In 1988, the Nata Conservation Committee recognized a need for a conservation area near Nata to protect and conserve the globally significant breeding sites of the migratory birds and torrential aquatic ecosystems. With the crucial assistance of the Kalahari Conservation Society and Nata Lodge the Committee pulled together a broad coalition to develop a 23,000ha area to the East of the Sua Pan as a community-operated wildlife sanctuary. This communal effort resulted in the creation of the Nata Conservation Trust in 1992 and the leasing of the Sanctuary land to the Trust. In December 2000, Nata Sanctuary submitted a funding request to United Nations Development Programme for the completion of the Nata Sanctuary with the specific goals of conserving the Makgadikgadi Pans and generating employment and income opportunities for participating villages. This was approved in 2001. As such, the Sanctuary is the responsibility of the Board of Trustees of the Nata Conservation Trust. These trustees are selected from the four local villages of Nata, Maposa, Mmanxotae, and Sepako. Income from the Sanctuary has been used for development within the four villages. After 20 years the Nata Conservation Trust is now partnering with the Hedgerow Fund to develop this amazing site. With a long-term financial and operational commitment to the Sanctuary and to the Trust we can now be confident that this amazing eco-system will be maintained and protected for generations to come, for the benefit of its lucky visitors and the local communities.