Mngazana – Mangroves equal money (and honey)

Local solution to protect the Mngazana Estuary, regarded as the most important estuary in the Eastern Cape of South Africa with its 140 hectare stand of mangroves, is proving effective with four enterprises dependent on the mangroves which provide an incentive not to harvest.

The Mngazana Estuary, 15 km south of Port St Johns, is regarded as the most important estuary in the Eastern Cape. The main reason for this is its 140 hectare stand of mangroves, the third largest in South Africa.

Shortly after taking office President Mbeki visited Mngazana, and in a letter to the then Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, Valli Moosa, expressed his concern about the harvesting of the mangroves at the estuary. Mangrove timber is a termite resistant, building material much valued by the local communities. Efforts to curb the harvesting of mangroves had taken place for at least twenty years prior to 2000 but with a singular lack of success.

In 2001 the Eastern Cape Estuary Management Programme (ECEMP) was approached to assist resolving the harvesting issue. This Programme is a partnership programme spearheaded by the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN), Institute of Natural Resources (INR), Water Research Commission (WRC) and Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DEAT). It recognises that the estuaries of the Eastern Cape have significant environmental, social and economic value in an underdeveloped province and that, in order to optimise this value, active local management is required. The Programme offers direct support to stakeholders, conducts research that supports management, builds capacity and informs local and national policy.

The Programme immediately recognised that a multi-pronged locally based solution was required. A local mangrove management forum was established. This Forum comprised amongst others, community representatives the local municipality, and provincial and national government departments. The Forum has established three canoe trail businesses and a honey production enterprise. All four enterprises are dependent on the mangroves which provide an incentive not to harvest. A mangrove forest boardwalk is also in the pipeline. This will compliment the canoe trail businesses and further enhance the economic value of the mangroves. In addition, DWAF is establishing a permit system for harvesting and the forum has established a group of volunteers who monitor harvesting practices.

Recognising also that the local municipality has a crucial role to play in management the Programme has developed and conducted a two day training course on estuary management for the Port St Johns municipality. Sixty individuals participated including the mayor and all councillors. This was funded by the WRC and the municipality.

RELEASED BY:

Yuven Gounden

PR/Communications Coordinator

Water Research Commission

Private Bag X03

Gezina 0031

South Africa

International Code: +2712 Direct Line: 012-330 90 53

Cell: 083 297 1214

yuveng@wrc.org.za

www.wrc.org.za

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