The coincidence is deeply ironic. At a time when people in South Africa and worldwide reflect on the loss of one of the world’s most celebrated conservationists, Dr Ian Player, frantic efforts are being made to save one of his finest achievements; the establishment of the Wilderness area of iMfolozi Park inside KZN’s premier Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park (HiP). The burgeoning opposition to the proposed Ibutho coal (anthracite) mine right on the doorsteps of his internationally famed Wilderness area has now taken on further, dramatic significance. It’s not lost on anyone familiar with the history of this region that the iMfolozi Wilderness area was the first established Wilderness site in South Africa; and on the continent of Africa. Equally, the entire 95 000ha HiP was also proclaimed the first protected area in Africa, established in 1895 to prevent the extinction of the Southern White Rhino. In this broad historical context it would be logical to view our custodian of this park, Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife (Ezemvelo), as the inevitable bulwark against allowing a coal mine to operate some 100 metres from the boundary of this internationally prized natural heritage. But this would be an over simplification and ignore the complexity of development dynamics in South Africa. At the beginning of this year Ezemvelo’s former CEO Dr Bandile Mkhize made what many considered a wise decision by signing a 10-year Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Richards Bay Minerals (RBM) in order to recognise the fundamental interdependence of mining and conservation in the South African economy. As he stated at the signing ceremony: “Whatever our varying interests, mining is a critical economic driver in South Africa. It makes absolute sense that conservation and mining work together to ensure development is pursued sustainably and in the combined interests of conservation, mining and community upliftment”. And herein lies the rub. Invariably, our conservation body would face a time when mining and conservation wouldn’t see eye to eye! And the Ibutho coal mine now represents the face of this division. Ezemvelo is now confronted with the dual responsibility of honouring its appreciation for the mining sector’s role in our economy while having to perform its oversight mandate on the suitability of this specific mine’s location. To date, there appears no contest. Despite the resolute impartiality and professional responsibility that Ezemvelo’s Integrated Environmental Management unit (IEM) has to play in this mining application, their findings to date are overwhelmingly in favour of protecting this area and rejecting any mining activity as planned. With the Department of Environmental Affairs having already rejected the mining company’s Scoping Report and Ezemvelo’s IEM unit highlighting the location of the mine as “overwhelmingly threatening” to the park’s status and Wilderness area, all eyes are focussed on the forthcoming Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). A compliance investigation is now underway to investigate the alleged non-compliance by Ibuthu Coal with their Environmental Management Plan for prospecting activities. A 3km temporary road was constructed within a stones throw of the HiP boundary and in the process many mature trees and several hundred Aloe marlothii plants, estimated at between 80 -110 years old were up-rooted and destroyed. For now, though, it is common cause that if this coal mine was allowed to happen, the consequences would be catastrophic for the park and seriously depreciate the living conditions of adjacent communities. The dust, water pollution, infestation of alien plants, noise, visual impact, vibrations from explosives and significant disturbance of the area’s natural habitat would collectively see to this. And iMfolozi would inevitably lose its Wilderness status. Ezemvelo’s highly respected Principal Conservation Planner for its IEM unit Jenny Longmore said the application to mine within 100 metres of the boundary of the game reserve, showed a “complete disregard for this flagship protected area and the ecological and resource benefits its offers local communities in the area”. She detailed the regional, national and international significance of HiP in terms of its natural, cultural, ecological, wilderness, outdoor recreation and eco-cultural tourism values. “Also the Somkele coal mine, established nearby HiP some six years ago, resisted mining a viable seam of coal adjacent to this very same wilderness area. They acknowledged the value of wilderness and moved to the north and east, which, while still too close for our liking, has significantly lessened its impact.” Given this precedent and the IEM’s findings to date, Longmore said the IEM unit “strongly advised” that Ibuthu Coal voluntarily retreat from the boundary of HiP: “The EIA process, should focus on determining what constitutes an appropriate buffer to minimise mining impacts”. Critical to the entire outcome are the opinions of the local community. Here active opposition to the mine has increased significantly over the past few months with the Wilderness Alliance (an umbrella collection of conservation NGO’s established out of Dr Player’s Durban-based Wilderness Leadership School) leading such opposition. It has been the communities themselves who have approached Ezemvelo’s Community Conservation Officers and park management staff to address them on the ‘pro’s and cons’ of mining vs eco-tourism. Both Ezemvelo’s Social Ecological Research unit as well as the Wilderness Alliance have given numerous presentations on what coal mining is likely to offer them and how it will affect their lives. This quest to offer a balanced picture involved some innovation, too, with the employment of a Documentary Theatre grouping as well as a social learning project for the Fuleni community. With the active support of Jabulani Ngubane, HiP’s Park Manager and the African Conservation Trust (ACT), money was raised to hire a number of performing actors who gave a live performance in front of some 800 people. The response was so positive that the play will be extended and performed in various schools in the area. “Ezemvelo has a responsibility to not just provide planning oversight but also to look after the long-term interests of our people living on the borders of our Protected Areas. People are the single most important consideration in the entire roll-out of conservation in KZN,” said Phindile Xulu, of the Social Ecological Research Unit. The benefits of Protected Areas, she said, were often hidden or taken for granted: “A study undertaken in 2009 found that tens of thousands of households are benefiting directly from the existence of HiP, though various means, such as quality of life, employment, tourism operations, clean water, fresh air and the like”. She concluded that people had to know that in the event of mining occurring, houses, schools, graves and clinics, for example would have to be moved, while grazing and crop land would be lost.
Posted on: Tue, 09 Dec 2014 08:44:10 +0000
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