African Wildlife & Environment Issue 74

Umgeni Valley

Perhaps WESSA’s crowning glory was the successful campaign to prevent mining in what is now Isimangaliso. That battle started in 1972 when RBM was issued with prospecting licences for areas within the St Lucia Wetland Park. The public outcry led to a four year long environmental impact assessment and a judicial review. Over 222,000 people signed a petition to preserve the park before the battle was won, but the fight is not yet over as once again application has been made to mine the dunes right next to the world heritage site. Can we once more unite to show that we are indeed ‘People Caring for the Earth’? For thosewho didn’t know: KwaZulu-Natal has Four Environmental Education Centres; Umgeni Valley; Treasure Beach; Twin Streams; and Umbogavango.

Further reading • Berjak, Campbell, Huckett and Pammenter (2011). In the Mangroves of South Africa. • Gosnell, J (2011). The Beach Book. • Irwin, Akhurst and Irwin (1980). A Field Guide to the Natal Drakensberg. • Londt, Jason (2009). Suburban Wildlife in KZN. • Moll, EJ (1967). Forest Trees of Natal. • Moore, Wildy et al. (2008). Invasive Alien Plants in KwaZulu-Natal. • Pooley, E (2003). Mountain Flowers; A field Guide to the Flora of the Drakensberg and Lesotho. • Pooley, T. and Player, I (1995). KwaZulu/Natal Wildlife Destinations. • Pringle, John (1982). The Conservationists and the Killers. • Shepherd, Olive (1990). Wild Walks of Natal. • WESSA-KZN. (2008). Invasive Alien Plants in KwaZulu-Natal: Management and Control. A Wildlife Handbook . WESSA-KZN, Durban. • Zaloumis, N. and Cross, R (2005). A Field Guide to the Antelope of Southern Africa

Paddy Norman Branch Chair Southern KZN paddyn@telkomsa.net 084 285 1821

49 | African Wildlife & Environment | Issue 74 (2019)