It’s good to know that there are people in the area doing what they can to protect the coast’s unique natural habit.
Jenny Koen, chairman of Leisure Bay Conservancy (LBC) and her husband Karel, joined by a dynamic team – Steve Botha, Tessa Perryman and Stephanie Breedt work hard to keep the pristine coastal strip well cared for and protected.
“This is our backyard and we have to protect it,” said Jenny.
One of the many projects, apart from keeping the pathways trimmed, protecting indigenous plants and trees and pulling out snares – is the Leisure Bay Firefly Sanctuary.
This successful project is first of its kind in Africa and one of only four in the world.
It’s a magical place to visit during loadshedding, especially on warm nights if there is no wind! And it’s free of charge.
This very special place is not only home to a family of fireflies but is a safe space for a wide selection of wildlife such as blue duiker, mongoose, African clawless otter, guinea fowl, francolin and other birds and frogs.
The protected wetland area is at the bottom of Torquay Avenue, adjacent to the parking area between Kidds Beach and Peter Pan beach.
Interestingly, worldwide there are least 2 000 species of fireflies which have been identified.
Fireflies are actually beetles; they have wings which tell them apart from glowworms but they belong to the same family.
While they enjoy warmer climates, moisture and water are also other key elements in their preferred habitat.
One will find firefly information boards under the big tree at the entrance to the sanctuary. In fact, the conservancy has erected a series of informative educational boards along the Leisure Bay shoreline.
Jenny said the conservancy which looks after a large coastal stretch from the Boboyi River to the Tongazi River, works closely with the Leisure Bay Ratepayers’ Association (LBRA) headed by chairman, Piet Breedt.
Both organisations are run by volunteers, and they rely on the community’s donations to roll out projects and keep them going.
One aspect the conservancy feels very strongly about is the destruction of protected trees and natural forest – which is a criminal offence.
Jenny explained that the white milkwood (Sideroxylon inerme) – occur on the whole Indian Ocean coast of South Africa, while the red milkwood (Mimusops caffra) is mostly on the KwaZulu-Natal and Eastern Cape coasts.
“Both milkwoods are dominant keystone species on the coast and are protected because of their aesthetic and ecological role.”
Another plant that is overlooked and threatened due to over utilization of the seed is the Strelitzia nicolai, commonly known as the giant white bird of paradise or wild banana.
This ‘Natal Mock Banana’ is number 34 on the National List of Indigenous Trees.
Jenny said there is a list of 47 tree species that have been declared as protected under the National Forests Act of 1998.
“No such trees may be cut down without a licence under Section 15 of this Act. Trees such as white or red milkwood are dune forest species that sometimes occur outside forests and are also listed as protected tree species,” she added.
“Cutting or pruning require a licence from the Department of Forestry.”
Jenny explained that they have concentrated on removing alien invader plants mostly along roads close to the shoreline – Fisherman’s Drive, Bonito, Brighton, Bexhill – but also up and down Salmon, Shad, Barracuda and Dolphin roads.
They alert members on their WhatsApp group not to be concerned when they see plants dying.
“These are invader plants which must be controlled, and we take great care to cause minimal damage to the surrounding plants, using various techniques,” she said.
But some unknown person has systematically used herbicide on a big clump of indigenous wild date palm (Phoenix reclinata) and other indigenous plants and trees in the protected admiralty reserve on the seaside of Bexhill Avenue on the south side of the bottom of Torquay Avenue, just above Peter Pan Bay, over the last few months.
Jenny said this is illegal and is unwarranted destruction of a precious habitat.
“This is destruction of municipal property and whoever did this or ordered this to be done has no morals. This was not done by the Leisure Bay Conservancy as part of our alien control programme nor by the municipality.”
LBC and LBRA are on the hunt to find out who allegedly poisoned indigenous palms and other plants and trees in the area.
LBRA and LBC have offered R2000 each – a total of R4000 – as reward for the positive, proven identification of those responsible.
If you know anything on this issue, please contact Jenny at 082 857 3363. Your anonymity is guaranteed.
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