A conservation project launched by Colchester Zoo in South Africa nearly 20 years ago has officially been declared a nature reserve.

The UmPhafa Nature Reserve, in KwaZulu-Natal, spans a vast area and was previously used for cattle farming.

Colchester Zoo and its charity, Colchester Zoological Society, have supported this conservation project since 2005.

The zoo said the reserve had lost many of its natural species due to previous agricultural practices.

The authorities have now officially declared UmPhafa a nature reserve, giving it protected status.

A zoo spokesman said: "This is a wonderful step forwards for UmPhafa and this formal declaration as a protected area, highlights the true value of the reserve and the work the team do."

The process of declaring UmPhafa as a nature reserve began in late 2022, with the area presented to the KZN Biodiversity Stewardship Working Group for approval.

A detailed site assessment was undertaken, including a field assessment with Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife biodiversity stewardship staff, district conservation staff and ecologists.

The assessment confirmed that UmPhafa has significant biodiversity value and conservation importance.

It revealed that a significant portion of the area falls within Critical Biodiversity Area 1 of the KZN Systematic Conservation Plan, the highest protection priority in the province.

The UmPhafa area also plays a crucial role in buffering and protecting the catchment area of the Thukela River, a national freshwater ecosystem priority area.

The site assessment was presented to the KZN Biodiversity Stewardship Working Group, who agreed on a recommended biodiversity stewardship category resulting in UmPhafa being declared a nature reserve.

The next phase involved developing a management plan, the primary tool for the future management of the reserve.

A public consultation process followed, with a government notification in the Gazette declaring UmPhafa a nature reserve.

The final stage is for UmPhafa’s title deeds to be endorsed.

More information about UmPhafa and how to support the work there can be found at umphafa.org.