Nature’s Valley Trust – Conservation Volunteering in South Africa

Organization Name: Nature’s Valley Trust
Contact: info@naturesvalleytrust.co.za
Website: Natures Valley Trust

Tell Us About Your Organization

Nature’s Valley Trust is a community-driven non-profit (NGO) working towards conservation in South Africa. The organization focuses on four main areas, Conservation, Education, Community and Research. Taking a holistic point of view, the four programs work towards shaping the way people live and act with the natural world that surrounds them. We educate people on how to live in harmony with their environment and go even further by educating them on the importance of conservation. We are situated in the famous Nature’s Valley made up of a local team of conservation specialists working with local groups on the ground to support the conservation process.

Location

Natures Valley Trust is located in the Nature’s Valley in South Africa. It lies around 29 km from Plettenberg Bay in the Western Cape province of South Africa. It’s one of the most beautiful areas on the Garden Route in the Tsitsikamma National Park coastal forest. With less than 100 residents during off-peak season to over 2000 daily visitors in the high season, careful management and protection of the land are essential to ensure sustainable environmental protection. It’s the only area on the Garden Route that is residential within the South African National Park.

Vision and Long Term Objective

Image taken from Natures Valley Trust

Nature’s Trust Valley has a purpose to maintain the environmental integrity of Nature’s Valley and surrounding areas for future generations. Our vision is to be a catalytic conservation initiative that is inclusive and effective. We aim to achieve this mission by nurturing stakeholder relationships with locals on the ground who are key players in the conservation process. We act as a sphere of influence to co-create and enhance building opportunities that surround the area of conservation for locals. Most important in the process is remaining socially and locally relevant, working alongside local communities to improve their communities. Education is a large enabler in all this so they can better understand environmental issues and create positive ecological responses through conservation initiatives.

Who We Are

Nature’s Valley Trust was launched in December 2000 when a group of Nature’s Valley families came together to launch a community initiative with the purpose of protecting the environmental integrity of Nature’s Valley. The area is currently so well maintained due to the hard efforts and contributions of a few committed individuals. It is important to continue to leave this legacy to future generations.

The area is one of the most sought-after for development in South Africa and this is occurring at an unprecedented rate. Our role is to ensure that this development is appropriate and sustainable with its environmental impact minimized to protect the beautiful land and surroundings. A proactive and involved community is essential to achieving this, which is why NVT was established to put a focus on these environmental issues.

Our local is distinguished by what was thought to be the extinct Brenton Blue Butterfly. In 1977 this species was rediscovered in Nature’s Valley. It acts as a symbol of the importance of protecting and preserving our precious environment.

How Can People Help/Volunteer With You?

NVT only accepts 5 volunteers at any one time which means you get the opportunity to really make a difference and be stuck in the action.

Applications are accepted year-round and it’s best to get in contact regarding availability. The minimum stay we ask for is two weeks and we have a set weekly price that you can find on our website here. Included in this are accommodation, meals, field experience, transport, and one-to-one mentoring. It’s important that we educate our volunteers so that they can continue with the same process to locals in the community.

It’s not a typical 9 to 5 job! Working hours vary based on each task you tackle for the day. One difference with Nature’s Valley is that each volunteer is given a personal project. It’s tailored to your interests and expertise so that we can learn from you too. There are two areas we focus on, conservation education and research ecology.

• Conservation education is all about engaging with local stakeholders on the ground. This could be anything from the local community to conservation professionals. Typical activities might include the facilitation of school group visits, helping at events, or providing research support for environmental education resources.
• Research ecology volunteers work alongside biologists to assist with the ongoing conservation research projects based in Natures Valley. This could include research in several different biomes and habitats or studies of natural fauna and flora.

Nature’s Valley has a volunteer house on sight with four bedrooms (typically shared) and a friendly dog called Chewy!

You need to be 18 years or older in order to participate in the volunteering program. You don’t need previous experience, but an interest in conservation and environmental education is always appreciated. For more information, you can check out the brochure here.

Image taken from Natures Valley Trust

What Makes You The Proudest About Your Organization?

Nature’s Valley is a small, but passionate team that loves what we do and sharing that with others. In the short time that the organization has been established, our conservation efforts have reached over 5000 in the community using curriculum-based initiatives. The importance of preserving the beautiful natural habitats that we exist in is finally being understood by all stakeholders and communities who live amongst it. Nature’s Valley Trust is the biggest environmental education initiative in the Western and Eastern Cape Provinces of South Africa.

Since its launch, NVT has won an accolade of awards that highlight our continuous efforts toward environmental education and conservation. From animal rescues to Blue Flag programs, ensuring the long-term ecological integrity of Nature’s Valley is at the heart of what they do. By bringing this important topic into the spotlight, NVT has helped prevent illegal or unsustainable uses of the land’s natural resources.

Nature’s Valley Trust is working to extend its impact to the broader community and continue to educate on the importance of conservation of the natural environment. NVT values the importance of learning from others and is looking for special volunteers who can bring their own insight into elevating the project even further.