AS tons of plastics and other waste continue washing up on our beaches and rivers, the newly formed Fish Eagle is determined to conserve the environment one river at a time.
Run under Adopt-a-River, just three months into its formation and four members later, the group has been doing a commendable job cleaning the banks of the Umgeni River.
Founder and CEO of Adopt-a-River Janet Simpkins says the Fish Eagle team deals with slightly different issues to the other Adopt-a-River teams.
“They are concentrating mainly on the riverbank restoration, clearing of alien invasive species as well as keeping an eye out for any illegal dumping activities. We have already had amazing results from the teams’ efforts. They were part of the massive illegal-dumping clearing project we undertook in the area. Their stretch of river bank is certainly looking far clearer, and we are hoping the indigenous plants thrive given the chance. They keep an eye out for any dumping activities and report immediately.
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Janet said that a team working consistently in a dedicated area makes a huge difference.
“The team is being supported and mentored by Durban North Honorary Ranger Rosemary Harrison. It is our hope that we can each adopt a stretch of river and help revive it, little by little, for the biggest impact,” she said.
Fish Eagle team supervisor Nduduzo Ndaba said the support and mentorship they received from Harrison helped them understand what is good and what is bad for the environment.
“Through the support, we got to know which trees are alien invasive species and how bad they are for the environment. That is how we got to know what to cut down and what to leave behind.
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“Our main challenge for now is rubble that we can’t move, which is causing a regrowth of what we have already cut down. We are currently in talks with waste removal companies to get these last few loads removed. Other companies have since stopped as they know the area is under surveillance.
“We call for the community to get involved in such initiatives. We wish to one day call the public to come here so we can show them which trees are good and which ones are bad. It’s important that they understand this.
“They must also understand how bad plastics and other dirt are for the environment. We’ve always known Umgeni River as one with fish, but the numbers have drastically decreased compared to when I first joined Adopt-a-River.”
Adopt-a-River, which prides itself with being a passionate non-profit organisation that is dedicated to making a difference in our waterways, currently has five environmental groups that have been working tirelessly to combat river-health issues.
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