Dear Winterskloofers
You are invited to attend a gathering to discuss the way forward for the Winterskloof Conservancy.
Date: Thursday 12th April
Time: 6pm
Venue: To be confirmed, depending on numbers
RSVP: to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. by Monday 9th April
Time: 6pm
Venue: To be confirmed, depending on numbers
RSVP: to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. by Monday 9th April
Background:
The Winterskloof Conservancy was established in 2004, with the aim to integrate with the security initiative to deal with crime and grime by focusing on cleaning and greening our Valley. The focus has been on identification and treatment of invasive alien plants to control the infestations of our public spaces. The outcomes would be improved biodiversity (our life support systems, such as the indigenous and critically endangered mist belt grasslands and forests of Winterskloof, which will, in turn, improve the value of our properties and quality of life.
The Winterskloof Conservancy was established in 2004, with the aim to integrate with the security initiative to deal with crime and grime by focusing on cleaning and greening our Valley. The focus has been on identification and treatment of invasive alien plants to control the infestations of our public spaces. The outcomes would be improved biodiversity (our life support systems, such as the indigenous and critically endangered mist belt grasslands and forests of Winterskloof, which will, in turn, improve the value of our properties and quality of life.
We live in the watershed of the Dorpspruit, which flows into the Msunduzi River and into the Mngeni River, essential to the health and well being of all those who live downstream in Pietermaritzburg and all the way to Durban. Our Valley is also a strategic corridor for the sustainability of the fauna and flora of the Midlands – fluvial (river); terrestrial and altitudinal corridors. The latter is essential for the migration of species to and from the warmer, lower areas up to the cooler, higher areas, which is becoming critical for adaptation to the impacts of Climate Change. Our Valley is thus an important area in terms of our life support systems.
This means that controlling alien invasive plants is a necessity and as a result, we have been supported by Dept. Environmental Affairs (DEA) via Wildlands Conservation Trust initially and then DUCT (Duzi-uMngeni Conservation Trust) to establish and maintain a small team of young men to identify and control the invasive alien plants which thrive in our Valley from 2011. The herbicides we use are provided by DUCT through the DEA Herbicide Assistance programme, which reduces our costs substantially. The Green Bobbies now have the experience and expertise to safely undertake this work in a self-managed manner, working 3 days per week. They also work on private property to help residents to control their invasive plants, reduce the seed load in the Valley and in so doing, supplement the Conservancy funds.
We are registered with Ezemvelo as a Conservancy and a member of the KZN Conservancies Association. We used to be a member of the now-defunct Midlands Conservancies Forum.
Challenges and Opportunities
This job creation initiative is now at the end of the DEA/DUCT contract, which means we will no longer have the wages of the Green Bobbies partly paid through the Working for Water programme. The Conservancy topped up these meagre wages to ensure our team is better paid. While they work on the invasive alien plants, they also collect litter and sort it for recycling. They also provide additional surveillance for the Security Initiative to proactively deal with crime. Their efforts have led to many crimes being thwarted and suspects detained.
This job creation initiative is now at the end of the DEA/DUCT contract, which means we will no longer have the wages of the Green Bobbies partly paid through the Working for Water programme. The Conservancy topped up these meagre wages to ensure our team is better paid. While they work on the invasive alien plants, they also collect litter and sort it for recycling. They also provide additional surveillance for the Security Initiative to proactively deal with crime. Their efforts have led to many crimes being thwarted and suspects detained.
We now need to find additional funding for the Conservancy to keep supporting the work and livelihoods of these men. We have approximately 3 months left in our bank account to:
• pay wages, UIF and COID fees
• ensure they are kitted out to protect them (personal protective equipment – PPE) while they work with herbicides and in difficult conditions;
• pay the Supervisor’s fuel costs so they can get around the Valley as needed and move their kit from the various stores used;
• pay airtime so that the Supervisor can communicate with the team members, the Conservancy, the Eagles, residents as needed.
• pay wages, UIF and COID fees
• ensure they are kitted out to protect them (personal protective equipment – PPE) while they work with herbicides and in difficult conditions;
• pay the Supervisor’s fuel costs so they can get around the Valley as needed and move their kit from the various stores used;
• pay airtime so that the Supervisor can communicate with the team members, the Conservancy, the Eagles, residents as needed.
The annual trail run organised by Penny Wheeler and her Conservancy team has opened our Valley to new people to discover the beauty and tranquillity which we treasure. It has also helped us to supplement the funds of the Winterskloof Conservancy and the Security Initiative, but not enough money is generated to make this a sustainable source of income.
We need to build bridges with Sweetwaters to ensure we share opportunities by looking for projects with mutual benefit. For example, our environmental education partnership with local schools with funding from N3TC through the Midlands Conservancies Forum.
Our recycling verge collection initiative was unsustainable, as not all residents want to separate their waste at source, while others support their children’s’ school recycling facilities (fundraising). To make this work, there needs to be sufficient material available for collection to be cost-effective. Much of the litter we collect on our verges is from the black bags put out on Fridays for landfill, which get torn open by animals. By recycling more, it will help to keep our Valley clean and to avoid the impacts from landfilling.
We facilitated an Illegal Hunting meeting with all stakeholders which led to the reporting protocol via SACAN with response from Hilton SAPS and the Honorary Officers. We need to do the same to work out how to manage the human-monkey conflict affecting our Valley and the rest of Hilton.
We also comment on development applications in the area, to ensure they are appropriate and to encourage more environmentally responsible projects. There are many environmental professionals who can assist to reduce the load of this essential work. If we do not participate, we have no right to complain afterwards.
Options:
• Close down the Green Bobbies Project;
• Get income from Security Initiative – add R30-50 per month for each household?
• Register as a Not for Profit/Public Benefit organisation to apply for external funding;
o Security initiative cannot apply, but Conservancy can;
o Claim the VAT from Security service provider expenditure to fund the Conservancy as we did initially with Wildlands partnership;
• Establish a broader Hilton Conservancies Forum which becomes an NPO-PBO and each Conservancy gets a proportion of any funding obtained;
• Close down the Green Bobbies Project;
• Get income from Security Initiative – add R30-50 per month for each household?
• Register as a Not for Profit/Public Benefit organisation to apply for external funding;
o Security initiative cannot apply, but Conservancy can;
o Claim the VAT from Security service provider expenditure to fund the Conservancy as we did initially with Wildlands partnership;
• Establish a broader Hilton Conservancies Forum which becomes an NPO-PBO and each Conservancy gets a proportion of any funding obtained;
Other ideas?
Thanks
Winterskloof Conservancy Committee
Winterskloof Conservancy Committee
Pictured here; a scene from the annual Winterskloof Trail Run.