There’s something magical that happens when you slow down and walk in the wild. The rhythm of your steps, the stillness of the bush, the thrill of spotting wildlife on foot — it opens your senses, grounds your spirit, and reminds you of what truly matters.
Blake Dyason, founder of Love Our Trails, was invited by long-time friend Michelle Koen and fellow nature lover Chris Renshaw on a walking safari in the African bush. With Chris as their guide, the experience was unforgettable — early morning walks, strong coffee, sundowners, belly laughs, and deep conversations under starlit skies.
But between the animal encounters and the shared love for wild spaces, something else stood out: the quiet, powerful work Chris is doing through his nonprofit, Conserv Earth.
Blake recently watched the Netflix film about Kulu the rescued Pangolin, that reminded him about Project Pangolin. Electrocution from fencing had been a silent killer of this critically endangered species for years, and Chris and his team were doing something about it.
Conserv Earth is more than a conservation organisation — it’s a bridge. A connector between scientists, landowners, corporates, and government. A facilitator of dialogue, and a restorer of hope. Their work protecting pangolins is just one example of how small, thoughtful interventions can have a profound impact.
Here is what Chris has to say about Conserv Earth.
“One of the most fulfilling and rewarding aspects of running and operating an NPO is when the small stories and “little things” make a difference. As Gandalf in the Hobbit said when asked why he picked a hobbit, “It is thought Great power is needed to defeat evil. I’ve found it is the small things, everyday deeds of ordinary folk that keeps the darkness at bay. Simple acts of kindness and love…” The quote does say a lot more, but this is the gist of it – small acts of kindness that one can replicate and focus on everyday so that we all play our part in building a better life around us in each industry or area that we operate in. I have also learnt and discovered far more about myself interacting and dealing with people on the ground that we are helping, as they have so much insight, passion and knowledge to give. Humility and gratitude are words I use often, but with good reason. I found that these are the baseline attitudes one must have when assisting people, as you are then yourself open to all manner of solutions and are then best able to provide the assistance needed.”
A great example of Conserv Earth’s work is Project Pangolin. This is a collaboration between Conserv Earth, the Sabi Sand Nature Reserve (SSNR) and Vineyard Friends Wine, to erect a pangolin friendly buffer fence in front of their existing electric fence, to effectively stop pangolin and vertebrate electrocutions. It is a basic “buffer” mesh fence, with an electric strand 60cm on the top, that sits in front of the substantial and effective existing big game antipoaching fence. This blocks animals form getting through, and the one electric strand at the top is high enough to deter animals and pangolins from climbing over but does not allow them to get stuck or roll up around it. This was PHASE 1 of the project, and we are thrilled that this has been completed – 59km of fencing that not only keeps all pangolins safe, but a variety of vertebrate species that are susceptible to electrocution. This is a great achievement by all, and a testament what effective communication, teamwork and a dogged approach can have. Since the fence has been up, NO pangolins have been electrocuted, which is a marked difference to the previous years where several pangolins were lost each year. The overall effect will be exponential, as the breeding population remains stable, and numbers can increase to what the habitat can support. The SSNR team were instrumental in this and allowing us to assist and help drive the project, as they were keen to mitigate the electrocutions that had occurred. Their proactive attitude must be commended, and we thank all the donors and stakeholders involved.
PHASE 2 for 2025/2026 will focus on further defining and continuing the research project that has also implemented in association with the University of Pretoria and the MTPA to develop a national pangolin DNA database, much like the Rhino horn database. This is essential for criminal cases, so a poached pangolin that is found, can be linked back to a reserve and area, and a criminal case can be built linked to an incident. We also be funding and facilitating a fence study with several stakeholders across a few reserves in a variety of pangolin habitats across South Africa, to determine the best fence design so that guidelines can be set for all wilderness areas within South Africa. More to come on this once all is a go…
Take a look at how you can support Conserv Earth work or become an annuity donor.
