Local conservation takes centre stage
Local conservation is highlighted after the pollution of the Umbilo River a few weeks ago.
A GROUP of eco warriors and residents are to come together to form an umbrella conservancy that smaller conservancies can join to help conserve the Highway area’s natural habitats.
Mark Liptrot, founder of the Pinetown Industrial Conservancy, feels the conservancies in the vicinity of the Umbilo River and surrounding areas are reactive at the moment, and realised there was a need for an umbrella conservancy for the smaller conservancies to function under.
“We need residents to help clean the river. We’ve had river clean-ups before but we need regular maintenance,” Liptrot said.
In the past year (February 2014 to February 2015), Liptrot said there had been at least five major incidents in which the river was contaminated, adding that the river’s infrastructure is also badly damaged.
“At the moment our conservancies are very scattered. We want to unify them through the eThekwini Conservancy Forum. Conservancies need to realise that we need to work as one, and also as sub-forums,” he added.
Conservancies supporting the venture include the Kloof Conservancy and the Conservancy of the Umbilo River Valley.
A name for an umbrella conservancy for the Pinetown area will be chosen at an annual general meeting on Tuesday, 31 March at 4pm at the Green Office, Myrtle Road, Pinetown.
Conservancies in the Highway and surrounding areas are urged to attend. Contact Sadé on 031 702 3050 or email sade@greenoffice.co.za.
Watchful eyes needed for river watch
SUPPORTING Mark Liptrot’s plight is Justine Saunders, who said there is a great need for an Umbilo River Watch.
The establishment of a river watch will also be discussed at the annual general meeting. The aim of the watch is to report pollution exactly at its source, rather than reporting that the river in general is polluted.
If you would like to join the river watch, email Justine your name, address and contact number to jandhb@gmail.com.
