I refer to the latest complaint (Herald, September 13) about the butchering of plants by untrained and unsupervised municipal workers. Accompanying photos show the mutilated ruins of indigenous Phoenix reclinata palms more than 10 years old on a roadside verge. This is certainly not an isolated incident.
These, and other plants, are important ecological and aesthetic components of our environment. They convey the ambience of a subtropical seaside climate, which is what attracts residents and tourists.
We cannot sit back and allow the widespread damage caused by untrained municipal workers to continue with impunity. They are incapable of distinguishing an invasive weed from a precious indigenous or other ornamental plant.
Not only are they literally vandalising vegetation, but they also leave behind litter consisting of dirty polystyrene containers, plastic bags, cups and dregs of food, all barely concealed in the bush.
The only places looking respectable are those where private enterprises such as Tidy Towns have been empowered to do the work our municipality shirks.
The difference is in the work ethic and a sense of right and wrong.
Before ending, I need to add a complaint about the lopping off of crowns of Phoenix palms, more than 50 years old in Umtentweni, presumably to completely open a sea view.
In fact, if left to nature, the palms will not obscure but enhance the sea view.
They identify this as the subtropical coastal climate that attracts tourists and residents.
The plants are public property of aesthetic value to the educated community as a whole. I trust that this mutilation will not be repeated.
ENVIRONMENTALIST
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