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Profile: Nathi Ngcobo
Nathi Ngcobo, founder of Zenature Environmental Consultants.
Nathi Ngcobo, from Mafunze in Pietermaritzburg, attended Madlala Primary School and matriculated at Kuhlekonke High School. During his childhood, he engaged in fishing and hunting. His perspective on sustainability changed after reading “Manela and the Poachers,” a book that emphasized the responsible use of natural resources. Inspired, Nathi began educating his friends on sustainable practices, such as returning small fish and unnecessary catches to the river. This early influence foreshadowed his eventual career in conservation.
After high school, Nathi volunteered at Mpendle Nature Reserve under Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, where he undertook control of invasive alien plants and their early detection. This further ignited his passion for the environment and prompted him to study Nature Conservation at the
University of South Africa. He continued to volunteer during holidays, and worked for Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, monitoring and surveying invasive alien plants. Seeking further growth, he joined WESSA in Howick as an assistant reserve manager, gaining experience in fire management, anti-poaching and infrastructure maintenance. This solidified his commitment to nature conservation. Nathi later worked with other organizations (e.g. Wildlands Conservation Trust and the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment), doing control of invasive alien plants at the iNanda Mountain Reforestation Project, and with the Working for Water programme.
Recognizing his experience and skill set, Nathi decided to register his own company, Zenature Environmental Consultants. He then applied to implement work, for eThekwini Municipality, at the Inanda Mountain Reforestation Project and his company was awarded the work. His company then simultaneously undertook other projects with organizations and with private landowners and farmers. Currently, Nathi is contracted to implement control of invasive alien species at Inanda Mountain as part of an initiative coordinated by the Municipality’s Biodiversity Management Department.
Nathi has always enjoyed working with communities and contributing to their development. He has heard and witnessed testimonies about the positive impacts of conservation initiatives, that he is involved in, and how they changed people’s lives. Besides knowledge transfer, the projects have created many job opportunities, and enabled people to support their families. The various ecosystem services provided by the projects also ensure improved quality of life, and these positive outcomes and