Exploring dune plants with the Mzamba Blue Flag Beach Stewards

The Mzamba Blue Flag Beach Stewards asked the Pondoland CREW team to help them identify the plants in their working area, being the section of coast between the Umtamvuna River mouth in the north east and the Mtentwana River mouth in the south west. We were met in the grounds of the Wild Coast Sun resort by the Blue Flag Beach Stewards team, Phakamani Mfathu, Mxolisi Ngongoma and Wendy Bongwana, and together they put us in the picture of what they are trying to achieve. The Pondoland CREW team was asked to provide guidance on the plants in this area, from the perspective of protecting the existing dune forest plants in the case of any construction, as well as removal of invasive alien plants.

Phakamani Mfathu giving the Pondoland CREW background to the project

 After being given the background to the project we set off at the Mtentwana estuary and headed northwards along the interface between the dunes and the dune forest.  This section is invaded by dense stands of Lantana camara, Cestrum laevigatum and Cromolaena odorata, and we saw occasional Schinus terebinthifolius. It was also notable that the majority of the large Mimusops caffra in this section of dune forest were either dead or showing signs of severe distress.

We came across a number of dune specialists - Lablab purpureus, Carpobrotus dimidiatus, Ipomoea pes-caprae, Cynanchum natalensis and Lagenaria sphaerica  amongst others.

Lablab purpureus

Carprobotus dimidiatus

Solanum africanum

Commelina benghalensis

Ipomoea pes-caprae

Dimorphotheca fruticosa

Cynanchum natalitium

Lagenaria sphaerica

Once we passed the access from the main resort complex to the beach, the condition of the dune forest improved dramatically and there were far fewer invasive aliens present, a couple of isolated Casuarina equisetifolia being notable exceptions. For the location of any construction associated with Blue Flag Beach status, it therefore seems logical for this project to focus on the area between the hotel access point and the Mtentwana River mouth in the south, particularly as there are two existing (but apparently defunct) structures in this area. It will be an additional benefit if any reconstruction in this area is accompanied by efforts to rehabilitate the dune forest and remove the invasive alien plants.

Walking along the edge of the Umtamvuna estuary 

Textured sandstone exposed on the shore

The mouth of the Umtamvuna River

Pondoland CREW with the Mzamba Beach Steward team

Participants: Anne S, Dorothy M, Graham G, Kate G, Maggie A, Mxolisi N., Pakamani M, Uschi T, Wendy B.