The Friends of the Seven Dams Conservancy is a community based organisation which started as a group formed in 1993 to protect and promote the Seven Dams Conservancy.  The Friends provides guided walks, maintains and improves the Conservancy by eradicating invasive plants, erecting boardwalks over marshy areas, providing improved safety and security by access control, cutting open the many trails, fighting erosion and lobbies or litigates to protect the area.  The Friends is registered as a non-profit organisation with the NPO directorate of the Department of Social Development.  The main objective of the Friends of the Seven Dams is to promote the interests of the Seven Dams Conservancy, including the conservation of its natural habitat and ensuring a pleasurable recreational experience for visitors to the Conservancy.

The Friends of the Seven Dams worked closely with the Municipality and the consultant in developing the 2008 Management Plan for the Conservancy.  With an excellent plan in place, the committee was able to approach funders to implement parts of the plan.

In 2009 the committee of the Friends of the Seven Dams successfully raised funding from the RAITH Foundation for a period of three years (2009 to 2012).  The money was spent mainly on creating marketing information for the Seven Dams, such as a website and leaflets, employing a conservation officer to develop an outdoor activity/educational package for children and regularly take groups of children from local schools and orphanages to enjoy the conservancy, and to provide security for users. More than 4000 school children and orphans benefitted from this program. Regrettably, the RAITH funding was not renewed.

We are entirely dependent on membership fees and donations for our funding. We are also supported by the adjoining Wild Olive Estate development through an environmental levy paid by all owners.

Since access control was instituted a few years ago, membership and with it our available funds grew substantially, safety improved significantly, dumping was eliminated, littering was virtually eliminated and significant progress could be made with fighting erosion and invasive plants, erecting a number of wooden walkways, appointing a semi-permanent “gardener” for the Conservancy and consistent general improvement and maintenance of the trails. During 2019 and the early part of 2020, we were and are involved in various processes to ensure the future of the Conservancy.

• During the early part of 2019 the Municipality wanted to sell about one-fifth of the conservancy for development. This would have had a devastating impact on the remaining part and would in all probability have rendered it unsustainable.
• We have been involved over a substantial period in the process regarding the proposed development on our western border and are involved in litigation regarding the Environmental Authorisation issued by DESTEA to the developers. As of date (middle May 2020) we are awaiting judgment in this matter. While we are not opposed to the development per se, we view the two outcrops / koppies as environmentally sensitive areas which must be excluded from the development. We are also opposed to the construction of any further sewage lines through the Conservancy.
• We took an active part in and made submissions to the Municipal Tribunal which has to approve new developments. Our objections were dismissed without any reasons being provided or any conditions stipulated. We have noted an appeal and are awaiting further developments.
• We are engaged with the Municipality regarding the development of their new Spatial Development Framework document, which will serve as the guide for all new developments in the medium and long term.

The present state of lockdown has seen a sharp increase in the number of users during the permissible hours between 6 and 9 am, as well as a significant number of new membership applications. Present membership stands at about 700.