KwaZulu-Natal

From mountains to coastline, WESSA members actively safeguard KZN’s precious natural resources.

Part of WESSA since 1960, the heart of conservation in KwaZulu-Natal is uMngeni Valley near Howick, which was bought by WESSA members in the 1970s.

The KZN region has nine affiliate members and seven branches several of which have been in existence for more than 40 years. They are: Durban; Upper South Coast; Kingsburgh; Sani; Midlands; Lower South Coast; and Highway. The branches play an important role in networking with the conservancies of which there are 85 in the KZN region.

Currently, the main projects and focus areas of the region are:

• environmental education
• sponsorship of disadvantaged schools,
• teacher and student support
• marine and reserve ecosystem restoration
• environmental monitoring
• advocacy and representation.

The Region is in the process of building partnerships and networking with a number of local groups and organisations. These initiatives focus on building sustainability in urban communities, skills development, environmental education, mentorship, and creating opportunities for income generation.

We collaborate with the Inner City Faith-based Conservancy, to campaign around waste. Other focus areas are food gardens, green roofs, water and energy audits for companies, skills development and green job creation.

KwaZulu-Natal Projects

Durban: Tree Labelling Project

This is part of an ongoing project to label trees in public spaces and is a joint initiative of WESSA Durban Branch and the eThekwini Metro Parks & Natural Resources Department. It aims to raise awareness of Durban’s wonderful natural resources and to help people distinguish indigenous and exotic trees.

Upper South Coast Branch: Umbogavango Nature Reserve Education Project

Umbogavango Nature Reserve was created by the 13 industrial companies that form part of the Umbogintwini Industrial Association (UIA.) The reserve celebrated its centenary in 2008. The Umbogavango Educational Resource Centre is managed and maintained by AECI, which also funds the Umbogavango Nature Reserve Education Project, a comprehensive educational programme for rural primary school children from the Amanzimtoti area.

This programme is run under the auspices of the Upper South Coast committee and includes a yearly internship for a  third year student from the Department of Conservation at MUT (Mangosuthu University of Technology.) The intern makes contact with the schools and organises for the children to be brought in by taxi. They then spend a morning having lessons and nature walks through the reserve. In addition the student is involved in carrying out individual research projects for her diploma within the Reserve and at Treasure Beach and assists in judging those schools in the area that are part of the School Beautification programme.

The School Beautification programme was begun in 1992 by the Department of Environmental Health and WESSA. Since then, government and municipal departments such as the DAEA and DSW, as well as other organisation and companies such as AECI have come on board. A wide variety of teaching materials are available at the Centre provided by WESSA and the courses are in line with the syllabus for primary school pupils with a particular emphasis on the protection of wetlands, and the conservation of the indigenous tree and bird life within the reserve. Over 200 birds and 100 indigenous trees are found within the 36 hectare reserve as well as a variety of small mammals and snakes.

Branches & Affiliates

• Durban Branch
• Highway Branch
• Southern KZN Branch
• Sani Banch
• Midlands Branch
• Umgeni Estuary Conservancy
• Coastwatch
• Friends of Pigeon Valley
• KZN Waste Minimisation & Recycling Forum