Global Humane Conservation Fund of Africa launches new wildlife preserve and expands biodiversity corridor.

Images supplied: (From left) Dr. Robin Ganzert, President and CEO of Global Humane Society, joins Alice Andrews in cutting the ribbon at the opening ceremony of the Brad and Alice Andrews Preserve.

Eastern Cape, South Africa April 25, 2025 - The Global Humane Conservation Fund of Africa (GH-CFA), an initiative of Global Humane Society, announced the launch of the Brad and Alice Andrews Preserve within the Bushman’s River Biodiversity Corridor at the Tanglewood Conservation Area.

GH-CFA held a fence-cutting ceremony to mark the opening of the preserve, which represents a bold step forward in wildlife conservation, habitat restoration, and the transformative power of rewilding.

The Brad and Alice Andrews Preserve is GH-CFA's first land parcel and part of a larger conservation initiative, spanning 682 acres of critical black rhino and elephant habitats. It sits adjacent to the 2,100-acre Tanglewood Conservation Area, a crucial landscape Wilderness Foundation Africa owns. Working collaboratively with partner organizations and neighboring landowners, GH-CFA will establish a formal agreement guiding the corridor’s expansion and declaring the participating properties as a single Protected Environment, officially recognized by South Africa’s Department of Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment.

“The launch of the Brad and Alice Andrews Preserve is a bold declaration that we will not stand by as species disappear,” said Dr. Robin Ganzert, President and CEO of Global Humane Society. “This preserve represents more than just protected land - it’s a promise for the future of Africa’s iconic wildlife. By reconnecting fragmented habitats and fostering biodiversity, we are giving nature a fighting chance.”

On image: Brad and Alice Andrews, along with Dr. Robin Ganzert, media representatives, and their friends in the conservation industry.

This initiative is a key step in connecting fragmented habitats, creating a protected environment that fosters biodiversity resilience and facilitates the natural movement of wildlife. The world has witnessed large-scale biodiversity loss in recent years, caused by climate change, habitat loss and fragmentation, overhunting, and overfishing, among other factors. Approximately one million species, a higher number than ever recorded in human history, are now threatened with extinction, with many more at risk of disappearing within decades.

“The Eastern Cape is one of the most unique and ecologically diverse regions in the world, and we are delighted that key stakeholders, like Global Humane Society, are investing in securing its future,” said Andrew Muir CEO Wilderness Foundation Global. “The Albany Biodiversity Corridor is a vital part of this landscape, linking protected areas, restoring essential ecological processes and fostering resilience against climate change. Each investment into this vision brings us closer to a connected, thriving landscape where conservation, communities and sustainable development can coexist for the benefit of nature and people.”

With natural habitats under immense pressure to preserve precious species, this initiative marks the beginning of a new era for conservation in the Eastern Cape. Significant strides have already been made in preparing the newly preserved land for the return of keystone species, including elephants, black rhinos and white rhinos. By removing barriers and restoring ecosystems, we are paving the way for a sustainable future where wildlife and people can thrive.

“The incorporation of the Brad and Alice Andrews Preserve into the planned Bushman’s River conservation corridor will play a significant and catalytic role in creating an ecologically viable and socio-beneficial landscape,” said Peter Chadwick, CEO of the Conservation Landscapes Institute. “Through the restoration and rewilding of this amazing conservation area, many benefits will accrue, including the creation of new rhino and African elephant strongholds and the development of youth and gender equality programs that lead to sustainable employment and a thriving nature-based economy.”

Through these critical actions, GH-CFA, alongside an esteemed international delegation, is laying the foundation for a thriving and interconnected conservation landscape.

Visit www.globalhumane.africa to learn more about GH-CFA’s work.