ETHEKWINI Municipality’s Parks, Leisure and Cemeteries Department has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the KwaZulu-Natal Clivia Club to initiate a partnership for the conversation of the heritage Clivia species.
Considering the conservation challenges, the vulnerability of Clivias and the importance of ensuring a plant heritage for future generations, the unit is kick starting a campaign to educate the public about Clivias, lobby for support of this initiative and create awareness.
The signing of the MOU formalises the relationship between the municipality and the KZN Clivia Club.
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In the past, the latter collaborated with the Durban Botanical Gardens in its educational programmes. These include among others research and commencing with the establishment of a Habitat Heritage Collection. This will form part of a broader conservation gene-banking initiative.
The Durban Botanic Gardens as an operational entity of Parks, Leisure and Cemeteries Department will assist with the cultivation and curating of Clivias as part of the Gardens Collections Programme. The KZN Clivia Club and its affiliated Interest Groups members, will share their knowledge of the endangered plant whose available material will assist in the establishment and maintenance of the Clivia Heritage Collection.
Rosemary Harrison, a North Durban Honorary Officer (NDHO) who looks after the nursery situated at the Beachwood Mangroves Nature Reserve has also welcomed the move by the City. The reserve grows and sells one of the Clivia plant species.
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The Deputy Head for Parks, Leisure and Cemeteries, Sibusiso Mkhwanazi stressed the need to raise awareness on the conservation of the Clivia immediately or risk losing its much-needed medicinal value.
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