State moves to save unique Umtiza Forest
Minister targets illegal dwellers in forests and on airport ground
The state is moving to clear illegal land occupiers in the historic and unique Umtiza Forest and on the open ground around East London Airport.
If forestry, fisheries and environmental affairs minister Barbara Creecy decides to implement two notices of intention published last week, numerous informal homes will be in line for removal, especially near the airport.
The minister will close the 14day public participation window on September 24 and then make her decision.
In her notices published on Thursday, Creecy says land occupiers have seriously damaged the forests.
The Dispatch reliably learnt that there is a sense of urgency among officials in her ministry caused by illegal chopping down of trees, such as the umtiza tree itself, which is endemic to the reserve — the only area worldwide where it occurs naturally.
In the first notice, Creecy announced her intention to prohibit and remove any illegal structures and occupants in the area.
In her second notice, the minister makes it clear that open ground cleared by illegal land occupiers also forms part of the forest ecosystem, and these areas will be proclaimed natural forest, with all the legal protection enjoyed by protected natural forests.
In the first notice, she signals her intent to prohibit all public access for a five-year period.
This notice to control access in terms of section 17 (2) of the National Forest Act, expressly prohibits the construction of any structure and any damage to forest trees and plants.
The notice states that the 1,846ha Grey Dell and Fort Grey forest areas under threat surround the Umtiza Nature Reserve, itself heavily polluted and illegally damaged and occupied for home building.
The notices would act jointly to protect the area and start to repair the damage through a process of reforestation.
The department’s deputy director of scientific services, Johan Bester, said encroachment by people risked destroying an area of forest which had been deemed to be of immense value in terms of the biodiversity of plant and animal life since the 1800s.
He warned that some of the damage could be “irreversible”.
Public concern in the Eastern Cape was also raised after an impassioned plea by Div de
Villiers, senior manager of compliance and enforcement in the department of economic development, environmental affairs and tourism.
De Villiers declined to comment to the Dispatch, but confirmed urging all 500 users who read his Facebook post on the issue to write to Creecy and support the notices.
His posts dealt with the devastation of the forests, saying illegal encroachment on the reserve was also preventing the expansion of new runways for the East London Airport.
He wrote: “My post about the destruction of forests at Fort Grey and the litter in Umtiza Nature Reserve along the Buffalo Pass had more than 500 comments and shares as people expressed their disgust.
“I said that government was trying to address the matter.
“On Thursday, minister Creecy published her intention to proclaim the indigenous forests surrounding Umtiza Nature Reserve as natural and controlled forests, and invited public comment.
“Please would all 500 of you write a paragraph supporting the declaration of the control forests.
“The intention is ultimately to double the size of the Umtiza Nature Reserve in order to conserve the rare species that still live here, and to retain this important green lung along the city’s Buffalo River.
“Comment to Sdzivhani@ environment.gov.za.
“Hopefully we can work together to clean up the park and the city.”
In his original post, he bemoaned the “embarrassing” state of Buffalo Pass.
“Adjacent forests are being illegally felled, burnt and invaded — mainly by wealthy people looking for free land.
“Various government departments have tried to resolve the issues for the past 10 years.
“We have made arrests for contraventions of the Forest Act. We have issued notices under NEMA (National Environment Management Act).
“Buildings have been demolished with the necessary court orders.
“But the struggle continues.”