environmental scientist nikki macleod and soil scientist lipolysis you see michaela founded e.r.'s 20 years ago. and how the cattle auctions are just one part of a wider scheme to promote sustainable practices in rural areas. much of the grasslands has been badly degraded. the fragile ecosystem has been jeopardized by overgrazing and mismanagement. the grasslands cover 10 percent of south africa but supply 60 percent of the drought stricken countries water needs. against a backdrop of global warming and climate change problems such as overgrazing soil erosion and water security have become more urgent than ever. to keeping this beautiful grassland intact as a water absorber it's basically the skin on the ground the skin on the giving is grass then attacked is so important for a punishing a water source here. but tackling the issue of over grazing in a region that depends on livestock farming is a challenge. one solution involves reviving an age old herding tradition. started long time ago with our forefathers. the way they used to do it was to pile up some stones and paint them. t