Volunteers remove invasive plants from Groenkloof Nature Reserve
The metro worked alongside the group, providing them with garbage bags in and bottled water to keep them hydrated on what was a very hot day.
A group of volunteers from Asez Wao removed invasive plant species from the Groenkloof nature reserve on Sunday.
The 83 volunteers formed pairs of twos and threes, rolled up their sleeves and removed the plants in a 2km radius of the reserve.
The team started at 09:00 and worked for a total of three hours and removed a tonne of plants.
This removal forms part of the organisation’s environmental protection campaign where they strive to protect the local ecosystem and biodiversity.
An official from the organisation said, “preserving the global environment is closely related to the sustainable happiness of mankind”.
“Young people joined in the work of making the forest and nature, the foundation of life, beautiful and healthy.
“I hope that more people will know the importance of environmental protection and can practice it together.”
According to a press release, the most problematic and damaging species at the reserve is the pompon.
“They reproduce and grow rapidly and consume a large amount of water.
“Also, they contribute to soil erosion and disturb the soil from receiving nutrition,” said Gavaza Tracy Masinga.
The metro approached the organisation to help them remove the plants.
Councillor Leon Kruyshaar was very impressed with their work.
“As a representative of Tshwane, I can only thank you.
“What you are doing here is marvellous and excellent. I need you and the city needs you.”
The metro worked alongside the group, providing them with garbage bags in and bottled water to keep them hydrated on what was a very hot day.
Last year, members worked hard to remove wattle trees in the Klapperkop Nature Reserve in Pretoria.
These activities all form part of the “Mother’s Forest (Planting Trees around the World)” initiative to restore the habitat of life by creating green forests and preventing desertification.
In addition, other environmental initiatives such as No More GPGP (plastic waste reduction), Green Earth (street/park clean-up), and Blue Ocean (beach/sea clean-up) are held in Pretoria, Atteridgeville, Riefontein, Nellmapius, etc.
It was also conducted in various parts of South Africa, including Cape Town, Johannesburg, Eswatini, and Sedibeng.
“We hope to carry out more of these initiatives with more citizens in our country so that nature may be preserved for the future generation”.
Member Chanelle Booysen was glad to get involved and make a difference.
“Today I am so glad to join this meaningful volunteer activity.
“By removing the alien species, we can preserve water and plants so that our environment can be protected,” she said.
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