Biodiversity Preservation

Left: The joyful sight of fynbos returning to the Baviaanskloof, thanks to Thrive’s donors and hardworking Team (July 2019).

Invasive Alien Clearing Project

Thrive employs a team of alien clearers to work on the slopes surrounding Hout Bay, to keep them clear of Port Jackson Willow and other invasive alien vegetation. This work continues thanks to the generous financial support of Ian Liddle and Sandra van Hoogstraten, a Camps Bay couple who are generously investing in Hout Bay’s precious biodiversity. We owe them a huge vote of thanks.

Background

Imagine Hout Bay was a community needs assessment conducted in 2004, and the survey identified as one of the community’s top three priorities, the need to protect and preserve the natural beauty of Hout Bay and its surroundings.

Project History

After the March 2015 fire, the Thrive Invasive Clearing team started working on the Baviaanskloof slope clearing Port Jackson Willow species.
On average, during these four years, three or four team members have been employed. These clearers are trained to spot problem plants and eradicate them.
Herbicide is supplied by SANParks.
In June 2018, the team started to clear on Chapman’s Peak Drive, with weekly follow-ups in Baviaanskloof.
Entilini allows the Thrive team access in and out.

Way Forward

In August 2019, the team will begin clearing Stinkbean in the area below the road, near the day pass turnaround.
The dedicated 3-man team will continue to work 4 days per week, and will do follow-ups on Chapman’s Peak Drive and Baviaanskloof to ensure regrowth of alien vegetation does not occur in the previously cleared areas.

School Biodiversity Gardens

As part of the Local Food Project, Thrive is encouraging a Biodiversity component in all of our school and community gardens. The Thrive Local Food and Biodiversity Supervisor is available to give free advice, workshops, and if possible, free plants sourced from local donors. Contact us on zikhona@thrive.org.za or info@thrive.org.za to ask for help in your bio garden endeavours! This focus area was initiated in early 2019 in order to align our activities with the Biodiversity theme for the Sustainable Schools QuizArt and Audit program. It will be an ongoing priority for Thrive, to encourage and support biodiversity efforts close to home, as this is one of the Thrive’s most important pillars.

Early Project Activities prior to 2015

To support a thriving and bio-diverse environment Thrive school mentors participate in and encourage restoration of natural areas in our environment. For example during August 2011 Thrive mentors, in conjunction with Kronendal Primary Eco Club, invited Hout Bay residents to join a peaceful, silent, protest requesting that the City of Cape Town’s environmental custodians enforce the rehabilitation of an infilled section of wetland at the Disa River mouth on Princess Ave. This Thrive community action supported court action instituted by the Ratepayers Association of Hout Bay. The developer was forced to remove the rubble it had dumped in the wetlands and it’s plans to build more luxury housing in that area have been scrapped.

Protest to save wetlands – Kronendal Eco Club.

Thrive has focused on building strong stakeholder relations over the years.