNkonjane Nature Reserve also supports the critically endangered Pennington’s protea butterfly, a species endemic to the greater Mkhomazi River valley. The butterfly is dependent on the common sugarbush protea, which serves as its sole host plant.
The reserve further protects sections of southern KZN’s moist grassland and eastern mist belt forest – ecosystems that continue to face pressure from development. Additional conservation priorities include the endangered oribi, endangered mountain reedbuck and near threatened grey rhebok with potential reintroductions planned.
The reserve was established through a biodiversity offset agreement between Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife and uMngeni-uThukela Water following construction of a wastewater pipeline through Midmar Nature Reserve. As part of the agreement, Ezemvelo secured new land for conservation to mitigate residual environmental impacts.
iNkonjane Nature Reserve will be managed jointly with iMpendle Nature Reserve. Without internal fencing, wildlife will be able to move freely, enabling integrated habitat management.
The declaration brings Ezemvelo’s managed land to nearly 520 000 hectares and increases the province’s total protected area coverage to just over 10%.
The reserve is not yet open to the public but visitors can access neighbouring iMpendle Nature Reserve.
