CRANE
CONSERVATION
Together with the International Crane Foundation, we protect Africa’s threatened cranes while restoring the wetlands and grasslands that sustain wildlife, water, and communities
CRANE CONSERVATION
WHY CRANES MATTER
Cranes are powerful indicators of healthy wetlands and grasslands
These highly specialised birds depend on thriving ecosystems to breed, feed, and raise their young, making them one of the first species to disappear when these landscapes begin to degrade.
The wetlands and grasslands that sustain cranes are among Africa’s most valuable natural assets. They filter and store water, reduce flooding, capture carbon, support extraordinary biodiversity, and provide essential resources for millions of people. By protecting cranes, we help conserve the ecosystems that sustain both nature and communities.
Cranes are also part of Africa’s natural and cultural heritage. The Blue Crane is South Africa’s national bird, while the Grey Crowned Crane appears on Uganda’s national flag. For generations, these elegant birds have been symbols of national identity, pride, and the enduring connection between people and nature.
Conserving cranes is about more than protecting three threatened species. It is about safeguarding the wetlands and grasslands that support biodiversity, strengthen climate resilience, secure water resources, and enrich the lives of people across Africa.
CRANE CONSERVATION
THE CRANES
WE PROTECT
We focus our conservation efforts
on three of Africa’s threatened
crane species
Blue Crane
Vulnerable
South Africa’s national bird and the world’s most range-restricted crane, with more than 99% of the global population found in South Africa.
Grey Crowned Crane
Endangered
Recognisable by its striking golden crown of feathers, this species has undergone one of the steepest declines of any crane in Africa and in South Africa we have seen 14% decline over 23 years.
Wattled Crane
Vulnerable
The Wattled Crane is more than Africa’s tallest crane. Fewer than 400 Wattled Cranes remain in South Africa, making this iconic species one of the country’s most important ambassadors for wetland conservation.
CRANE CONSERVATION
THE THREATS
CRANES FACE
Cranes face growing pressure
across Africa, including:
Wetland loss and
degradation
Caused by agriculture, development, mining, and drainage.
Power line collisions
Is one of the leading causes of crane mortality across southern Africa.
Poisoning
From agricultural chemicals and deliberate persecution.
The illegal pet trade
Particularly affecting Grey Crowned Cranes.
Invasive alien plants
Degrade nesting and feeding habitat.
Disturbance and habitat loss
In breeding and foraging areas, including fencing around key sites.
Because cranes reproduce slowly and depend on specialised habitats, even small population declines can take years to reverse. Protecting their habitats today is essential to securing their future.
CRANE CONSERVATION
HOW WE PROTECT
CRANES
Together with the International Crane Foundation, we combine science, partnerships, and practical conservation to protect Africa’s cranes and the wetlands and grasslands they depend on.
Protecting and restoring where cranes live
Most cranes occur outside protected areas, making partnerships with landowners and local communities critical to their conservation. Through Biodiversity Stewardship, custodian programmes, and community-based conservation initiatives, we work to secure, restore, and improve key wetland and grassland habitats. As a result, more than 150,000 hectares of important crane habitat are now formally protected or managed under conservation-friendly practices.
Innovating conservation finance
Long term conservation needs long term investment. Together with the International Crane Foundation, we are pioneering new approaches that reward landowners for improving soil organic carbon through improved grassland management leading to protected grassland and habitat conservation. In the Drakensberg, our grasslands carbon project covers more than 130 000 hectares, benefitting cranes, biodiversity, and climate resilience. It also contributes to the urgent global effort to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
Reducing threats
Cranes face many threats across the landscapes they call home, which is why collaboration is at the heart of our work. We partner with landowners, communities, industry, and government to reduce risks such as power line collisions, habitat loss, and illegal trade. By promoting crane-friendly land management and supporting informed decision-making, we help build landscapes where both people and cranes can flourish.
Guiding conservation through science
Science is at the heart of our conservation efforts. By combining long-term monitoring, research, and innovative technologies, we build the knowledge needed to protect cranes and their habitats. Our annual aerial survey in KwaZulu-Natal, now in its 33rd consecutive year, is one of Africa’s longest running crane monitoring programmes. This is providing vital insights that help guide conservation action, shape management decisions, and inform regional and global conservation assessments.
Partnering with communities
The future of Africa’s cranes depends on the people who share their landscapes. We work alongside rural communities to co-create solutions that benefit both people and nature. From protecting natural springs and supporting community cooperatives and small businesses, to promoting sustainable farming practices and grassland stewardship, our initiatives help strengthen local livelihoods while conserving critical crane habitats. By reducing pressure on these ecosystems, we help build more resilient communities and healthier landscapes for both people and cranes.
CRANE CONSERVATION
SOUTH AFRICA’S
NATIONAL BIRD AT
A CROSSROAD
The Blue Crane is South Africa’s national bird and the world’s most range-restricted crane, with more than 99% of the global population found in South Africa
Yet despite decades of conservation success, the species was uplisted from Near Threatened to Vulnerable in 2025 following significant declines across key parts of its range.
Long-term monitoring in the Overberg recorded a 44% decline between 2011 and 2025, highlighting the growing impacts of changing agricultural practices, declining breeding success, climate pressures, poisoning, and collisions with power lines.
Uplisted to vulnerable in 2025
In response, we are working with the International Crane Foundation, farmers, researchers, conservation organisations, government agencies, and industry partners to reverse these declines. Together, we are reducing threats, protecting critical habitat, improving breeding success, and helping secure a future for one of South Africa’s most iconic birds.
CRANE CONSERVATION
GET INVOLVED
Africa’s cranes need healthy wetlands, strong partnerships, and people who care. Whether you choose to donate, partner with us, or follow our work, you can help secure a future for these iconic birds and the landscapes they call home.