There is a massive need for conservation initiatives in communities like Idas Valley, said Mark Heinstein, chief executive officer of Cape Winelands Biosphere Area. PHOTO: Kara Olivier
A local community organisation recently held an arbor walk and tree planting ceremony in the Idas Valley Nature Area in celebration of National Arbor Month.
This is according to Etienne Basson, co-founder of Idas Valley Community Trails. The guided walk took place on 6 September in collaboration with Stellenbosch Municipality, according to Basson.
The day culminated in the nature reserve where participants were awarded medals after they helped plant wild olive trees, said Basson.
“This year’s [Arbor Month] theme is extremely significant, especially in the Idas Valley Nature area, which was previously a plantation,” said Janette Hutton, the technical officer at the Stellenbosch University department of botany and zoology. GRAPHIC: Kara Olivier. INFORMATION: Department of forestry, fisheries and the environment
A greener Idas Valley
Idas Valley Community Trails is a “community organisation that aims to provide a safe recreational space for residents and tourists in Idas Valley”, according to Basson.
The event aimed to highlight the work done by members of Idas Valley Community Trails and their vision to change the Idas Valley natural landscape from prominently invasive species to indigenous vegetation, said Basson.
“Trees such as pine and gum are alien invasives that have a negative effect on the environment by out-competing indigenous species,” said Janette Hutton, technical officer at the Stellenbosch University department of botany and zoology.
Removing these species from the Idas Valley Nature Area can have a positive impact on anything from tourism and environmental education to water levels, said Mark Heistein, chief executive officer of the Cape Winelands Biosphere Area.
“The arbor walk is definitely an example of what can be accomplished by people who are passionate and want to see benefit to their community,” said Janette Hutton, the technical officer at the Stellenbosch University department of botany and zoology. Photo 1 (from left): Eon Hendrikse and Rozetta Hendrikse. Photo 2: Devino Meyer. Area. PHOTOS: Supplied/Etienne Basson
Stakeholder commitment
Stakeholder commitment is crucial to the success of environmental initiatives, according to Eon Hendrikse, co-founder of Idas Valley Community Trails.
Members of the Idas Valley community, local walking groups, the Cape Winelands Biosphere Area and the Stellenbosch University botany and zoology department attended the Idas Valley Community Trails’ community walk, said Basson.
Small, focused events like these will go a long way to get community buy-in and support.
Some participants “had never walked in Idas Valley and now have a sense of our trails”, said Basson. “The diverse group participating in the walk speaks to creating an inclusive recreational space.”
Restoring the indigenous plant life is “going to be a long process but small, focused events like these will go a long way to get community buy-in and support”, said Basson.
“[The arbor walk] also signified a commitment from Stellenbosch Municipality to support Idas Valley Community Trails in our vision to create a safe and inclusive recreational [space] for the locals and tourists,” said Etienne Basson, co-founder of Idas Valley Community Trails. Photo 1: The medals were handed out by a Tammy Leibrandt, an environmental manager at Stellenbosch Municipality. Photo 2 (from left): Tammy Leibrandt, Adolf Adams and Eon Hendrikse. PHOTOS: Supplied/Etienne Basson
Ownership and understanding
There is a lack of environmental awareness around conservation and green initiatives in “under-resourced communities”, said Basson. “Public open spaces in our communities are normally neglected and greening initiatives do not get community buy-in.”
Green infrastructure is key to building more resilient communities [and] combatting the effects of climate change.
Restoring the natural biodiversity of Idas Valley is impossible without a sense of ownership and understanding from the local community, said Heinstien. “[Conservation efforts] should be an equitable conversation and not a top-down conversation.”
“Green infrastructure is key to building more resilient communities [and] combatting the effects of climate change,” according to Basson.
Initiatives like the arbor walk allows stakeholders in the Idas Valley community to “tackle environmental issues as a collective”, said Mark Heinstein, chief executive officer of Cape Winelands Biosphere Area. AUDIO: Kara Olivier