Newsletters

The December 2009 Newsletter is out! If you want to read it in an A4 format or download the pdf to print click here: December 2009 pdf Alternatively read on.

KNRA NEWS DECEMBER 2009

SILENT POOL ENTRANCE TO KNR GETS A FACELIFT
The Silent Pool entrance to the KNR has been given a facelift, thanks to a generous donation from the learners and staff of Hartford College and two of KNRA’s long standing members, Mark and Nicola Forbes. The new entrance, that was designed, built and financed by the college and the Forbes family, has effectively transformed the entire area.

The learners and staff of Hartford College have a close association with the nature reserve. Apart from conservation and the environment being an integral part of their curriculum, they physically spend time in the KNR on a regular basis. Regarding the new precinct, Nicola Forbes said that the learners and staff of the college wanted to increase their involvement in the reserve by doing something tangible.
After considering several suggestions they decided to give the Silent Pool entrance to the reserve a face-lift. Silent Pool has always lacked any formality as an entrance, in fact at times it looked positively “tacky.” Plans where drawn and submitted to Johannesburg City Parks, who not only approved the project but also welcomed the College’s participation.

Raising the money to pay for the project was always going to be a massive undertaking. After considering the various options the College decided to start a “brown money” savings campaign. According to Nicola, this was an ideal way of accumulating the money needed for the project. It also eliminated the stress of having to organise special fund raising events. The result of the Hartford College campaign was that the children and their parents had saved enough money to pay for the bulk of the cost of constructing the new entrance.

Meredale Primary School organised a similar “brown money” funds raiser, earlier in the year. Their campaign was also a huge success and KNRA received a substantial donation as a result of their efforts.

Mark Forbes said that the children spend time in the reserve as part of their education. The fact that the school building is within walking distance of Silent Pool, means that the children have easy access to the reserve. Their hope is to create an early awareness and appreciation for conservation, the environment and nature in general, in the children. This early exposure to the bio-diversity of the KNR, would hopefully have an ongoing influence in their lives.

The new entrance gate consists of two stout stone pillars, covered by a thatched roof. The metal coping across the top of the thatch is embossed with guinea fowl. All the grass used for the thatching was harvested in the nature reserve. The area has been further enhanced by the trees that have been planted around the new entrance. A black eagle, cast in fibre glass, has been mounted on a tall steel pole which revolves with the wind, creating an effective wind vane. Mounted on one of the pillars is a plague recording the involvement of the learners and staff of Hartford College in the project. Tribute is also paid to the time and effort that the current KNRA Chairman, Clem Kourie has devoted to the nature reserve overs the past 30 years.

The official unveiling ceremony was held on Friday, 5 October at the Silent Pool entrance. Several KNRA members were among the 30 odd people who attended the ceremony. Cnl. Ann Boxall, was there, as was Bishop Ngobeli the recently appointed JCP manager of nature reserves.

In his address to the gathering Mark Forbes outlined the school’s involvement with the “brown money” project and he thanked the children and their parents for their enthusiastic support. He asked Bishop Ngobeli to cut the ribbon and officially declare the new gate open. In recognition of the event, Mark made two token presentations, the first was to Bishop Ngobeli for agreeing to officially open the gate on behalf of JCP and the second to Clem Kourie current KNRA Chairman, in recognition of his 30 years of involvement with the KNR. The ceremony ended with the learners from Hartford College entertaining the gathering with a selection of the songs and with tea and biscuits at the college.

Mark Forbes has played a significant role in the affairs of the KNRA for a number of years. He is recognised as the local authority pertaining to Land Swaps and in recent months he has been the motivating factor in negotiating the acquisition of several pieces of land that, if developed could have a detrimental affect on the reserve.

EDITOR'S COMMENT
Pity the people whose job it is to ensure that the Klipriviersberg Nature Reserve remains an attraction of note because at this moment in time they are on a hiding to nothing. Within the last couple of months there has been several incidents that have caused me to seriously consider whether there is an organised campaign to reduce the reserve to a piece of land, raped of all the elements that currently make it such an outstanding destination.

