Workshop 29 September 2012 | eThekwini Natural Resources Parks, Leisure & Cemeteries Department

Crispin on his birthday celebrating FOPV and his 65th

Jabulani Mthethwa

Prof Baijnath and his passion

Vuyi Radebe Thabethe thanking Prof Baijnath

Jean Lindsey, KZNCA, thanking Thami Kunene who received the certificate on behalf of  the Friends of Virginia Bush

eThekwini’s Vuyi Radebe Thabethe from the department of  Natural Resources Parks, Leisure & Cemeteries Department, organised a workshop, together with her department,  for stakeholders within the city who are contributing to greening and enhancing biodiversity through conservation efforts.  These are volunteers from community based organisation ranging from communities in Folweni to Lamontville as well as the formalised conservancies registered with the KwaZulu-Natal Conservancies Association and Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, and non-government organisations.

The full programme covered talks by several speakers such as Crispin Hemson on the work of the Friends of Pigeon Valley, Virginia Cameron of Birdlife Port Natal, young impassioned Jabulani Mthethwa from the Ngqondozethu Conservancy,  Bongi Khanyile  from the Folweni members group, Paul Seaman from UKZN on his thesis of a “ Critical assessment of the efficacy of the D’MOSS implementation strategy in the Outer West of Durban” and last but not least by any manner of means Professor Himansu Baijnath on the city’s Kniphofia’s.

 Prof Baijnath emphasised the value of Durban’s Big 4. These are Kniphofia linearifolia (at Caversham), littoralis, pauciflora and gracilis.  The minute surviving gene pool for the Kniphofia of Durban is under severe threat as the Clairwood race course development is under discussion.   “Clairwood Racecourse is built on land that was originally a swamp and was opened on May 24, 1921. It is known as the “Garden Course” because of the fauna and flora”. http://thepropertytimes.co.za/2012/04/durbans-clairwood-racecourse-to-be-sold-for-far-more-than-municipal-valuation.html. 

Thembinkosi Ngcobo, head of Natural Resources Parks, Leisure & Cemeteries Department thanked his department and staff and all those present, emphasising the role of the municipal employee as someone who serves the people of Durban.