Branch Member

Japie Buckle

Branch Member – Kwagga Branch

Wildlife Management and Habitat Restoration

“You probably have between 60 and 80 years on this earth – try and do your part to leave nature for which you are responsible, in a better state than before.” 

Japie Buckle is a restoration ecologist with 40 years of experience in conservation management, natural resources management and restoration ecology. He is based in the Eastern Cape. He is driven by a passion for wildlife, nature, and the untamed wilderness.

Initially trained as a forestry scientist, he transitioned into the conservation sector, where he played a pivotal role in establishing and managing various conservation areas, most notably the prestigious Baviaanskloof World Heritage Site. His career also encompassed various key positions in natural resource management within government, including involvement with initiatives such as Working for Water and Working for Wetlands.

Currently, he serves as the Managing Director of Hive Ecosystems, where he is spearheading a ground-breaking, large-scale rehabilitation project focused on carbon sequestration. This project aims to breathe new life into parcels of land that have been degraded by poor land management, leading to depleted carbon, nitrogen and mineral levels. Beyond its ecological significance, this project promises to bring tangible benefits to local communities by creating a substantial number of jobs necessary for its successful execution.

Japie firmly believes that we are all shareholders and real estate managers of this one planet, Earth, where we are currently using its finite resources faster than we replenish them. Restoration at a local and regional scale is therefore critical. We need a holistic natural resource management approach in which land users consider the complex integration of historical, physical, and social environment aspects of the areas we work in, becoming better caretakers of our earthly estate.