Water
This fund supports activities which secure the vital water supply upon which our lives depend. Your investment supports activities which clear exotic weeds and invasive trees from rivers and which restore former wetland areas. This helps improve water supply and quality.
It is well-known in South Africa that exotic and invasive trees continue to cause big social and ecological problems. “Invasive species” are those plants and animals which originate from other countries and which, when introduced, successfully out-compete with native vegetation. For example, the widespread and dominating presence of trees such as the Australian Black Wattle (Acacia Mearnsii) are quietly and innocently drinking up to 34,000 litres per hectare per day (according to some local experts). In a water scarce region like South Africa’s Eastern Cape, this pinch on water supplies really hurts. And it affects everyone.
So in addition to less water available, other problems appear: poorer water quality, more soil erosion, damaged wetland areas and loss of important natural habitat for native wildlife.
And then there is the socio-economic issues which follow. Agriculture suffers though reduced water availability, reduced room for crops and grazing and less healthy soil. Both agriculture and urban areas may be hit with higher water prices. It becomes downward spiral as these invasive species proliferate. It is believed that the tourism potential suffers too as the region loses its healthy natural wilderness scenery…this very pristine aesthetic appeal which makes the Baviaanskloof special.
An investment in Elemental Equity’s “Water” helps us to address this issue. With teams comprised of local community members, we can target areas infested with “invasive species”. Through careful manual clearing (of mainly Black Wattle from sensitive wetland and riverine areas), Elemental Equity is enabling teams to free up scarce water resources and help native species re-establish. The timber harvested is used to support “micro-enterprises” with ambitions to sell firewood or utilise the biomass for small-scale renewable energy and eco-building projects.
(NOTE: The approach used for is based on the well-established national Working for Water programme though seeks to improve on long-term viability, efficiency and effectiveness.)
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