Page 13 - State of Biodiversity Report 2022/2023

THE CITY’S GREENIES GO WILD
Since 2002, the eThekwini Municipality’s Biodiversity Management Department has acquired over 780 hectares of conservation-worthy land to expand the conservation estate and contribute to the national conservation targets. Effective management of these areas is important to ensure the continuous flow of ecosystem services that it provide to the citizen of eThekwini such as water, regulation of floods and recreational and spiritual benefits.
On the 17th of March 2023, the Biodiversity Management Department (BMD) visited one of its conservation areas to hike the conservation area while engaging on its key ecological features, socio-economic importance, and management issues. The proceedings for the day were as follows, the Deputy Head (Ms Chumisa Thengwa) welcomed the officials and indicated that, it is imperative for the BMD to regularly visit the City’s conservation areas in order to appreciate the assets they are dedicated to conserving. Such visits also present an opportunity, especially for the officials who are office-based, to get to understand the day-to-day management activities of these areas. A representative from the Monteseel Conservancy (Ms Anne Bruzas), who are key local partner in the project, also shared a few words, she highlighted that the Monteseel conservancy has been involved in the conservation efforts of Monteseel since the establishment of the conservation area and how their partnership with the BMD has gone from strength to strength over the years. The Conservancy undertakes annual fundraising events to support the conservation efforts that include Invasive Alien Control and Fire Management.
The Conservation Area Manager (Ms Zodwa Ngubeni, Senior Specialist Ecologist) echoed the same sentiments and expressed her appreciation for the support the Monteseel Conservancy provides to eThekwini Municipality. She further highlighted the key ecological features of the conservation area that make it unique such as:
(1) the presence of the Endangered KwaZulu-Natal Sandstone Sourveld grassland which is classified as critically endangered,
(2) the presence of the Natal cycad (Encephalartos natalensis) which is a scientific monument because its rootstock is estimated to be
over 1000 years old and is a type specimen for the species,
(3) presence of unique and rare plant species
Officials from the Biodiversity Management Department (BMD), Climate Change Department and representatives from the Monteseel Conservancy.
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