I wonder why it is necessary to fight an ongoing war to protect the future of something that apart from its uniqueness, should be enjoyed, improved and preserved for future generations. At the current rate of destruction there will be nothing left for future generations.

For instance, I wonder who the idiot is that was observed systematically setting fire to the grass in the reserve. His actions probably accounted for the fact that this year we lost over 80% of the reserve due to fires. This was a conscious act of vandalism!

Who were the people that were responsible for destroying the gate in Impala Road north? Unable to cut the lock off the gate, they proceeded to vent their frustration on the gate itself. Imagine the carnage if the animals had been let loose on that busy road. Then because someone else wanted free access to the reserve, they simply removed more than two metres of metal palisade on Kliprivier Drive. Once again, imagine what would have happened if the animals had found that gap.
Snares have always been a problem in the KNR but somehow they have never reached the proportion where the bigger animals are being targeted. The Association can be thankful that there are so many caring people out there who joined the snare hunt when we asked for volunteers.

Also don’t let’s overlook the fact that grain sack upon grain sack of indigenous plants and bulbs get removed from the KNR on an ongoing basis. These are muti-plant wholesalers and they are notorious for raping an area until the supply of vegetation is exhausted. The sad part is that at least 60-70% of the plants that are harvested will be thrown away because they rot before they can be used. The half-dozen trees on the eastern side of the reserve, that where ring barked are well on there way to becoming fire wood!

If we think that the 150 odd animals that live in the reserve are safe from predators, think again! Within the past two weeks one of our members reported seeing three different dogs in different areas in the reserve. Two days earlier I had seen a huge dog near the Tswana hut. These dogs are not there for exercise, as some of the owners claim, they are there to hunt. And hunt they do! Do the owners of these dogs heed our calls for their animals to be controlled and not be given free access to the reserve? Don’t hold your breath!

By and large the root cause of most problems in the KNR are caused by the vagrants who live illegally in the bush. It is also a matter of deep concern that their numbers have shown a substantial increase in the recent past. While one should feel sorry for people who do not have anywhere other than in a clump of trees in which to live, we cannot ignore the fact that the KNR is piece of land that is protected by legislation. Do we have to tolerate the wanton destruction of the environment because vagrants choose to live in the area – illegally? I think not!

Is there an answer to this onslaught? Undoubtedly the problems are diverse and all of them are serious. Furthermore, the authorities are currently working under huge budget constraints. This in itself will hamper tangible progress in effectively protecting the area.

In my opinion, what the 680 ha plus Klipriviersberg Nature Reserve needs is a full time and fully trained corps of rangers. That are permanently based in the reserve. This will enable them to cover the area on a daily basis. Perhaps it is time for JCP to bite the bullet and invest in a tangible function that will ensure the future of the KNR.

EDITOR: NOEL THORNTON (011) 682-1494

RETRACTION
In the June 2009 issue of KNR News, we published an article about a fire that had devastated the western side of the KNR. Subsequent to the publishing of the article, it was brought to the editor’s attention that some of the facts that appeared in the article were inaccurate.

In the article, we stated that the Greg Martin and his team were responsible for doing the “back-burnt” in order to prevent the fire from crossing the spruit and spreading to the eastern side of the reserve. Apparently, Greg Martin only suggested that the fire-fighters do a back-burn in order to protect the eastern side of the reserve. The JCP team that was fighting the fire was responsible for actually doing the back-burn.

We were also criticised for implying that JCP had not started burning fire breaks by late June. According to JCP they had started burning breaks as early as April. We accept their word on this point and retract our statement.

