FOR the last three years, a group of local volunteers have dedicated their time to maintain the Kabeljous Nature Reserve in Jeffreys Bay, to ensure that it is a safe and clean space for the public to enjoy.
According to Hennie Swane-velder, since the provincial conservation authorities did not have the necessary resources to manage and maintain the reserve, personnel of the local Department of Economic Development, Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DEDEAT) office, together with concerned members of the local community, established the Kabeljous Reserve Action Group (KRAG) in 2018, as a non-profit volunteer organisation.
Swanevelder, who is the chairperson of KRAG, said the NPO, which was also a public benefit organisation, was established to give legal status to the volunteer group, to enable its members to maintain and manage the reserve.
“The overall vision of KRAG is to support the conservation and management of the Kabeljous Nature Reserve, in order to preserve its unique biodiversity and provide an enhanced, beautiful and diverse natural environment that is accessible for all residents and visitors to enjoy,” said Swanevelder.
In addition to maintaining the reserve, the NPO was also currently working towards having the reserve formally declared as a nature reserve, in terms of Section 23 of the National Environmental Management Act Protected Areas Act.
Swanevelder said there were only a few active volunteers who maintained the reserve once a week, but more active hands-on volunteers were needed.
With the help of a few sponsorships of funds and material, the NPO was able to deal with the day-to-day management of the reserve which included eradicating alien vegetation, and maintaining the signage, footpaths, and footbridges over the creeks.
In addition, they provided informative maps, prints, and distributed brochures.
They have also established and opened hiking trails which they have marked and have placed benches at strategic spots throughout the reserve.
Furthermore, the group has surveyed and labelled almost 100 of the most obvious plant species with tree tags.
“The KRAG volunteers have also played an important role in research and citizen science initiatives, such as documenting the fauna and flora species of the reserve,” said Swanevelder.
Apart from surveying the various plant species, they have also surveyed mammals in the reserve and regularly worked on erosion control.
Swanevelder said since the NPO began maintaining the reserve, the area has seen more people visiting the reserve for walks, trail running, mountain biking, angling, bird watching and botanising.
“The levels of use are steadily increasing, and many people enjoy the recreation, exercise, scenic vistas and biota of the reserve, especially over weekends and during holidays,” said Swanevelder.
“Being on the doorstep of Jeffreys Bay, the reserve provides an ideal place for people to enjoy and reconnect with nature, and it is an asset to the tourism sector of the Kouga region.”
Swanevelder said despite receiving some funding, the NPO needed much more funding to continue the work they do in the reserve.
He said donations could be made via Snapscan or by placing cash in the ‘honesty box’ at the entrance of the reserve.
Swanevelder said the preservation of reserves was important as it contains irreplaceable biodiversity.
In addition, he said the Kabeljous Nature Reserve is in a well-recognised conservation priority area.
“It contains a number of threatened flora species and a threatened vegetation type known as Humansdorp Shale Renosterveld,” said Swanevelder.
“The reserve is also incredibly diverse, with a total of five different types of vegetation.”
Apart from working tirelessly towards formally declaring Kabeljous Reserve as a nature reserve, they also hope to expand the reserve in the future by including neighbouring state-owned land as part of the reserve.
“To achieve these goals, we need the public to become actively involved in KRAG and advocate for this,” said Swanevelder.
For more information visit the Kabeljous Reserve Action Group Facebook page, their website
www.6330krag.wordpress.com/
or email Hennie Swanevelder on swanevelderh@gmail.com.
