WATCH: Mdumbi Green Fair music festival to go green by planting 600 indigenous trees and plants
Festival-goers can experience a wide range of educational and interactive activities for the whole family during the three-day event. There is plenty to do and see focused on sustainability and green living.
In an effort to afforest the Mdumbi area, there will be a mass greening initiative during the Mdumbi Green Fair Music Festival that will be held from May, 18 to 20 in the scenic Nyandeni village of Tshani.
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Every year, invasive species, livestock, and unsustainable use threaten the unique forests of the Wild Coast. This initiative calls attention to these issues and invites festival goers to make a difference.
https://www.facebook.com/mdumbigreenfair/videos/1446335945476862/
The festival will raise awareness around the ongoing efforts by Transcape to rehabilitate the entire Mdumbi Point Forest, create opportunities to educate people around the importance of forests and will eventually even bring a lasting economic boost to the area by starting small nurseries in the community to help with rehabilitation efforts.
Wayne Barton, representative of one of the festival’s chief sponsors Tata Waste, said he sees the planting of these 600 trees, shrubs and indigenous flowering plants (from 30 different indigenous species) as an enormous challenge, but in that challenge, they see opportunity to engage with everyday South Africans about caring for their environment.
Many South Africans are unaware of the impact humans have on our forests, and how much of our land needs reforestation – he continued to say.
Apart from its reforestation efforts, this event will feature live entertainment from some of South Africa’s top acts including Richard Stirton – the winner of The Voice SA and top-rated electronic duo the Kiffness.
Local sustainable businesses, food markets, cultural demonstrations and a host of regional and local artists, will keep the whole family entertained throughout the weekend.
Festival-goers can experience a wide range of educational and interactive activities for the whole family during the three-day event.
There is plenty to do and see focused on sustainability and green living, from the mass greening initiative to readily available information on recycling and waste reduction, with waste sorting training and services provided for and by the locals to ensure that the festival itself leaves as little a carbon footprint as possible.
By actively clearing invasive species and planting a diversity of indigenous trees and plants in this once densely forested area, we aim to effectively control alien vegetation in the area, conserve the biodiversity of this unique environment and increase its surface area for future generations and the many creatures that depend on it for their survival.
The rehabilitation project will also contribute to employment opportunities for members of the disadvantaged local community and offer concerned individuals the opportunity to give something back to the Earth in a real and meaningful way.
The efforts during the festival are set within a greater plan and when the festival is over, the Transcape team, together with Sebenza Wholesale Farms South Coast, a leading partner in the reforestation efforts, will keep working towards a long term goal of a healthy forest and protection of the natural heritage in the Transkei. Eric Doucha, owner of Sebenza Farms, said that they were excited to be part of such a meaningful initiative.
The message from the Festival Committee spokesperson, Wayne Barton, was resounding.
If you come to the Mdumbi Green Fair, you’ll not just get good food and a great music experience, but you could go a long way to saving this Transkei coastal forest.
The reforestation efforts are spearheaded by the Tshani based NPO Transcape and Tata Waste.
About Transcape NPO: Established in 2004, Transcape aims to help the communities of the Nyandeni sub-district to tackle their significant health, social, educational and economic needs. All proceeds generated from the Festival are used for Transcape’s development initiatives in the area.
About Tata Waste: Tata Waste is a highly innovative and enterprising waste management and recycling company that offers tailor made solutions for the collection, recovery recycling and disposal of waste. They are long standing supporters and sponsors of the Mdumbi Green Fair Festival.
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