The Eastern Cape has gained a new national park after the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, David Maynier, officially declared 18 properties covering more than 10,225 hectares as the Grasslands National Park.
The declaration, announced on 9 October 2026, places the new park in the Eastern Cape highlands between Nqanqarhu and Rhodes, where it will help protect threatened grassland ecosystems and an important water-source area.
According to the department, the park covers 10,225.9242 hectares and includes part of the Eastern Cape Drakensberg Strategic Water Source Area, which is important for water security, biodiversity and livelihoods supported by agricultural land.
Maynier said the establishment of the park was an important step towards protecting one of South Africa’s least-protected biomes.
“The declaration of the Grasslands National Park is an important step in protecting one of South Africa’s least-protected biomes and a strategic water source landscape,” Maynier said.
He added that the initiative demonstrated how conservation could work alongside compatible productive land use through voluntary, long-term partnerships.
Landowners retain ownership
Unlike conservation models that require land to be transferred to the state, the Grasslands National Park has been established primarily through a biodiversity stewardship approach.
Under this model, participating landowners retain ownership of their properties while committing to conservation and management arrangements designed to protect the natural environment.
Agricultural activities compatible with conservation can continue, allowing landowners to maintain their livelihoods while contributing to the protection of grasslands and water resources.
Maynier described the initiative as the first national park established primarily through a biodiversity stewardship model, highlighting the role of partnerships in expanding conservation areas.
SANParks to manage the park
The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment has assigned management of the new national park to South African National Parks (SANParks) under the National Environmental Management: Protected Areas Act.
The declaration follows a notice of intention published in 2025 and the completion of the statutory process required to establish the protected area.
The department said the park would contribute to the protection of biodiversity and the Eastern Cape Drakensberg Strategic Water Source Area.
The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment and SANParks worked with WWF South Africa and other partners to coordinate the establishment of the park.
The new designation strengthens conservation efforts in the Eastern Cape highlands while introducing a model intended to balance environmental protection with compatible agricultural activities and local livelihoods.
