Blog

27/10/21

The MAJAKANENG HIKING TRAIL PROJECT team and invited guests workshopped how to tackle environmental challenges and promote sustainable land use in the Majakaneng community lands. The workshop was expertly facilitated by CapaSity, and the team are so grateful for the interest and participation showed by the Bojanala District Municipality Department of Health and Environment, the NW regional forestry branch of the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment, and some Magaliesberg Biosphere Board Members. The participants, including a representative from the ZCC and several Majakaneng residents, enjoyed a morning of knowledge sharing initiated by the enthusiastic  Eco-Rangers and Trail Champions who have experienced these environmental threats first hand while building the Majakaneng Heritage Trail. 

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Photographs depicting activities that were deemed to be challenging for hiking trail management and to the mountain environment were sorted into groups. Participants indicated which activities were considered most harmful and why, and proceeded to discuss some strategic and practical solutions to address these threats, in addition to listing the stakeholders and possible partnerships that would be required for effective solutions.

The process is ongoing, and the next step is for the trail team to distil the information further and decide on which problems are the most urgent to tackle and whether solutions are achievable by the team on their own, or whether they require stakeholder involvement and/or partnerships.  Participatory community workshops such as this go a long way to engender pride in our natural heritage and cement a path of biodiversity stewardship and sustainable land management.  We look forward to the next workshop…

TABLE: A list of harmful activities and reasons why participants perceived them to be a threat to the environment and or challenging for hiking trail management. 

POLLUTION  of  WATER,  AIR and LAND

Littering in the natural areas, as well as along the streams in Majakaneng villiage Leaving religious and spiritual sacrifices in the kloof and stream The use of poisons and detergent in the stream and rock pools for spiritual cleansing purposes Lack of environmental awareness

UNSUSTAINABLE WOOD HARVESTING

Commercial-scale harvesting for crafts and firewood Indiscriminate harvesting of slow-growing species Harvesting of forest trees Breaking trees and branches for easy access to fruit Removing vegetation destabilizes the soil and causes erosion Reduces the effect of trees for cooling and carbon capture purposes Lack of environmental awareness

UNSUSTAINABLE COLLECTION OF PLANTS AND BARK

Removal of endangered and protected species Commercial-scale harvesting Ring-barking Indigenous knowledge is not passed on to collectors and the younger generation Lack of environmental awareness

ANIMAL POACHING

Indiscriminate killing of species not intended to be snared, including endangered species Disruption of ecology and food chain when predators are snared Using natural “wild” lands for unsustainable human use Time, effort and skills needed for effective snare patrols Arson used to prepare for poaching leads to wildfires

VELD FIRES

Kills wildlife ( particularly tortoises, small reptiles and mammals and those whose movement is restricted by fences Threatens human  lives , property and infrastructure Riparian and kloof ecosystems exposed to fire can be severely disrupted and damaged by fire Frequent veld fires favour the growth of certain plants – such as alien invasive species Much time and resources are needed immediately to control runaway fires

INVASIVE ALIEN PLANTS

Outcompete naturally occurring  indigenous species Use excessive amounts of water compared to indigenous species Use excessive soil nutrients that are not available to indigenous plants Causes disturbance to natural and pristine wilderness, ecosystems and conservation areas Increases the intensity of veldfires Much time and resources are needed in the right season, to manage invasions

OFF-ROAD  MOTORBIKES

Cause erosion gullies on slopes Cause disturbance  and mortalities to wild animals that are sensitive to noise and human presence Dislodges rocks  that can cause ecological damage and destabilize slopes Damage to plants and to  kloof and stream ecology Disturbs hikers trying to enjoy nature and  a peaceful environment Much time and resources are needed to repair damage caused by these vehicles