It was never our intention to be critical of or in any way denigrate JCP’s efforts at fighting the fire. Equally, the source that supplied the details about the fire is usually very reliable and not inclined to exaggerate situations. On that basis we published the facts as we received them. The editor also accepts full responsibility for his remarks relating to the fire breaks. They were made out of concern for the nature reserve and that a major fire, such as the one that we were reporting on, could occur. It was not intended as criticism of any individual.

WE NEED YOUR HELP
KNRA membership has grown in leaps and bounds over the past eighteen months. The target of 1000 members by the end of 2009, was achieved early in the year and we are on track to doubling that number by 2011. The beauty of this is that membership is made up of people with diverse backgrounds and skills but who share a common love of nature and concern for the KNR.

While the growth in membership has been encouraging, the number of people involved in running the KNRA and making sure that the stated Aims and Objectives of the Association are effectively applied, is small. We face some real challenges in trying to achieve some of the goals that have been set. For instance, we sometimes need legal advice on a variety of environmental issues. Being a volunteer organisation with a limited income, legal fees are usually higher than we can afford, so we tend to draw on past experience which is dangerous because situations differ and we sometimes come second because of this.

We badly need the assistance of a lawyer, in practice or retired, to whom we can refer legal issues for advice. Issues would relate to environmental legislation, drafting or reviewing contracts, agreements and constitutions, legal action against untoward developments in and around the reserve, etc. If past experience is any indication we would probably utilise the ‘volunteers’ services once or twice a year.
We desperately need volunteer environmental specialists of all disciplines. We have developed a comprehensive bird list and plant list, but we need people to research and document the geology of the reserve, the animals, reptiles, spiders and scorpions. We need environmental management skills to develop a game management policy and for advice on issues such as fire management, bush encroachment, invasive species, etc. The list is endless. If you have a skill, rest assured we can use it.

Maybe your interest lies in research? Particularly if it is directed towards history and genealogy. The KNR is probably the most historically diverse area in Johannesburg and we suspect that there is a wealth of knowledge about the area of which the KNRA is unaware.

Again, maybe you are a secretary, retired or otherwise and you are looking for an outlet for your skills, on a volunteer basis. Give us a call and we guarantee that you will be kept busy. Not fulltime but busy and you won’t even have to attend committee meetings. Also if you are an experienced fund raiser and would like to share your important skills give us a call. We could use some solid advice in this regard.

The KNRA web-site has been a major contributor to the recent growth of the Association. If we are to continue reaping the benefit from this site we need to keep it current and informative. To do this we need an experience person who would be willing to assist Philip Tarboton with the management of the site. The basics are all there all that will be necessary is maintaining the site. Writing skills will be a major advantage.

The beauty of volunteering your assistance is that you will be contributing to the preservation and well being of a very special area. You will also be contributing towards building a well organised and knowledgeable association. Give us a call. Noel Thornton on (011) 682-1494 or e-mail him on ngjthorn@telkomsa.net

WE WANT TO IMPROVE OUR COMMUNICATION
If you have an existing e-mail address that you have not given to us or if you have acquired an address subsequent to joining the Association, or changed your address recently, help us to save money and improve communication by sending your e-mail details to: clemkourie@gmail.com or thavarani@telkomsa.net. Confidentiality is guaranteed.

NEW KNRA EXCO FOR 2009/2010 SHOWS SEVERAL CHANGES
At the 2008/2009 Annual General Meeting of the Association two new members were elected onto the committee. The new members are Len Edwards and Lea Brash.

Vice-Chairman in 2008/2009 and the associations bird expert, Philip Tarboton was not available for re-election. His resignation has left a huge gap on the committee because of his commitment and dedication to the association and his pragmatic approach to the work of the committee. Fortunately, he is still active in the association, through his involvement in birds and birding. He will also continue to manage the KNRA web-site.

