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EC: Eastern Cape gets its 6th provincial nature reserve

EC: Eastern Cape gets its 6th provincial nature reserve

22nd September 2015

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The Mhlonto Nature Reserve, which includes the iconic Tsitsa Falls, Tina Falls, Tina River Valley and Mzoboshe Horseshoe attractions, is now the province’s sixth and third largest provincial nature reserve.

The latest addition to the Eastern Cape’s nature reserves takes the total number of hectares with provincial nature reserve status to 250,587 ha. The reserve also attracted an investment of R26,7 million.

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The Mhlonto Nature Reserve, in the eastern part of the province, near Qumbu and Tsolo, was promulgated in April by MEC for Economic Development, Environmental Affairs and Tourism Sakhumzi Somyo, in terms of the national environmental management protected areas act.

Located near the towns of Tsolo and Qumbu, the reserve and the surrounding areas are known for their significant and diverse fauna and flora diversity.

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This includes the 92-million old Climbing Flat Bean plant, also known as the Uzungu or Dalbergia obovata and the rare Uvendle (Pelargonium sidoides) plant. Both have strong medicinal qualities.

Fifteen other plant species with a high conservation interest can also be found in the area including various aloes such as the aloe ferox and cycad.

Other natural features include cultural, historical and archaeological traits.

Its wildlife is also a key attraction and includes the blue and grey duikers, baboons, dassies and a variety of small cats as well as a wide variety of bird species.

Parks management also plans to re-introduce the mountain or hartmans zebra, eland, blesbuck and red hartebeest to the area.

Activities which are planned around the area’s pristine natural assets include area conservation, hiking trails, mountain climbing, ecotourism, cultural tourism, game viewing and other tourism services.

The gazette notes that the benefits of the reserve for the local population as job creation in the tourism sector, which will supplement the Mhlonto community’s income which is currently remittances like welfare serves, subsistence agricultural production and income from the migrant labour system.

Current agricultural production includes thatching grass, fuel wood, non-timber forest products, medicinal herbs, water wild game and fish.

Plans for the nature reserve began as early as 2007 and included community consultation which was concluded successfully.

The fencing for the nature reserves was completed 118 community members who were employed for this part of the project.

The Mhlonto Nature Reserve joins the Eastern Cape’s five other provincial reserves – the Great Fish (45,000 ha) and Baviaanskloof (184, 385 ha) in the southern part of the province and four smaller reserves in the eastern part of the province, also known as the former Transkei. These are Mkahambathi (7,720 ha), Dwesa (3,500 ha) and Hluka (772 ha) and Silaka (400 ha).

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The iconic and breathtaking Tina Falls is now part of the Eastern Cape’s newest provincial nature reserve in the eastern part of the province, the Mhlonto Nature Reserve.

 

Issued by Eastern Cape Department of Economic Development, Environmental Affairs and Tourism

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