"My vision is the proclamation and restoration of the river catchments of the entire eastern escarpment of Mpumalanga Province. Water for the people of the province will be our priority, water in the rivers for our wildlife in the Kruger National Park our responsibility and water for the citizens of Mozambique our obligation." M.L.P. Rattray

 Mount Anderson Video

WHY THE NEED FOR WATER CONSERVATION?

Michael Rattray's family has for a period of 34 years owned Mala Mala Game Reserve in the Mpumalanga Lowveld, adjoining the Kruger National Park. Prior to this, Mr Rattray's association with The Kruger National Park extends as far back as 1938. During this time, as a consumer of water both directly for his camps and indirectly for the wildlife that drinks from the rivers flowing through these wildlife properties, he has watched concerned, as the river levels dropped lower each year. In the winter of 1982, the perennial Sand River on Mala Mala stopped flowing for the first time in living memory. Whilst the flow resumed again in the wet summer months, the Sand River assumed non-perennial status and flowed intermittently each year thereafter during the dry winter period. This is the unfortunate state of affairs with most of The Kruger National Park's rivers and it is vital that something is done to reverse this trend. The continual decline in instream flows must impact negatively on wildlife biodiversity in parks such as The Kruger National Park with a possible worst case scenario being the resultant decline in tourism numbers.

The protection of our water resource is necessary to ensure the sustainability of our wildlife biodiversity and hence the ongoing increase in tourism arrivals.

WATER...THE NEED FOR PROTECTION.

Mount Anderson Ranch

In 1990 Michael Rattray exercised options on 8000 hectares (20 000 acres) of land in the Lydenburg district and the consolidation of these properties created Mount Anderson Ranch. At 2000m (6500ft) above sea level in the river catchment areas of the Blyde river system of the Eastern Transvaal, it was the start of his contribution to serious water conservation and the simultaneous protection of indigenous highveld fauna and flora. Mount Anderson Ranch derives its name from the highest peak in Mpumalanga, namely Mount Anderson, which at 7500ft forms the most southern point of the property.

His first response to this land acquisition was the removal of all exotic livestock. The use of these former summer grazing areas for sheep and cattle had denuded the flora and in turn damaged the catchment areas of the five rivers that rise on the property. Overgrazing of the grass cover had seriously affected the water retaining sponges, but the simple removal of bulk indiscriminate grazers, restored the rivers to produce a strong year round flow. Michael Rattray's passion for new forms of conservation and his vision and commitment, was his reasoning behind acquiring the source of the rivers where some misinformed farmers were inflicting much of the damage.

The Mount Anderson Water Catchment Reserve was formed and proclaimed in 1993. A process whereby the negative effects of overgrazing and inadequate road maintenance had caused soil erosion was immediately addressed and resulted in a short period, in the most severe thunderstorms producing crystal clear water. A comprehensive exotic plant eradication program was also initiated with the removal of all plants and trees not indigenous to the area. Exotic vegetation that was removed included eucalyptus, wattle, and pine.

The necessity to protect catchments is borne out of the fact that 80% of any river's flow emanates from 20% of its most upstream area.

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THE MOUNT ANDERSON WATER CATCHMENT RESERVE

A committee of neighboring landowners who have experienced the benefits of water conservation, has been constituted to form the Mount Anderson Water Catchment Reserve, with Michael Rattray as the driving force behind its foundation. These properties are already a proclaimed nature reserve. Much of the revenue generated by this area is tourism related with the majority of income derived from trout fishing and associated industry. Whilst some organisations criticise trout fishing as environmentally unfriendly, this industry is a vast employment machine and a substantial tourism generator.

The Mount Anderson Catchment Nature Reserve will employ the services of suitably qualified environmentally orientated scientists to assist in the management of the area as a single conservation unit.

It is without doubt a unique contribution that Michael Rattray has made to water conservation. The rivers will now remain strong to provide valuable water downstream to irrigate the food crops, so vitally necessary to feed the burgeoning population of South Africa. His concern for high altitude fauna and flora is also evident in his introduction to the conservancy, at his own expense, of those animals that are indigenous to the area. In the four years since the transformation of this land into a conservancy, the previously overgrazed, palatable grasses are now in abundance and the quality of the savanna is fast returning to its former health.

Finally, such is the rate at which the rehabilitation is progressing on Mount Anderson Ranch that many bird species have returned to the savannah. It is widely recognised that bird species are an excellent and easily recognisable indication of the condition of the environment.

Degradation of catchments in South Africa has resulted in exports of more topsoil than all the exports of mined products combined.

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