Ukhahlamba / Drakensberg Park
Joyce Loza
Conservation Specialist
Maloti Drakensberg Transfrontier Conservation and Development Programme
One of the hardest parts of the conservation game is where nature and humanity collide. Joyce manages these buffer zones not just between the communities and our incredible sites, but between countries as well.
She spends most of her time on the road doing the hard yards so that the rest of us can enjoy the great outdoors, often spending more than 20 days on the road each month. Her joy is working with communities, and she has the caring heart that is needed to help address people’s problems while working towards a common goal. With her hiking boots in her boot, the trail is always a good place to start a conversation.
The Drakensberg covers a massive area, and protecting the natural heritage as well as the cultural treasures the San left behind is not something nature conservation can do on its own. It needs teamwork. And that necessitates someone who can get everyone working in the same direction.
She is serious about empowering women and creating cultures of inclusivity – be it in the livestock farming game, or as simple as wheelchair access to shorter, flat hiking trails. Joyce cares about people, and that’s why her area works.
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Instagram: @joyce.loza3
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