Protection of reserve vital
FROM THE NAHOON POINT NATURE RESERVE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE
Nahoon Point Nature Reserve is one of Buffalo City’s last connections to the story of our evolutionary past, containing human and animal tracks that date back 124,000 years.
In 2004, the reserve was proclaimed a municipal reserve, however, the municipal maintenance and development thereof has been sorely lacking and without intervention from the authorities, the reserve’s potential as a world class resource for education and tourism is irrecoverable.
The Nahoon Point Nature Reserve Management Committee was established to assist the municipal authorities in developing and preserving the area.
The committee’s objectives revolve around promoting the reserve as a heritage site and to “disseminate information relevant to the significance of the area”.
But without the local authority’s commitment “the future of this diverse and beautiful space hangs in the balance” says chairperson of the committee and East London museum natural scientist, Kevin Cole.
Cole believes that concern for the reserve is lacking because while most big metro’s have a dedicated conservation section with a senior managerial position, Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality (BCMM) does not.
In the past two decades, the local authorities have not allocated a staff contingent or a budget to manage the reserve and the area has been left vulnerable to damage and burglary.
Cole says that without protection and security afforded by a staff compliment, “groups of people traverse the reserve on occasion without cognisance of the potential damage they may be causing to our natural and cultural heritage.
“These groups are not under the guidance of qualified guides recognised by the reserve management … shell middens have been tampered with and stone tools removed. No rehabilitation has taken place on some pathways in question.”
According to Cole and the East London museum, in time, the reserve will reveal more information about our prehistoric past as scientists continue to study it, therefore, protecting the reserve is essential.
“Legislation is listed in the Heritage Resources Act to protect the NPNR but without proper control such as limiting
the number of visitors in certain parts of the reserve, the threat of irreversible damage and loss of cultural and natural history attributes is very real.”
Aside from appointing a dedicated conservation department, Cole believes Buffalo City Municipality should give consideration to a “Private Public Partnership to manage the reserve.
“Here a partnership between BCMM and civil society could draw on resources and expertise and perhaps financial aid to properly and effectively implement environmental and heritage legislation in the management of this unique area.
“This should be backed up by a management plan for the reserve and collaboration can
be made with the Nahoon Estuary Management Forum and the Eastern Cape Parks and Tourism agency to further strengthen biodiversity conservation.”
Visitors must be vigilant in protecting the reserve.
This includes adhering to designated pathways and boardwalks, not walking on the dune forests, keeping pets on a leash when using the boardwalks and pathways and not littering.
“The reserve is a wonderful space to re-connect to nature and needs to be respected as was done by the early beachcombers who left only their footprints and neat, wellplaced piles of shells as evidence they were there,” says Cole.