About us

Who we are

Mountain Environmental Watch (MEW) was established in 2019 to address the need for coordinated, inclusive conservation in the Upper Groot Letaba Catchment — a landscape that provides critical ecosystem services, clean water, indigenous forests and endangered Woodbush Granite Grasslands, while supporting livelihoods downstream in the greater Letaba catchment.

We work to bring together a wide range of stakeholders — including farmers, agribusiness, tourism operators, local communities and conservation organisations — to promote a balanced and sustainable future for both people and the environment.

Our objectives

►Promote transparent information-sharing on land-use and environmental developments affecting the Upper Groot Letaba Catchment.

►Encourage compliance with environmental, water, biodiversity and agricultural legislation.

►Provide a platform for collaboration and knowledge exchange among farmers, conservation bodies, tourism operators and local communities.

►Facilitate the reporting of environmental incidents and support appropriate enforcement and rehabilitation efforts.

►Monitor water quality and quantity across key rivers, streams and dams.

►Protect and promote connected biodiversity corridors, and track environmental change within these systems.

►Support sustainable development that safeguards water resources, biodiversity and ecological infrastructure.

►Promote responsible land management, sustainable farming practices and water stewardship.

►Share practical knowledge on conservation, including water management and invasive species control.

►Advocate for the responsible protection of this designated Strategic Water Source Area.