Conservation

One of the prime objectives in managing Hermanusdoorns is to enhance shareholder value by ensuring that it remains a pristine conservation area within the Waterberg Biosphere Reserve. This includes ensuring that the surrounding area also remains geared towards conservation and run on the principles of a Biosphere Reserve. To this end, shareholders have objected to various prospecting applications in the area. A list of current applications in the area can be found under Prospecting Applications.

Michelle Thorn is currently studying carnivores in the Waterberg, especially carnivore - human conflict and has published her first findings together with a request for information on sightings in the Waterberg.

An interesting document on Ecologically Sound Management of Ectoparasites and Oxpeckers forwarded via WNC is also available for reading. Those shareholders interested in birds will have noticed the increase in frequency of red-billed oxpecker sightings over the last few years as they re-establish themselves back in the area.

A number of studies have been undertaken on the farm over the recent past to provide expert guidance to managing the veld and stock levels. One of the visible outcomes is the focus over the last few years in clearing the veld of Sekelbos.

Recent Studies

• Holistic Wildlife Management Plan undertaken in 2004
• Introduction to Veld Mangement undertaken and presented by Frits van Oudshoorn at the 2007 AGM
• Rangeland Report - basis for the 2007 AGM Presentation
• Veld Assessment 2011 - undertaken by Frits van Oudshoorn in April 2011 

The Endangered Wildlife Trust has a working group monitoring Birds of Prey, which also includes owls. Their website contains an interactive zoomable map that allows one to zoom right down to the farm to mark sightings. All birders on the farm are encouraged to log their bird of prey sightings in the appropriate link to the EWT site.