At the first meeting of the new committee, Clem Kourie was re-elected Chairman, Tavarani Pillay was elected Vice-Chair, Tony Ferguson retains the position of Treasurer, Noel Thornton was re-elected as Secretary. The remaining committee members are Christine Loukakis, Len Edwards and Lea Brash. The election of Tavarani as Vice-Chair reflects the Exco’s determination to introduce younger people to top positions in the organisation. She is young and energetic and it is hoped these factors will add a new dimension to the management of the KNRA.
The new Aims and Objectives for the Association have been incorporated in the 2009/10 Business Plan. Updating the existing aims and objectives became necessary in order to cope with the changing environment in which we operate.
The have also been some changes in the convening of the various portfolios. Thavarani Pillay will assume sole responsibility for the Membership Portfolio, Tony Ferguson will continue to organise the Guiding Portfolio. Maintenance and Management will be the responsibility of Clem Kourie and Noel Thornton. Noel will also convene the Publicity Portfolio. Thavarani will be responsible for feeding information onto the KNRA website.

Clem Kourie will remain responsible for Legal matters and Liaison with other parties and he will also look after Land Matters. Christine Loukakis will be responsible for Fund Raising. The important Enviromental Management portfolio is still short of a convener. Responsibility for Working Groups, also a very important function, will be that of Len Edwards. Education will become the responsibility of Lea Brash.

KNR Birdlist passes 200 mark
The month of November broke a couple of records on the birding calendar. No less than four new birds to the reserve were identified, an African Spoonbill and a Purple Heron were seen flying over, sadly a Woodland Kingfisher was found lying dead on a path in the valley and the NOT so common Common Cuckoo was spotted, down near the farmhouse - the latter 3 all seen on the regular monthly birdwalk. So those that decided to stay tucked up in bed on that cold wet Saturday morning - eat your heart out!

114 different bird species were identified during the month of November passing the last best monthly total, from 2008, by 12 species.

The overall total of different species for the reserve now stands at 202!

Bits and Pieces
We recently received a report that hikers had discovered some large snares in the wooded areas on the eastern side of the KNR. Those that were subsequently removed had obviously been set with the sole purpose of catching larger animals. While snares have always been a problem in the reserve this was the first time that such large snares had been found. In order to assess how serious the problem is the committee decided to organise a snare hunt. The event was held on Saturday, 3 October and over 90 volunteers took part. The large number of participants enabled the whole of the eastern side of the reserve to be thoroughly combed. Fortunately, not many snares where found but those that were, confirmed that larger animals were being targeted. The hunt also highlighted the growing problem of vagrants in the area. JCP has already begun taking steps to remove them.

For the past few months Sue Thiele has been conducting an anti-Wattle tree campaign in the reserve. She has devoted one Saturday a month to what seems to be an overwhelming task. A band of regular volunteers, remove, cut, slash and poison as many of the invasive specie as possible. Furthermore, anyone can help themselves to the trees that have been cut. Wattle as braai-wood?
The KNRA Exco would like to remind members that there are still a number of Kiepersol trees for sale. Prices depend on the size of the tree but are still considerably cheaper than the local nurseries. The seeds where taken from trees that are growing in the reserve. The Kiepersol or Cabbage tree is indigenous, fast growing and an asset in any garden. Trees and prices can be obtained at our fortnightly walks that start at Silent Pool.

On the subject of items for sale, the committee is also offering a really comprehensive, quick reference bird guide. Entitled “Birds of Jo’burg” it is co-edited by Philip Tarboton, the KNR birdman. The beauty of this Quick Guide is that it has most of the birds one is likely to see in Johannesburg. It is magnificently reproduced in colour, using high quality photographs with the salient points of each specie clearly highlighted. This is a must for those looking for ideas for Christmas presents. At R65.00 it’s a steal! Part of the proceeds from the sale of the Guide will be donated to the KNRA. They are on display at our walks. While you are look-ing at the Quick Guide be sure to also have a look at the KNRA brochures that are on sale. Printed in full colour they also contain a map of the hiking trails in the reserve. These items are available from Clem Kourie (082 458 2816) if you need in a hurry!