A successful collaboration between the Institute of Natural Resources NPC (INR) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in South...
Read MoreWelcome to the Institute of Natural Resources (INR)
Partnering with government, civil society, the private sector and other leading research organisations we develop cutting edge solutions to support the resolution of natural resource challenges; we provide advice to practitioners, researchers and policy makers; we integrate effort; we build the capacity of graduate professionals to operate effectively in the workplace; and we advocate an environmentally secure future for all. We are an independent, non-profit, public benefit organisation committed to serving the people of southern Africa.
Our Work

Climate Action & Sustainability
Solving climate and related environmental and development challenges.

Agriculture & Rural Livelihoods
The choices we make in how we grow food can have a lasting impact.
Institute of Natural Resources publish 2020/2021 Annual Report
Dear Stakeholders,
We take pride in releasing to you our Annual Report 2020/21. Management would like to thank our staff and partners for their support over the last two years. The INR has survived for more than four decades due to the commitment and resolve of its staff and the strength of its relationships with its partners. Viva INR!


News, People and Events
Environmental Trailblazing:
INR works with communities to build capacity in fire management
The INR’s Agriculture & Rural Livelihoods team is currently implementing two initiatives at Inhlazuka, a rural community near Richmond, KwaZulu-Natal. The first is part of the SANBI-funded Umgeni Resilience Project (URP) and we are appointed by University of KwaZulu-Natal to oversee the burning of fire breaks to protect both grazing lands and settlements. This is being done in conjunction with the Richmond Fire Protection Association and the Working on Fire (WoF) team that they host.
Recent Reports and Articles
INR Partners with the Solidarity Fund to Improve Food Security
The Impendle community welcomed a tower garden demonstration by the INR who are implementing a Household Food Security Project which...
Read MoreSupporting transformative adaptation and building equitable resilience to drought for sustainable development
Growing fruit and vegetables in Africa for export has been shown to generate positive socio-economic impacts, but the industry relies...
Read MoreNews, Partners and Events
Partnership with Cranfield and East Anglia Universities: Investigating the drought resilience of irrigated agriculture
The INR partnered with Cranfield and East Anglia Universities in the UK to investigate the drought resilience of irrigated agriculture...
Read MoreINR Scientist Awarded PhD in Agro-forestry!
The INR would like to congratulate Thabo Makhubedu on being awarded his PhD in Crop Science from UKZN. This was...
Read MoreINR Partners with WRC to Empower SMME’S in Grant Writing
Date: 15 June 2022 Time: 10h00 – 11h30 Registration link: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_4Bt5hn-RRQyb9HeqlKxC5w Background The Water Research Commission (WRC) conducts WRC 101...
Read MoreDrones and Water Quality: INR and Umgeni Water fly high
The INR has partnered with Umgeni Water, CPUT and THENSA to assess the use of drones for monitoring water quality as part of an integrated catchment management programme.
Catch the first glimpses of the project activities here:

Institute of Natural Resources publish 2019 Annual Report
In this report, in addition to profiling our work in 2019, we reflect briefly on some of our more notable achievements over the past forty years. The report includes staff complement and extracts of audited financial statements.
Illegal sand mining on the rise in KZN
HAVE you ever wondered where your building sand comes from? If you are in the uMngeni catchment area, chances are it’s from an illegal sand miner.
Written by Nomcebo Myeza, a former environmental scientist at the Institute of Natural Resources

You Can Make a Difference
Your donations can make a difference to many of the INR projects.
All donations are greatly appreciated. Click on the donate button to learn more.
