About Us

NVT is a registered NPC and was established in 2001, driven initially by a group of concerned members of the Nature’s Valley community. Their goal was to engage all stakeholders and to contribute proactively to conserving the ecological integrity of the Valley and the surrounding area.

NVT is a dynamic and innovative organisation working on the cutting edge of integrated conservation in South Africa. The organisation operates in four main arenas, namely conservation, applied research and, behavioural change and awareness.

Over the past years, NVT has grown and evolved into a recognised, award-winning, effective and beneficial resource for the area with the following vision and mission: 

NVT has:

• Contributed to the Plett Hope Spot programme (launched by the Sustainable Seas Trust).
• Developed and implemented several applied research projects in collaboration with SANParks (South African National Parks) and several national and international universities;
• Developed and maintained mutually beneficial relationships with an extended network of stakeholders and agencies on a local, provincial and national level;
• Engaged with local stakeholders and implemented community benefitting projects;
• Established an award-winning environmental education programme and catalysed the Bitou Environmental Education Forum – a platform for cooperative;
• Conducted school-based environmental education projects in the region;
• Facilitated the registration of the Nature’s Valley Urban Conservancy;
• Actively participated in the Garden Route Initiative, a landscape initiative which led to the application to UNESCO for the recognition of the Garden Route Biosphere Reserve; and,
• Worked on the expansion of Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (as initiated by BirdLife South Africa).

NVT provide integrated capacity and technical support to local, regional and national conservation initiatives that are working to facilitate conservation and sustainable development along the Garden Route. Through this, sustainability challenges are identified jointly, and integrated needs-driven applied research is co-designed across six core thematic areas (fynbos, rivers and estuaries, coastal, marine, urban and forests). This applied research combines:

• Well-designed social and ecological projects;
• The skills, credibility and networks built over the years since 2001; and,
• A network of skilled stakeholders who facilitate programmes.

In addition, NVT has a reputation for ensuring that development occurring in the area is done ethically, legally, and responsibly. To this end, NVT is also involved in the ongoing management and protection of municipal open spaces in Nature’s Valley and can rightfully pride itself in playing a minor but consistently effective role in ensuring that Nature’s Valley remains a tranquil haven for residents, holidaymakers, the broader community and wild inhabitants.

As an organisation, NVT also enjoy representation on several forums including the Nature’s Valley Urban Conservancy Committee, the Nature’s Valley Baboon Management Forum, the Groot River Estuary Steering Committee, the Tsitsikamma Area Park Forum, the Tsitsikamma Conservation Forum, the Plettenberg Bay Community Environmental Forum, the Garden Route Conservancy Forum, BirdLife Plettenberg Bay, and the Bitou Environmental Education Forum.

Finally, NVT supports and guides action on the ground with innovative and simple solutions to problems that affect all.