Short-term solution implemented to help restore St Lucia estuary
THIS week, the recommendations of the St Lucia Estuarine Functional Zone Task Team saw the light of day, when equipment was moved on site to begin the implementation of a short-term solution to help reinstate functionality of the estuary and re-establish links with the ocean.
Lake St Lucia is one of the largest estuarine systems in southern Africa.
It falls within the iSimangaliso Wetland Park, which is South Africa’s first World Heritage site (recognised by Unesco in 1999).
In the recent years, the estuarine system has not been able to function naturally.
A number of principles were therefore adopted at the St Lucia Symposium in October, as key steps that should be addressed to restore function to the system.
This included the need for reconnection between the marine system and the lake; the reduction of sediment load in the bay; restoration of estuarine functionality and to resolve back-flooding into agricultural fields which is resulting in agricultural loss.
The symposium also committed to address the restoration of economic activity. This includes tourist attractions and the importance of managing the floodplain and prevention of silt transportation.
“The consultative process led by the new management of the iSimangaliso Authority has been ongoing.
“This extensive consultation culminated in a symposium, which included scientific experts in various fields, business operators, community members and community leadership, traditional leadership, small-scale fishers, private and associate/ affiliated farmers, NGOs and NPOs, provincial and national departments, as well as key government parastatals,” the iSimangaliso Park said.
A key resolution was to establish an inclusive multi-disciplinary task team to take forward the resolutions.
At its first meeting in November, the task team discussed and considered necessary interventions, and their phased implementation.
“It was also agreed that the collection of ongoing survey and monitoring data would be important going forward to ensure a proactive approach to management of the system.
“It was further agreed that longer-term interventions would be discussed by the task team at future meetings.”
The second task team meeting on December 15, confirmed the need to urgently focus on a short-term solution to assist the system to function in its natural state as an estuarine functional zone.
Yesterday, equipment was moved on site.
This is the beginning of the implementation of the time-bound action plan recommended by the task team.
The iSimangaliso Authority said it remained committed to consultation and engagement on this complex issue with any stakeholders and parties.