Umgano Land Care partnership project in Umzimkhulu has been hailed as an ideal initiative for rural development where rural people themselves took ownership of their own Development. This was conveyed by the KwaZulu-Natal Agriculture, Environmental Affairs and Rural Development MEC, Mrs Lydia Johnson at the launch of the project today.
The project which has elements of biodiversity management, nature conservation, forestry and agricultural activities, is a brainchild of the Mabandla Traditional Authority. The project is administered by Mabandla Development Company, a management company of a legal entity owned by the traditional authority which is Mabandla Community Trust. The Community Trust then forged partnership with the Department of Land Affairs and Rural Development, Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife and the Department of Agriculture Environmental Affairs and Rural Development in driving the project to its success.
The main objective of the project is to create business opportunities for local people and improve their living conditions. The partners joined forces with the traditional authority through funding initiatives linked to their core functions.
The activities presently operated within the project area and their aims, are as follows:
Commercial afforestation – undertaken to generate sustainable income for the Trust, for the maintenance of the project area and generation of a revenue surplus (profit) through the establishment and maintenance of Forestry Stewardship Council-accredited commercial timber plantations for timber and pulp production, through best-practice management. The Department of Land Affairs and Rural Development invested R11 million towards the startup capital and now the project is self sustained.
Nature conservation - undertaken in partnership with EKZN Wildlife, to conserve biodiversity and protect ecosystem service delivery in the Nature Conservation Zone, through formal protection under the National Environmental Management: Protected Areas Act as a nature reserve and to serve as the resource base for the community-based tourism initiative. Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife put R300 000 towards training and mentoring of the community.
Livestock management – undertaken principally in the Livestock Management Zone, but also to a lesser extent in the nature reserve and the timber plantation, the primary aims of which are sustainable commercial livestock production; together with biodiversity conservation and ecosystem services delivery. This is intended to benefit shareholders of the Mabandla Livestock Owners Association (a subsidiary of the Mabandla Development Company), through the establishment of a breeding herd of Nguni cattle, for theproduction of beef, as well as quality stock to upgrade community herds held outside the project area, while maintaining the grazing resources according the best-practice management measures.
The Land Care programme which is driven by the Department of Agriculture, Environmental Affairs and Rural Development is funding the following activities:
- Alien plant clearing
- Fencing
- Donga rehabilitation
- In-field infrastructure
MEC Johnson commended the traditional authority for the initiative.” Traditional Authorities are instrumental in driving development in their areas more especially on rural development. As the Department we cherish every opportunity to work with them in championing quality agricultural, environmental and conservation services as well as driving integrated comprehensive rural development for all the people of KwaZulu-Natal” said Johnson.
The project has created job opportunities for 53 community members, profiled 24 youth and 21 women.
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