WAKKERSTROOM NATURAL HERITAGE ASSOCIATION ( WNHA )is a non-governmental organisation

( 041-230-NPO ) whose mission is “ to engage in the conservation, rehabilitation and protection of the natural environment in the Wakkerstroom area “

This association has undertaken, and is continuing to undertake, a variety of initiatives to enhance the conservation status of the area.

The WNHA was formed in 1991 by three very forward thinking people who recognised the fact that there was potential around the Wakkerstroom area for attracting visitors to seek out the special birds found in this Highveld grassland part of South Africa. At the annual general meeting in 2006, members were given the following historical information about WNHA’s beginnings:

“ The area was part of the Transvaal covered by Dr. Warwick Tarboton, then working for the former Transvaal Nature Conservation organisation as their scientific ornithologist . His knowledge and enthusiasm for the grasslands was infectious and soon got the newly arrived family of At and Elna Kotze involved as they were opening the first guest house in Wakkerstroom, they were keen to attract birders to stay and explore the beauty of the area and get to know the birds and animals of the grasslands.

Elna, one of those “ ideas” people, came up with a plan and together with Warwick, they compiled a proposal to put to the Council for conserving the wetland and promoting it as an attraction for visitors. The idea was to rent the entire area from the council, limit the number of cattle grazing and try and regulate the burning regime.

The third person who must take credit for his foresight, is Chris ( kort ) Smit who at the time was town clerk and the person who , after listening to these two crazy people and their hair brained idea , pushed for it to happen and the rest is history.

Now the problem was to find the money to pay for the annual rental for this wetland, fence and maintain it. Again through Warwick’s intervention, money was eventually forthcoming from TOTAL who was backed by WWF to back the newly formed WNHA which had taken on the responsibility for the future of the wetland.

Almost every person, and there were many , from overseas and South Africa, had their arms twisted by the very persuasive Elna , to join the WNHA thereby lending their support to the wetland initiative . The WNHA soon grew an impressive reputation for a small organisation that really achieved an enormous amount and was held in high regard.

Through Elna’s vigilance and action and Warwick’s support, many plans and problems that would have a big impact on the town and surrounding environment, were nipped in the bid and shelved and many other projects were formulated and put into practice .

The membership of the WNHA still has many of its original members from those early days in the 1990’s when people decided that this association was worth backing – and have continued to do so.

The role of WNHA changed somewhat in the late 1990’s when Mpumalanga Parks Board took over the lease and got it extended, put in a manager and took control of the project. WNHA finds itself in the position of managing the wetland on behalf of MPB and finding funding for expensive items such as fencing- fortunately MPB still pay the rental for the wetland – but WNHA needs lots of monetary support for the maintenance.

In 2005 the question was asked “ is there still a role for WNHA “ and it was heartening to hear from long serving members that they definitely felt there still is.”

( 15th Annual General Meeting 7th October 2006 Wakkerstoom )

WAKKERSTROOM WETLAND RESERVE

The official opening took place at the end of July 1998 by the then Chairman of WNHA Elna Kotze.

“It is a registered Natural Heritage Site ( no 220 ) and the large wetland that straddles the north-western side of Wakkerstroom deserves some of your attention. With an area of about 700 ha, this is one of the larger reed-marches in South Africa and its supports an interesting and quite diverse wetland fauna.”

( Wakkerstroom bird and nature guide 3rd edition June 2004 by Warwick & Michele Tarboton).

WHY THE NEED FOR CONSERVATION IN THE WAKKERSTROOM AREA

“ The Kruger National Park, with its amazing diversity of wildlife , it’s lion and elephants, saddlebilled storks and baobab trees, and its attraction to tourists worldwide, is often extolled as being one of South Africa’s greatest natural assets. It is . But very little of the wonderful wildlife that it supports is unique to South Africa: lions and elephants range across Africa, so does much of its savanna vegetation and bird and insect fauna that this supports.

