Balule comprises a number of privately owned nature reserves which are represented through regional conservancies at the Balule Nature Reserve Association (BNRA). These regional conservancies are signatories of the constitution of the Association. In 2018 BNRA concluded the Greater Limpopo Transfrontier Conservation Area (GLTFCA) Cooperative Agreement with SANParks and its Associated Private Nature Reserve partners and reserves on the boundaries of the Kruger National Park. This historic Cooperative Agreement formalised BNRA’s commitment to the alignment and cooperation of landscape management standards for conservation, socio-economic and commercial activities, governance and security management standards within the Greater Kruger’s Open System.
BNRA’s principal objective is the long-term sustainability of the biodiversity of the ecosystems it is entrusted to manage as a declared Protected Area in terms of the National Environment Protected Areas Act (NEMPAA). This is achieved through collaboration and cooperation with its APNR and GLTFCA partners in the implementation, monitoring and evaluation of data based and scientifically designed conservation and security protocols and projects.
The BNRA is the assigned Management Authority and the GLTFCA Representative Body for the Balule Nature Reserve. All activities are underpinned by BNRA’s Land Management Plan, as is legislatively required in terms of NEMPAA. This plan is aligned with BNRA’s GLTFCA partners for the Greater Kruger’s Open System and is based upon the five key management principle pillars of the GLTFCA Cooperative Agreement, being Governance, Environmental Management, Socio-economic Benefits, Safety and Security, and Land Inclusion.
The Association’s regional members elect the Committee, which is responsible for overseeing the affairs of the reserve. The BNRA has a full-time Head Warden who is responsible for the execution of the Land Management Plan, together with the regional wardens.
The Head Warden reports to the Committee’s Chairperson, Deputy Chairperson, and Treasurer and is the primary contact for BNRA.
The Association’s operating costs are funded by the members who contribute through a levy structure based upon size of property. For exceptional costs linked to protection of wildlife and conservation initiatives within the Open System, as well as for external community initiatives, the Association relies on donations from the private sector. These donations are tightly managed through Balule’s Trusts, created specifically for these conservation and community outreach objectives.
