Zandvlei Trust

 The 2005/2006 plans for Wetlands in the City.

Some of the audience who attended.

Mandy Nofke from (Working for Wetlands) based at Kirstenbosch under SANBI (South African National Botanical Institute) explained to the interested members and friends, that the Citys wetlands are divided up into geographical areas. The Southern section (Zandvlei falls within this section) is headed by Brian Nicholson of the Citys Catchment Management department. The work that Working for Wetlands does is mainly rehabilitation, creating employment and training at the same time. They work closely with the Citys Nature Conservation department as well.

She explained that their budget for the Cape Metro area has been increased to R2M for the 2005/2006 year. The next part of the project to be worked on, in our area, is the very important wetland section, just below Military Road on the Keysers River. This important area was highlighted in the Keysers River widening and rehabilitation – Scoping Report, May 2002. It is heartening to see work being implemented following some of the recommendations in the report.
The Working for Wetlands have a number of nurseries for the seeding of the correct plants to the specific geographic areas.

Mandy explaining some of the work done at Zandvlei this last year.

She also touched on the Keysers River Restoration Project, above Military Road to the Main Road Tokai. This has been a successful co-operation of a number of local business and community organisations and is being used as a model for others to follow.
We enjoyed an informal chat and refreshments afterwards.