I live on a protected reserve, in the Houtbosloop valley, Mpumalanga, South Africa.
The immediate area surrounding the reserve is under exotic plantations, and it is sad to
see the effect of this model on the environment.
I often think of the mountain as a living entity. I imagine every living thing being
luminous, so that they would glow at night. I like to think that plants would have a soft
glow, trees like the giant wild figs or beautiful Stinkwoods would glow brighter.
Insects would glitter, a mouse would gleam, an owl radiate, a leopard shine.
In the reserve I see the mountain, shimmering with life.
When I look beyond, at the vast areas of exotics I see a monotonous feeble glow.
Exotic tree plantations ARE green wastelands. They smother the indigenous life, not
allowing enough water and light to sustain growth.
No plants, no insects, no birds, no reptiles, no mammals.
Small pockets of indigenous growth is preserved, but it is not enough to compensate for
loss of habitat.
Programs are in place to clear clogged water ways, but it is a uphill babble due to lack
of funds and manpower.
Many residents of this region experience escalating water shortages.
Legislation is in place to secure wet-lands, but it is not inforced due to lack of man
power.
I believe no more new planting permits should be issued, until the exhausting plantations
are well under control..
Long term plans should be instigated to scale down exotic trees, in order to replace
with more environmentally friendly produce.
Hemp farming may be a alternative, as pulp can also be produced.
Harvests could occur on a yearly basis, a practice which should be more labor
intensive.
Water is life, and one of the things you don't appreciate until you don't have it
anymore.
Water shortage could lead to serious conflict in the future, as many countries in southern
Africa share rivers as borders. In September 1998, troops from S.A and Botswana invaded
Lesotho to quell political uprising. Fierce fighting occurred to secure the Katse dam, a
vital link in the Lesotho Highlands Water project. This project hold water
reserves for use in S.A. It has been suggested that the "war" was
motivated, at least in part, by the need to secure the strategic water reserve.
In the face of ever increasing energy consumption man-kind is on the
verge of a major crisis. This is a time when we should be taking care of the earth,
treating it with respect, correcting the wrongs of the past, as our own
survival depends upon bio-diversity.
I think we should adapt our way of thinking, recognize our dependence upon nature. Our
environment shapes us, therefore we need to keep it healthy.
Around me, despite good rains, countless fountains are drying up.
