Since 2011, Kloof Conservancy has worked to rehabilitate this formally degraded KZN Sandstone Sourveld Grassland into an invaluable environmental asset for the Kloof community.
The property, owned by the Department of Public Works, was seriously neglected for many years prior to the start of a rehabilitation project in 2011. The area is bounded by Klooflands, Msinsi and Edwin Swales Roads as well as by some private properties and is commonly known as the Msinsi Grassland Rehabilitation Project.
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The Area
In 2011 three major biomes were identified and specific eradication and maintenance programmes developed for each one:
- Grassland/Bush clump mosaic: 63,226 m2 (western area)
- Forest and forest margin: 20,524 m2 (south eastern area)
- Riparian area, 5m each side of the stream: 1,504 m2 (central, stream flows from South to North) and riparian section of approximately 1,000 m2 along a drainage line running in a East to West direction
Since 2011 the grassland areas have been gradually extended and the bush thicket and forest areas significantly reduced. The goal is for the majority of the area (approximately 70,000 m2) to be grassland and 1500m2 along the river and drainage lines to be riverine forest.
The Challenge
Prior to 2000 the property was in serious neglect and was overrun by many invasive alien species including gum trees, camphor trees and many African flame trees. Around 2001 an intensive effort was undertaken by Kloof High School and Kloof Conservancy to rehabilitate the land and remove all IAPs. Over R100 000 was spent in an eradication programme and good progress was made but during 2008 the property was effectively once again abandoned and IAPs re-established themselves.
In 2011 Kloof High once again approached the Kloof Conservancy to assist in the rehabilitation of the land. A renewed attempt to rehabilitate the land was started in November 2011. Rehabilitation work started in November 2011 when a contractor (Rob Jamieson) was appointed to clear parts of the western section and parts of the eastern section along Msinsi. A partial grassland burn was also carried out during August 2012. Subsequent to that a schedule of regular (once per month) volunteer workdays have been undertaken and good progress has been made in the entire property with most of the aliens having been treated and paths cut to allow residents to enjoy the area.
The property is maintained by a small team of conservancy volunteers who work one Saturday per month and are supported by some of the neighbours.
Discussions are currently in process to transfer ownership of the land from KZN Public Works to eThekwini Municipality after-which the land will be declared a conservation zone thus increasing the level of environmental protection available.
Biodiversity Value
The property is described by the Environment Planning and Climate Protection Department of the eThekwini Municipality as an environmentally sensitive area. It hosts a KwaZulu-Natal Sandstone Plateau Sourveld grassland, as well as valuable wetland and a riverine forest, made more unique by being located within a built-up area.
Following a consistent intervention since 2011, the biodiversity has recovered and it is now an exceptional home for a wide range of flora and fauna species.
The rare Eulophia cucculata was recently re-discovered in the grassland – this is currently the only known site of this species in the eThekwini metro area.