iSIMANGALISO PARTNERS WITH DIFFERENT STAKEHOLDERS IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF COASTAL CLEAN UP IN THE KOSI BAY SECTION OF THE PARK
16 October 2024
iSimangaliso Wetland Park Authority has partnered with Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, Wildoceans and the department of education in the implementation of the Coastal Clean-up in Kosi Bay section of the park. iSimangaliso Wetland Park z three major lake systems with RAMSA status, eight interlinking ecosystems, most of South Africa’s remaining swamp forests and Africa’s largest estuarine system. All of these are threatened by plastic pollution. Some of these natural attributes contributed on the outstanding universal values upon which the park was inscribed by UNESCO on the world Heritage list in December 1999.
Thus, iSimangaliso partnered with different stakeholders in removing trash from beaches, lakes and other water resources in Kosi Bay. This also enabled iSimangaliso to raise awareness on the ecological and tourism impacts of littering.
In an effort to educate children about the importance of conserving nature and littering pollution, iSimangaliso formed a multistakeholder approach in addressing the littering and invited learners from Threfall Primary School, Wild-oceans and Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife team to collect litter in different areas in iSimangaliso Wetland Park Kosi Bay section. places that were visited for clean -up is the World Heritage Sites namely; Bhanganek, Kosi Mouth, Lake 1 and Lake 3. Upon analysing the collected trash, it appeared beer bottles, cans, tips, cigarette buds and plastic bags dominated the refuse. iSimangaliso would like to appreciate the effort of Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, Wildoceans and Threfall Primary school who all pitched up for the common goal of cleaning up the coastal areas and beaches of iSimangaliso. Such collective efforts underscore the believe that every bottle, every straw and every piece of trash one can clean-up can lead up to a cleaner, healthier ocean and lakes systems.
September is celebrated annually as a tourism and Heritage month. Thus, iSimangaliso and South Africa at large uses this month to promote domestic travel, showcase the country's diverse tourism offerings, and to highlight the sector's significant contribution to the South African economy. iSimangaliso offers different ecotourism activities and some of them are coastal based where littering has been identified as one of the conservation threats. Thus, it was important for iSimangaliso to participate in the coastal clean up to ensure clean and healthier coastal areas while indirectly raising awareness on the impact of littering on marine organisms and tourism.
The clean-up campaign was a success. The collected trash from all targeted areas was piled up at central point for dispatching to the designated dumpsite. Awareness talks ensued among the participants led by iSimangaliso’s environmental education officer, Mr Sifiso Vumase and the Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife Community conservation officer Mrs Mabongi Masinga to ensure people understand the impact of littering both on Eco-tourism and to the marine, and aquatic organisms such as fish, whales, sharks, birds and turtles. This is particularly worrying as the scientists believe marine and aquatic organisms can become trapped inside containers or strangled by nets or ropes and microplastics can also be lethal as they are indigestible when swallowed.
Further to the clean-up, consensus was reached among the participating partners to come up with joint proactive awareness out-reach programme targeting communities living in and adjacent to park to ensure heighted awareness on environmental issues with a particular focus on littering. This was underpinned by the wild spread believe that what happens upstream has an effect downstream and the fact that all waterways lead to the oceans. Thus, such programme is likely to ensure safer, clean and healthier coastal environment for both marine organisms and communities that depend on it.