FOR the past 30 years, with the help of various fund-raising efforts and donations from their members, Foster (Friends of St Francis Bay Nature Areas), which consisted of a group of eight volunteers, has continued to maintain and preserve at least four nature reserves in Cape St Francis Bay.
According to the chairperson of the organisation, Professor Emeritus Richard Cowling, who is a distinguished professor of the African Centre for Coastal Paleoscience at the Department of Botany at Nelson Mandela University, Foster is a public benefit organisation (PBO) which cares for the four nature reserves surrounding Cape St Francis, namely, Seal Point Nature Reserve, Cape St Francis Nature Reserve, Irma Booysen Nature Reserve and Seal Bay Nature Reserve which spans across 250ha.
In addition, the organisation ensures that the reserves are accessible to the greater community and visitors.
“Thanks to Foster’s efforts over the past 30 years, our region has four well-managed nature reserves, each with unique natural and recreational features, providing residents and visitors with many services,” said Cowling.
“Some of the services which are offered include recreation, nature appreciation, fire hazard reduction and enhancement of property values. There are also many walking trails and clearly demarcated cycle trails.”
Cowling said as part of their efforts to take care of the nature reserves, they have continued to develop and maintain the walking trails and relevant signage.
They have also cleared invasive alien trees, snares, and other threats.
In addition, they have placed four cameras at various nature reserves to monitor human and animal trafficking in the reserves and they have worked hard to promote awareness with regular updates on their Facebook page and other local media.
“Our vision is to conserve, maintain, protect, and provide access to the biodiversity of the reserves managed by Foster, whilst promoting active stewardship of the environment,” said Cowling.
Among their various projects which the organisation was currently working on included producing a functional website to provide updated and easy to use trail maps and arrange for new signage for the reserves.
In addition, they planned to arrange that maintenance of shared pedestrian and cycle paths be funded equally between the St Francis Cycle Club and the Foster organisation.
“We plan to have dedicated cycle paths to be funded by the cycle club. Lighthouse paths need top priority, as they are badly degraded in places and experience the most pedestrian pressure,” said Cowling.
Furthermore, the organisation planned to arrange for firebreaks and firefighting access trails to be cut and maintained.
The organisation has been managed by a committee of eight dedicated volunteers from the community with different skills sets and all money raised through memberships, donations and fund-raising have been used to maintain the reserves.
“The organisation’s operational costs are approximately R80 000 per annum, amounting to R250 per hectare,” said Cowling.
He said unfortunately, despite the organisation’s efforts to increase its membership, it remained at about 100 members per year which brought in about R30 000 of the R80 000 needed for operational costs with the balance raised through fund-raising.
Cowling further said as a result, there was very little funding available for new or additional projects.
- For more info visit the Foster’s website foster.org.zaor their Facebook page.
