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THE
COASTCARE ADOPT-A-BEACH PROGRAMME
A national network of local groups caring for the coast
Why
adopt a beach?
South Africa has a rich, diverse, but sensitive coastline of more than 3 000
km. This is a huge resource but also a great responsibility in which we should
all share. Currently our coast and its resources face several threats due to
pollution, poaching, 4x4 vehicles in sensitive areas, inappropriate developments,
degradation of estuaries etc. The idea behind the Adopt-a-Beach Programme is
to encourage groups of people to adopt or help look after a piece of coast
in their region and link with others as part of a national project.
Who
is involved?
There are currently about 200 beaches, rocky shores and estuarine
areas around South Africa that have been voluntarily “adopted” by
groups that range in size from 5 to 200 people. They are
all committed to making some positive contribution to the
management, conservation and information sharing about our
precious coast.
 This
exciting programme, launched by the Department of Environmental
Affairs and Tourism’s Marine and Coastal Management Branch,
is being implemented by the Wildlife and Environment Society
of South Africa (WESSA). Participating groups include schools,
coastal communities, participants in Coastcare projects like
Working for the Coast, Blue Flag beaches, as well as local
environmental interest groups.
Adopt-a-Beach is part of the overall Coastcare programme and contributes towards
the implementation of the “awareness, education and training” goals
of the White Paper for Sustainable Coastal Development in South Africa.
It does this by providing the opportunity for participants to better develop
an understanding of the coastal environment and relevant management principles.
This will help ensure that there are more responsible coastal users and
better overall coastal management.
How
are activities guided?
Each participating group has been provided with an easy-to-use handbook (available
in four coastal languages) and log sheets, as well as a resource box containing
a wide range of items and resource materials, useful for monitoring and learning
about coastal issues and having
fun on the beach.
Groups can
decide how they can help solve some of the many problems in
the coastal environment like litter, badly planned development
and uncontrolled fishing. There is regular support and advice
from WESSA and co-operation with municipalities and other authorities.
This means that now there is a national, organised opportunity
for people to tackle some of these issues.
What
are groups doing?
Because the South African coast has many special features and qualities, some
of them unique to a specific area, there is a huge range of action topics that
go beyond the suggestions in the guide. One group is taking special care of
coastal caves, another helping with seabird counts. Some have alerted the police
to poaching activities while others have collected tons of plastic. Groups
have interviewed locals to find out about the history of their beach, written
to the municipality about wastewater pipelines, built giant sand sculptures
of whales and documented plants that grow in the coastal zone. A few groups
that like maths have drawn the changing profile of their beach as sand moves
on and off it, using a cleoscope. Most now know about the currents, water temperature
shifts and animals that live on or near their part of the coast. They have
helped repair amenities, commented on development proposals, organised outings,
but also had a lot of fun.
 How
can you get involved?
There is great public interest in the programme and encouraging signs that
the care of our coast is something that many South Africans would like to get
more involved in. While there are at present only a limited number of resource
boxes, it is fairly easy to arrange one-off visits to a particular adopted
part of the coast not too far from where you live. The local group or school
will be able to tell you about what they are doing and how you can help. Contact
your nearest WESSA Regional office for details of Adopt-a-Beach groups in your
area. Should you want to participate over a longer term, you can contact WESSA
for more information.
WESSA:
WESTERN CAPE REGION (National Co-ordinators)
Tel: (021) 701 1397
Email: patrick@wessa.wcape.school.za or michelle@wessa.wcape.school.za
WESSA:
BORDER-KEI REGION
Tel: (043) 727 0726
Email: wessa@lantic.net
WESSA:
EASTERN PROVINCE REGION
Tel: (041) 585 9606
Email: cherylgd@wessaep.co.za
WESSA:
KWAZULU-NATAL REGION
TREASURE BEACH EE CENTRE
Tel: (031) 467 8507
Email: tbeach@wessakzn.org.za
WESSA:
KWAZULU-NATAL REGION
TWINSTREAMS EE CENTRE
Tel: (035) 340 2511
Email: tstream@wessakzn.org.za
WESSA:
SOUTHERN CAPE REGION
Tel: (044) 874 1249
Email: wessa.sc@mweb.co.za
DEPARTMENT
OF ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS AND TOURISM: MARINE AND COASTAL
MANAGEMENT BRANCH
T el: (021) 402 3911
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