DUMPING within the Hawaan Forest continues to pose a risk to the pristine coastal forest, despite the desperate pleas from concerned conservationists. What’s more, there has also been a recent spike in the destruction of the forest’s Natal plum trees (harpephyllum caffrum).
It is believed that traditional healers have been collecting the bark for ‘muti’.
“The trees are being stripped at an alarming rate and this could cause them to die. It needs to be done in a sustainable way; however, most of the trees have almost completely been ring-barked,” said Jocelyn Sutherland, a custodian of the forest and member of the Botanical Society of South Africa.
The rate of collection has forced the custodians to paint the trees with an emulsion paint in the hopes of discouraging collection.
Over the past several months, the volunteers have grown increasingly alarmed by the ‘irresponsible and inconsiderate’ residents who have been dumping their garden refuse within the fenced green belt. So much so that the custodians have placed signs along the fence warning people that it is illegal.
Sutherland reported the first incident in June. However, since then, there has been no decline in the destructive behaviour along the forest’s border fence on Herald Drive in uMhlanga. The dumped waste primarily includes dead branches, leaves and other alien vegetation. According to Sutherland, many fauna and flora found in the forest cannot be found anywhere else in South Africa.
While the dumping of dead vegetation within the forest does not seem like a serious issue, Sutherland said it could have a severe impact. If seeds are dumped along with the refuse, they could germinate and introduce alien invasive plants back into the forest, she explained. Also, the refuse could smother the indigenous flora or poison the indigenous animals found within the forest.
To alleviate the situation, the Upper Umhlanga Security Trust has stepped in by collecting and removing dumped rubble and refuse. “Once a week we have volunteers who clean up along the forest to ensure that it is kept in pristine condition.
“Our aim is to create a community of people working together and helping each other. It is a shame that there are a few villains in the area wilfully dumping and degrading our spaces,” said Andrew Fraser.
Sutherland condemned the dumping, saying that there was no excuse for the actions as there were various alternative options. “There are well-maintained and easily-accessible municipal dumps in the area. People can also buy garden refuse bags from the municipality, which DSW will collect if put out timeously,” she said.
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