NEWSLETTER NO. 40 DECEMBER 2011
Our work this year
M13
With sincere thanks to our corporate sponsors, we continue to remove alien species, and to plant and protect trees and aloes, and maintain the sponsored sections of the M13. Our main areas of struggle are with state or municipal-appointed teams of injudicious brush-cutters, and with litter. Plastic everywhere!
The bare land along Norfolk Terrace, opposite the fire station, has been planted up with a diversity of trees with bequests made in memory of Alastair Lomas-Walker. This carries on the tree-planting from the top of Norfolk Terrace along the M13, and brings the number of trees planted to more than 500. Other tree-planting projects included Westville Cares Day, when trees were planted at Jimmy Bellows Sports field, and Jubilee Park.
Combatting Alien Invasive Plants
We continue our battle against invasive species with funds received from memberships. Syringa and pompom, balloon vine, Brazilian peppers, Catsclaw, Australian Eugenia, Litsea and others threaten to take over our environment.
It remains a great concern that Westville residents actually plant Widelia on their verges and are protective of their syringa trees. While syringa may carry wonderfully smelling flowers, these trees and all the other declared invaders cause tremendous damage to our ecosystems. They impact on biodiversity and take over our natural habitat at the expense of indigenous cover and ground water. Westville’s suburban gardening practices also directly impact on the Palmiet Nature Reserve, a community-managed municipal reserve established in 1972 –alien invader plants, plastic packets, rubbish and illegal discharge into the river put this biodiversity haven under pressure.
Some of the areas in which our alien invader plant eradication efforts have been concen-trated are Baden Road, Edgbaston Road, J ubilee Park, Conway Park, the Westville Trail, and of course, the M13.
Rob Jamieson and his team, Clive Walker and Shadrack Luthuli are our hands-on warriors in this battle, and we thank them.
Jubilee Park
John Hinck and Marion Spence have transformed this green desert choked with alien invader species into a beautiful natural environment. Their efforts were recognised by Ethekwini Municipality when they received the Mayoral Award for Excellence (Biodiversity Division) in recognition of the rejuvenation of Jubilee Park.
Please contribute to the valuable work being done there - contact Marion on 031 -266 6412 email: marion.spence@gmail.com
Westville Park (aka the Scout Bowl)
What should be the green heart of Westville continues to suffer under the Parks and Garden’s lack of effort in violation of the City’s own green landscaping guidelines. Alien invader species remain untouched while fields of hypoxis and wild grasses, and even indigenous trees (Apodytes dimidiata, Canthium imerme, Gardenia thunbergia, Ekebergia capensis) are hacked. We are therefore pleased that a ‘Friends of the Westville Park’ was established during 2011, with the aim of protecting this natural asset.
Plans for 2012
There is so much to do! We would like to tackle further stretches along the M13, dispatch every single alien invader plant, green our public spaces and work with the municipality and residents on the protection of our natural capital. We are however limited in number and in funds. We are on a drive to increase our membership base, and to attract more corporate sponsors. You could help us in this by actively signing up new members, and letting us know of potential sponsors that would like their company name attached to an environmental programme.
We believe that next year the earth’s resources will come under even greater pressure, as the human population weighs heavily upon planet earth. Massive loss of biodiversity and species is underway on a global scale. Biodiversity loss is at the centre of a number of risks to life on earth, including the unprecedented spread of infectious disease, air pollution, extreme weather, desertification and water scarcity and rising costs. The value of biodiversity acknowledged as services with a financial value is only becoming clearer now and it is beyond question that we cannot survive without them. Just as wildlife was not valued as having an intrinsic value but had to be given economic status to ‘justify’ itself in terms of tourism value or game farming, the natural environment is being valued as a necessary asset in the national economy.
We need to protect Westville and do justice to our part of the world.
COP 17 COP-OUT
| The Conference of Parties’ (CoP) 17th meeting in Durban in December went into 36 hours overtime, and from it emerged a vague, ambiguous and not legally-binding 'Durban Package'. This could potentially lock us onto a pathway of dangerous climate change to the tune of an increase of 3.5 degrees Centigrade, as opposed to the 2 degrees currently aimed for, or the 1.5 degrees Centigrade many claim is necessary for a safe climate future. In the context of sovereign debt and recession in the West and lack of commitment from some developing countries, there just isn't the financial commitment or political will to take the necessary ambitious immediate action to avert a crisis of food insecurity, displacement and global instability that are set to come with climate change above 2 degrees. Faced with these daunting prospects, we should put our individual effort into supporting local farmers’ markets and building local resilience, limit our own CO2 emissions and add our voice to pressure groups. |
RIP MINING AT MTUNZINI
There is an appeal from Mtunzini Conservancy for support to save Mtunzini and Zululand from the further ravages of mineral sand mining. Exxaro has been trying to proceed with strip mining near Mtunzini despite strenuous protests from residents and businesses.
Support in this David and Goliath situation is needed. Mtunzini Conservancy is calling for contributions from interested persons and organisations. Westville Committee members have already made individual contributions; we urge others to do the same.
Please make your contributions to: the Mtunzini Conservancy at any branch of First National Bank or via the internet to: First National Bank, Sort Code: 220130, Account number: 62093027475. Please use your business name or surname and initials as a reference and fax to ++ 27 86 512 6476 or E Mail to bwkewley@telkomsa.net the following information: 1) Proof of payment, 2) your full name, 3) postal address, 4) E Mail address and your Telephone number. For more particulars visit http://mtunzini.co.za/exxaro.htm OR
Barbara Chedzey at barbarachedz@global.co.za
WATER ALERT Chairman of the Board of Wessa, Dr Richard Lewis, recently stated:
‘Just pertaining to water alone, we in SA have lost 50% of our wetlands – (the country’s kidneys);82 municipalities no longer have water engineers meaning that in many cases pure sewerage is flowing into water supplies. In the Vaal Catchment area 50 000 tons of uranium from mines seeped into water supplies just last year alone, causing acid mine water which is highly radioactive and necessitating the evacuation of people on the West Rand. The EU is already refusing vegetables growing along the Vaal as being too toxic unless the farmers have their own purification works. Stark realities loom, and yet people are more inclined to watch mindless TV shows, spend thousands on fireworks, or expend huge amounts of passion in watching sport, whilst real issues facing them are scarcely given a thought.’
2012 is going to be challenging. You have been warned.
MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL:
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