The journey to formally proclaim Bisley Nature Reserve as a protected reserve is gaining momentum, with the first major step completed and the next in reach.

The reserve’s status as a conservation area under municipal laws, can still be overturned in council which is why Friends of Bisley Nature Reserve (FoBNR) is now aiming for protection under national legislation.

At the FoBNR annual general meeting held last Thursday, committee members, community stakeholders and representatives from organisations such as Snare Aware and Remington Risk Management, gathered to discuss key projects and the proclamation process.

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Overcoming obstacles

FoBNR chairperson Peter West said while Bisley is currently zoned as a protected conservation area under municipal bylaws, its status could still be overturned with a council vote. Proclamation would provide long-term protection through national legislation.

“The only way to ensure permanence is by having it proclaimed through an act of parliament, a protracted and arduous process requiring professional management.

“Back in 2020, Dr Edith Elliott had the foresight to realise this and obtained the substantial funding from a benefactor for the process,” West said.

The first hurdle was the need for a map signed off by the surveyor general. Msunduzi Municipality, which co-manages the reserve, lacked the capacity and equipment for this.

FoBNR was able to connect with a non-profit specialising in proclamations and a benefactor who helped them overcome the obstacle.

A complicated process ahead

At the meeting, Cilla Hilcove, from the NGO Conservation Outcomes, said this first step also included an expert-led assessment to determine if Bisley qualifies under the strict criteria for proclamation.

The fact that the reserve is jointly managed by the municipality and the University of KwaZulu-Natal under a memorandum of agreement (MOA), adds another complication to the next step in the process.

The next step is the management authority, which will have the legal power and obligation to run the reserve

“Among these documents, I need proof of ownership, which is part of the reason this process is taking long. Additionally, a managing body needs to be elected between the university and municipality,” Hilcove said.

Once a management authority is confirmed, the application will be submitted to the MEC for Environmental Affairs. A 60-day public notice will follow, during which objections may be raised. If none are received, a consultation report is compiled and sent to the MEC.

“The MEC will then publish a final gazette, where Bisley will go on the South African national registry as a protected nature reserve. It contributes to the national targets and is statutorily protected, opposed to a lower agreement which can be overturned,” Hilcove said.

West added that the existing MOA will need to be renewed before March 2028. “These are matters which need to be ironed out in the year. FoBNR in the meantime finds itself in the middle with scant knowledge in these matters,” he said.