Help conserve the Monteseel area

THIS month, Eco Watch features Monteseel, an area situated between Drummond and Inchanga, on top of the ‘Inchanga Hill’ overlooking the Comrades Marathon half way point.

The Monteseel township was established in 1950. In this process two areas that over look The Valley of 1000 Hills were designated public places. These sites are on KZN Sandstone Sourveld, an endangered grass type. The public area includes a small valley which has grassland on the one side and scarp forest on the other; and an adjacent plot of land, which has been developed by local residents to use as a park. It is the rehabilitation and maintenance of these public spaces that is the focus of the Monteseel Conservancy.

An initial brief look at the grassland flowers with members of Custodians of Rare and Endangered Wildflowers (CREW) has already produced a list of more than 60 species. The forest is the home of old figs, yellowwoods and indigenous orchids. The biggest problems are litter and invasive alien plants.

A Monteseel Joint Management Initiative has been formed with representatives from various eThekwini Municipal Departments – Biodiversity, Parks and Gardens, Working on Fire (WoF). The WoF teams started work last year on the control of gums and lantana and they did a controlled burn in the winter. The conservancy has a small team who work once a week clearing litter and bracken.

Monteseel is known for the popular and extensive climbing routes. Some of these also need clearing and maintaining, as dumping, especially of builders’ rubble, is a problem. The conservancy is hoping to work on this in the future as well.

Monteseel is also known for ‘The Cycad.’ It is an Encephalartos natalenisis which is fairly common, but it is thought to be extremely old – various reports put it between 250 and 3000 years old. It is also apparently a Kew Gardens type specimen which means that bits of it are stored or growing in Kew Gardens in London. An early description from 1949 records 11 stems, but time, man and economic pressure have taken their toll. About 20 years ago there were eight, now there is evidence of five, three of these have died from ring barking, possibly by muthi harvesters. The remaining two stems have only a small amount of bark keeping them alive. Surrounding cycads have been dug up and sold, possibly by Monteseel residents. Although it is a natural heritage site, its future does not look hopeful. The Monteseel Conservancy hopes to find a way to protect it and at this stage public awareness seems to be the best tool.

Conservancy projects include recycling of glass, tins and plastic bottles- depot is situated at ‘The Haceinda’ in St Andries Street. The Conservancy also offers free advice on invader clearing, indigenous plants and maintenance of any undeveloped grassland, as well as guided tours to small hiking and rambling groups.

Membership of the Monteseel Conservancy is not restricted to Monteseel residents. Contact Anne (secretary) on 031 7834 651 or 082 7036 255. Alternatively you can contact Sylvia (treasurer) on 031 7834 093 or 083 226 3433.