Wakkerstroom is different . It lies in the grasslands which form one of South Africa’s own unique biomes, and it lies in a part of the grassland biomes that has escaped the massive transformation that has irreversibly changed so much grassland to croplands, exotic timber plantations, coal and gold mines and urban sprawl. The fauna and flora of these grasslands does not match the Kruger Park’s “ big five “ as a spectacle, but much of this fauna and flora is uniquely in South African: it is found here and nowhere else in the world! It is this fauna and flora that is really South Africa’s most unique, natural asset and Wakkerstroom has a role to play in ensuring that

this treasure house is not stripped of its remaining wealth through ignorance and neglect.

Much of the grassland has been transformed and so little of it is formally conserved. Wakkerstroom is uniquely placed to focus attention on the threats and solutions to saving examples of the grasslands biotic diversity. The vast numbers of black wildebeest and blesbok that roamed the grasslands vanished a century ago. Although not extinct, they are represented today by small, spiritless herds that live semi-domesticated in enclosures. It is now the little creatures that cling to the remnants of grasslands that are at risk.

For example, six species that birdwatchers around the world come to Wakkerstroom to see, Bald Ibis , Blue Crane , Whitewinged Flufftail, Rudd’s Lark, Botha’s Lark and the Yellowbreasted Pipit are ranked as globally threatened by Birdlife International.

( 15th Annual General Meeting 7th October 2006 Wakkerstoom )

BIRD HIDES IN WAKKERSTROOM

There are currently four bird hides situated around the Wetland Reserve. Three are managed by Birdlife South Africa, namely Iain Drummond Hide, Crane Hide and Flufftail Hide.

WNHA manage the Clive Beck Hide and are responsible for maintaining the walkway , bridge , pathways and the up keep of the hide.

NEW HIDE:

The WOW Hide ( Wings over Wetlands) was sponsored by the Wings over Wetlands Programme through BirdLife South Africa , and is situated on the eastern side of Amersfoort Road bridge, near the historic Paul Kruger bridge. This is another existing addition to the hides of Wakkerstroom and will be the ongoing responsibility of WNHA to maintain.

WAKKERSTROOM WETLANDS RESERVE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE

WNHA is a founder member of this committee and plays an active role in all activities.

The Wakkerstroom Wetland Reserve Management Committee is made up of the following Associations : Wakkerstroom Natural Heritage Association ( WNHA), the Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency (MTPA), BirdLife SA, Wakkerstroom Tourist Association(WTA), the Endangered Wildlife Trust(EWT), the Enkangala Grasslands Project, the National Department of

Water Affairs and Forestry, the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, the South African National Biodiversity Institute, the Municipality of Pixley ka Seme, resource users and land-owner representatives , and chaired by the Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency.

The vision is “ Mpumalanga your world class tourism destination “

The mission is “ To provide an integrated tourism and bio-diversity conservation management system in order to stimulate sustainable economic growth for the province “

PROJECTS

The WNHA are involved in the ongoing management and repairs to fencing , signage, cutting of pathways and picnic site.

WNHA also work with the Cattle Owners on the access and control of cattle grazing within the Wetland Reserve.

Future projects are:

Additional signage and markers for all hides:

Motivating Pixley ka Seme Council to manage Wakkerstroom Town Dump more effectively from an environmental impact point of view. The jist of which will that the fence surrounding the dump will be repaired, and the gate giving access to the dump will be locked when not operational. A sign giving relevant information will also be erected. Seme Municipality has also advised that currently the Municipality is in the tender phase regarding the appointment of environmental consultants to undertake the required environmental studies for the management of the existing facility and the relocation in due course to another site.

New fencing and the repair of fences, poles and gates around the Wetland Reserve to manage the cattle grazing within the wetlands.

Growth of membership to increase funds to allow new and ongoing projects to be achieved.

Regular newsletter to keep members and other interested parties appraised of all activities undertaken by WNHA.