Latest news with #Ezemvelo
Daily Maverick
07-05-2025
- Science
- Daily Maverick
KZN conservation — saving at least two ‘birds' with one stone
The future looks brighter today for two critically endangered flying creatures in South Africa, thanks to the establishment of a new grassland reserve in the foothills of the Drakensberg mountains. A small but vital patch of high-altitude grassland has been officially set aside as a protected area near the town of Impendle, west of Pietermaritzburg in KwaZulu-Natal, to conserve the living space of a small insect-eating bird and an equally rare butterfly species. This comes at a time when nearly half of all bird species in the world are in decline, with more than one in eight at risk of extinction. The new iNkonjane Nature Reserve, covering just 180 hectares of land, is named after the isiZulu word for the Blue Swallow (inkonjanesibhakabhaka), immediately adjacent to the larger Impendle Nature Reserve (8,759ha). The reserve has been established by the provincial conservation agency Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, to provide another desperately needed sanctuary area for these swallows. Ezemvelo notes that the two reserves host four (13%) of the country's estimated 30 remaining breeding pairs of Blue Swallows, so the protection afforded by the new reserve 'marks a meaningful step towards ensuring the survival of this graceful aerial insectivore'. The iNkonjane reserve has the added benefit of protecting a second critically endangered species – Pennington's Protea Butterfly (Capys penningtoni), a highly range-restricted species found only in the greater Mkhomazi River valley. This is now the third reserve in KwaZulu-Natal established specifically for the protection of threatened butterfly species. The other two reserves managed by Ezemvelo are the uMvemvane Nature Reserve and Wahroonga Farm. The butterfly's survival hinges on the presence of the common sugarbush protea (Protea caffra), the only plant on which the females lay their eggs. The caterpillars develop and pupate inside the buds, emerging nearly a year later. Dr Musa Zondi, the provincial MEC for environmental affairs, said the new reserve also conserved valuable portions of Southern KwaZulu-Natal Moist Grassland and patches of Eastern Mistbelt Forest, both of which are under mounting pressure from commercial timber farms, agriculture and other development. A further spin-off benefit is that this newly protected grassland habitat is also suitable for several other threatened species, including the Endangered oribi antelope, Endangered mountain reedbuck and Near Threatened grey rhebok. In time, Ezamvelo hopes that these species, particularly oribi antelope, can be reintroduced here. In a statement, the conservation agency said the creation of the new reserve was the result of a carefully negotiated biodiversity offset agreement between Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife and uMngeni uThukela Water regional water utility group. 'This agreement was initiated to compensate for the environmental impact of constructing a new wastewater pipeline through a portion of the Midmar Nature Reserve. Recognising the significance of the offset, the KwaZulu-Natal Nature Conservation Board made an exceptional decision to temporarily waive its policy prohibiting servitudes through protected areas. 'This concession was granted on the condition that the residual damage to Midmar's grasslands be offset through the acquisition of high-conservation-value land and its incorporation into the provincial protected area network.' There will be no fences separating the iNkonjane and Impendle reserves, which will allow the free movement of wildlife and the integrated management of a larger conservation unit, allowing for greater ecological resilience. 'The addition of iNkonjane Nature Reserve to the protected area estate brings the area of land managed by Ezemvelo to 518,628ha – about 5.5% of the province and the total protected area extent to 1,016,769ha, or 10.78% of the province. 'While still below the global conservation target of 30% land protection, each new reserve marks significant progress toward South Africa's international biodiversity commitments.' The announcement also coincides with World Migratory Bird Day (10 May), an international educational and awareness-raising campaign that promotes conservation efforts for migratory birds and their journeys across borders. For more details, visit DM
IOL News
02-05-2025
- General
- IOL News
Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife halts Incema harvesting for 2025 amid severe waterlogging
Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, in collaboration with the iSimangaliso Wetland Park Authority, has decided to cancel the Incema harvesting operations scheduled to take place in May. Image: Montage / Supplied Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife said this year's annual Incema harvesting operations have been cancelled due to waterlogged areas that threaten the safety of harvesters. Incema is a herb that is valued for its strength and flexibility, growing up to a height of 1.5m in large colonies. The announcement was made on Thursday after the St Lucia Incema Harvesting Committee and Western Shore Incema Harvesting Committee unanimously agreed to proceed with harvesting earlier in the week. 'Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, in collaboration with the iSimangaliso Wetland Park Authority, regrets to inform the public that the previously announced Incema harvesting operations scheduled to take place from 5th to 20th May 2025, have been cancelled,' said Ezemvelo spokesperson Musa Mntambo. Mntambo said this difficult decision was taken following the recent heavy rains that have severely affected the St Lucia area and its surroundings. 'The prolonged downpours have resulted in significant waterlogging, rendering large portions of the harvesting areas inaccessible,' he said. Despite the possibility of the rains subsiding, Mntambo said most of the Incema plants remain submerged, making harvesting unsafe and unfeasible at this time. 'As a result, the Incema harvesting operations have been officially postponed to the 2026 harvesting season. New dates for the 2026 season will be communicated in due course,' he said. Vuyi Radebe, who is the executive manager of Biodiversity Conservation, acknowledged the importance of Incema harvesting for cultural, economic, and social purposes. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Radebe said Ezemvelo shares in the disappointment of the affected communities. 'However, the safety of harvesters and the sustainability of natural resources remain our top priorities.' She thanked stakeholders, including the St Lucia and Western Shore Incema Harvesting Committees, for their ongoing support, cooperation, and commitment. According to Steve Mckean's Ezemvelo-affiliated publication, 'Harvest of Juncus Krausii(incema) in the greater St Lucia Wetland Park: Impacts and guidelines for sustainable use', incema is a popular material among Zulu people for weaving sleeping mats and other commercial products. 'This brings much-needed income to many impoverished rural people,' he said. According to a report, in St Lucia, Incema is harvested by women from across KZN, usually with sickles. The only places that Incema is found in KZN are in the coastal and midlands regions, with major stands being found at Kosi Bay, St Lucia, Richards Bay, Umlalazi, and Umgababa estuaries, stated the report. Ezemvelo noted that Incema is the primary material used in the creation of most items sold at locations such as the Zamimpilo market. Concerning how Incema impacts sustainability, Mntambo said it helps to absorb water from the ground, particularly during the drought season. 'Had we continued with harvesting, the human movement might have damaged it by rooting it out,' he said. He said the harvest takes place within a game reserve, where the presence of wildlife poses risks. 'It would also have caused danger to those harvesting, as they would find it difficult to run from crocodiles or hippos in water. Animals are faster in water than humans.'
TimesLIVE
28-04-2025
- General
- TimesLIVE
Harvest season for cultural plant to open next week in KZN
Harvesting of a plant widely used for cultural activities and to make Zulu crafts will commence next week. Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife in conjunction with iSimangaliso Wetlands Park Authority has announced the official dates for the harvesting of incema, also known as common rush, for areas falling under the park. Scores of community members in the far north of the province, especially women, rely on the plant to create a variety of Zulu crafts which are sold. The plant is used for creating traditional sleeping mats which are often used at funerals and weddings. Some traditional healers use it for medicinal purposes. Ezemvelo spokesperson Musa Mntambo said the decision to announce the dates follows meetings attended by the St Lucia and western shore harvesting committees. These are made up of community representatives who have assessed the availability of harvestable natural resources for the season from May 5 to 20. 'After thorough deliberation and field assessments, both committees unanimously agreed to proceed with the harvesting operations,' said Mntambo.
