Working to create a new proclaimed Nature Reserve stretching from the bottom of Fields Hill to the N3 Toll Gate, unlocking an undervalued stretch of environmentally important land.
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Background
The eThekwini Metro Area is in an ongoing process of urbanisation with continuous influx of people from rural areas and beyond. This is happening in a period of concerning Climate Change which impacts on the city’s resilience and ability to provide the necessary eco-system services. Within this context the importance of preserving valuable open spaces and endangered habitats becomes paramount and the preservation of the Ingwe Escarpment Conservation Project area has been identified by the eThekwini Municipality Biodiversity Management Department and the Kloof Conservancy as one area which can make a meaningful impact towards the city’s resilience.
The Project Area
Travelling west from Durban on the N3 and M13, and leaving the top of Cowies Hill on the R103 Old Main Road, is the magnificent view of Kloof’s southern escarpment – a view often taken for granted.
This seven kilometre almost pristine escarpment is situated between the M13 (Fields Hill) and the N3 (with Mariannhill Toll Gate). The escarpment is situated on the edge of Kloof (including Abrey Road, Peace Road, the Kloof Country Club, Glenholm Nature Reserve and the SPCA, Park Lane, St Mary’s and Edgecliffe Drive) and overlooks Maxmead, Motala, Westmead and Mahogany Ridge.
From the east the area comprises the Edgecliff Conservation Area (now incorporating the Cheesman Reserve), the Glenholm Gorge, the Motala-Peace Road Grasslands, Tanglewood Farm Nature Reserve and the Nkonka Trust conservation area. In the 1980’s the Ingweni Trail traversed this entire escarpment – winding around to St. Heliers and then back to Krantzkloof.
The area is home to the headwaters of the Umbilo River, an important habitat for the endangered Kloof Frog (Natalobatrachus bonebergi) as well as the endangered Blood-red Gladiolus (Gladiolus cruentus).
The area is stunningly rich in its biodiversity – combining grasslands, ravines and gorges, cliff faces, waterfalls, pools, springs and two headwater tributaries to the Umbilo River. A part of its uniqueness and value is the KZN Sourveld Sandstone grasslands. The grasslands are in good conditioned – but like all urban green areas – increasingly threatened by urban development and creeping sprawl.
The First Steps
In February 2023 a small group of concerned and interested residents approached the Kloof Conservancy with a not new, but a fresh vision to create a consolidated protected environmental heritage conservation area. The Kloof Conservancy has since taken this on as one of its major projects. During 2023, four meetings were held with the City and an interim Steering Committee set up in July 2023. The process of stakeholder engagement and mobilisation culminated in a half day Vision 2030 workshop [30 November 2023] – involving 20 stakeholder interests, and 42 participants. The broad vision and commitment to a protected and managed conservation area was enthusiastically endorsed. A number of naming options were considered. A more formalised Joint Steering Committee was mandated to continue working with the City to realise the vision. At their first meeting in January, the Steercom endorsed the name – The INGWE Conservation Area.
The Current Status
During this time, a growing lead group of residents have been walking and exploring all facets of the escarpment.
The community is raising resources to begin the clearing of alien invasives and opening up pathway trails. The Nkonka Trust area and Tanglewood are advanced in their management.
The project area can be easily accessed by the public at three points:
- At the end of Cambrium Drive (off Jerome Drive) – there is a very pleasant 1,5 km walk along a pathway extending from the cul-de-sac at the end of Cambrium Drive into the Edgecliff conservation area.
- At the Peace Road corner, 500 meters through and past the Kloof golf course. A network of pathways has been developed giving access down to the cliff edge with wonderful views of Glenholm gorge and continuing onto the Motala-Peace Road Grasslands.
- At the Nkonka Trust at the end of Haygarth Road – with some lovely west facing view sites and a set of about 8 km of walking trails.
Next Steps
The project is running at two levels:
Level 1: The Legislative Process to reach Protected Area Status
This involves discussions with all stake holders on the technical issues to find the best legal process to create a Nature Reserve bearing in mind the fragmented ownership of the various parcel of land which are involved. This is a complex process involving multiple stakeholders and is driven primarily by eThekwini Municipality’s Biodiversity Management Department.
Level 2: The Ecological Land Restoration and Rehabilitation Process
This involves on the ground ecological restoration of the various parcels of land where restoration is needed including the control of invasive alien species and grassland fire management. This is being done as a joint partnership between the Municipality (who provide resources) and the community, including members of the Kloof Conservancy and members of the public that give their volunteer time to do ecological restoration work.
An ongoing stakeholder engagement process is a key component of the project.
Contact/Donate
Any interested persons should please contact Steve Hobbs who is our Project Leader – for more information or to become involved in some way: 082 5583 070 or steve@rgaconsulting.com.
Donate to this project
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Please leave a donation using Your Name + Ingwe as the beneficiary details so that the donation can be allocated to the project.