Virginia Bush set to become National Nature Reserve
An application to have the Virginia Bush changed into a national nature reserve is pending approval from the environmental minister.
FOLLOWING the slaughter of rare and indigenous wildlife under the care of the D’MOSS area known as Virginia Bush Nature Reserve, a proposal has recently been made to change the reserve into a national nature reserve.
Jean Rodel, chairman of The Friends of the Virginia Bush and project manager at ESSA Ecosystem Services Business Unit, reported that residents have been ignoring the rules, and despite the clear signages have insisted in walking their dogs in the reserve.
Over the last three years dogs have attacked and killed a blue duiker and a mongoose. “Some people have not thought twice about physically assaulting us when we tried to prohibit them from entering the reserve with their dogs,” she said
Thami Kunene, the manager at the reserve, echoed Rodel’s frustration when he reported that dogs have frequently roamed the reserve freely, posing additional threat to the wildlife.
“It is especially frowned upon for the residents to walk their dogs in the section along Kensington Drive and uMhlanga Rocks Drive. There are some bird species that can only be found in that section of land,” added Rodel.
The environmentalist warned residents that the field rangers have the authority to shoot roaming dogs spotted in the reserve on sight. “This has happened in Paradise Valley, where the dogs have also attacked and killed animals,” she said.
The application submitted by MP Dean Macpherson (former councillor of Ward 36) simply needs to be approved by Edna Molewa, the current environmental affairs minister.
Once the reserve has been changed to a national nature reserve it will no longer fall under the authority of town planning, but will be managed and maintained by the National Department of Environmental Affairs, said Macpherson.
As a national nature reserve staff will be able to upgrade the fencing and security systems as well as control the access to the reserve.
“It will be a win-win situation. The municipality will save on funding, and it will also have positive tourism benefits, as well as making the reserve and surrounding areas safer. It will attract Eco-tourists, plus the rare and indigenous trees and animals will be protected and it will make it more difficult for vagrants and criminals to use the reserve,” he said.
