Great cause for celebration at Umbogovango

In conservation there are few opportunities for celebration, as the challenges are many.

However a local success story is the environmental education project at Umbogavango Nature Reserve, which celebrated 25 years of existence this year at a special function on Friday, 2 September.

Umbogovango Nature Reserve is located within the confines of the Umbogintwini Industrial Complex, directly opposite Galleria Mall.

From humble beginnings, this brainchild of the late Cecil McCalgan has withstood many challenges and has evolved into a project which provides the basics of environmental education to over 3,000 primary school pupils a year.

Its present success has been made possible by the generous funding from sponsors within the Umbogintwini Industrial Complex, coupled with the excellent work of the late Chris Skinner.

The Upper South Coast branch of the Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa (Wessa) supervises the project, which employs two interns from Mangosothu Technikon.

The pupils are from rural schools but it is hoped the project can expand in future to include urban schools from Isipingo and Amanzimtoti.

“The Umbogovango story is an unique success story in a region where human pressure on the environment includes air pollution, litter and solid waste in local streams and rivers,” said Wessa’s Dr Jim Taylor.

“At Umbogovango, local businesses, Rotary and Wessa have worked together over a 25-year period to provide an unique and accessible learning environment for all. Umbogovango is a beacon of hope and environmental education in the middle of an industrial area of South Africa’s second largest city.”

The nature reserve was established in 1991 by a number of chemical companies that share premises in the south Durban basin.

Such was the beauty of the nature reserve, with indigenous forests and a number of picturesque ponds and wetlands, it was named Umbogovango after the local town Umbogintwini, and the famous Okavango delta in Botswana.

Over the years, the nature reserve has been used as an outdoor classroom, enabling communities, businesses, government officials and local teachers and pupils to experience its beauty and learn about the wide range of eco-systems and habitats that it protects.

“From the outset Umbogovango has been a project of the local branches of Wessa,” said Dr Taylor. “Many individuals have made this remarkable project possible, such as the late Stan Craven and Chris Skinner, Eunice Grey and Bob Skippings, who currently co-ordinates the project.

A large number of people have donated time and money, at no benefit to themselves, to make this amazing project work. Most importantly they have supported many to be inspired by the value of nature, including fresh air, clean water, healthy food and life-supporting biodiversity.”

Companies that have supported the project over many years include AECI, SA Tioxide, Kynoch, Dulux and Improchem.

The complex is now managed by Acacia, where staff members such as Nomali Msomi support community projects and help manage the complex.

“Umbogovango is truly a lesson to all about how industry and communities can work together for the common-good,” said Dr Taylor.