The south-west bank of the Umtamvuna gorge

Over the weekend, some of us provided local knowledge to two scientists involved with an EIA for a proposed commercial timber project on community land on the south-western side of the Umtamvuna River gorge. The major part of the land was previously devoted to sugar cultivation and few remnants of the original plant diversity remain, but there are fringe areas with intact grassland and it is hoped these can be retained if the timber plantings go ahead.

This gave us the opportunity to visit areas which we might not otherwise be inclined to visit and gave us a very interesting view of the cliffs of the Western Heights area of the Umtamvuna Nature Reserve.

Panorama of Western Heights cliffs from the south-west bank of the Umtamvuna River

 Participants: Anne S, Christina P, Graham G, Isabel J, Kate G.