Löwen River Rewilding: 2024 in Review

A balancing act of successes, hope and hard truths

Think Big. Start Small. Act Now.

2024 was a year of small steps, quiet victories, and a few scratches in the rugged terrain of Southern Namibia. Biodiversity doesn’t get restored overnight, but progress, like nature, moves in cycles. So, we’ve been riding on the highs and learning from the lows.

The Highlights

📸 Wildlife Cameos:

Kudus flocking to the 90m borehole, zebras mastering synchronized grazing, and the occasional aardvark making awkward yet charming appearances. Our camera traps have been busy, capturing moments that prove nature is slowly reclaiming its space.

🌱 The Springbok Saga:

We welcomed small groups of mostly female springbok to the land. Not exactly the “Great Migration” yet, every epic starts somewhere. They’re not just elegant grazers; they’re nature’s gardeners, spreading seeds and keeping vegetation in check. More springbok = healthier ecosystems.

🛠️ Science in Action:

• Taking down fenced enclosures are helping us understand how larger animals affect vegetation

• Soil experiments (with/without manure) are underway. Nothing like analyzing dirt

• Irrigation trials are sparingly nourishing flora and boosting greenery 

🚜 Walking before becoming Conservation Champion:

We traded livestock for wildlife watching and fence dismantling. Armed with a camera (on foot or embarked on a drone) and an ATV, we have created a mental and digital map of the different areas. National Geographic may be a stretch for 2025, but we watch this space.

The Realities We Can’t Ignore

🌎 The Urgency is Real:

Reports that (ultra) fast-fashion companies with over 600’000 references continue to grow at a fast clip (the clue is in the name), and that EV sales stalled last year without subsidies, serve as reminders that sustainability isn’t trending as it should. That’s why every action, big or small, matters.

💧 Water and Petrol: Liquid Golds

Remoteness in Africa and elsewhere makes every drop of water and every liter of fuel a precious resource. Solar power? Check. Borehole? Partly check. But the reality is, a broken pump or empty jerry can (or battery) still brings progress to a grinding halt.

🔎 Biodiversity Gaps:

Where are the geckos and snakes? Why are certain plants thriving in unexpected places? Our detective work continues. Biodiversity restoration is about solving nature’s puzzles. Besides planting trees and reversing human exploitation. 

Lessons Learned

1. Start Small, But Start.

From planting seeds (literally and figuratively) to empowering locals, small steps make an impact

2. Communication is… Complicated.

Our heartfelt conservation posts compete with cat videos and viral dances. Among the to-do’s: use punchy headlines, vivid visuals, and consistent storytelling. Also, attention spans? Goldfish dominate

3. Nature Demands Patience (and Resilience).

Biodiversity isn’t a straightforward checklist — it’s a fine balance. It takes patience, understanding, and a bit of distance...

Looking Ahead: 2025 and Beyond

• Expanding Biodiversity: boosting appeal (make the land as attractive as possible), animal presence, and a deeper understanding of the natural rhythm

• Community Engagement: encouraging contributions — not just donations, but expertise and advocacy. Keep in mind conservation/Impact when you buy a new gift (this year’s sweater edition anyone?)

• Scaling Impact: Our vision remains a conservation corridor spanning 500’000 hectares, connecting Gondwana Game Reserve, Fish River Canyon, and the Nama Karoo. The size of the Grand Canyon National Park (Arizona, US)

Final Thought:

Nature is probably more resilient than most people think, up to a certain point. So we must give it space and time to heal. Whether it’s swapping plastic gifts for purposeful ones, leaving wild patches in gardens, or just paying attention—Act Now.

So, here’s to a 2025 where we think bigger, act bolder, and maybe—just maybe—contribute to leaving a land in better condition than we found it.

Löwen River Rewilding Team and a growing number of springbok, zebra, oryx, kudu and elusive guests