Iphithi Nature Reserve

Last updated
Iphithi Nature Reserve
Dam in Molweni-boloop, Iphithi Natuurreservaat.jpg
Small dam in the mPhiti stream
South Africa KwaZulu-Natal relief location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Location on a map of KwaZulu-Natal
Location KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
Nearest city Pinetown
Coordinates 29°47′24″S30°48′02″E / 29.79000°S 30.80056°E / -29.79000; 30.80056
Established2001

The Iphithi Nature Reserve conserves 12 ha of forest and wetland in the Molweni River's upper catchment in northern Gillitts, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. It was founded in 2001 by a group of nearby residents, and is managed by the Gillitts Conservancy, which also oversees the Minerva grassland.

Contents

Setting and origins

It is situated in the mPhiti valley, which is flanked by Ashley and Edward drives. A stand of invasive eucalypts was present here for 50 years up to 2001. Residents bordering the valley organised a committee and contracted a logger to fell these. The committee was paid a lump sum for the valuable timber which it used to establish the reserve, fence off additional entrances and pay for the laying of paths, building of viewing decks and planting of indigenous flora. Some residents bordering on the reserve have pulled their fences back increasing the overall size of the reserve. [1]

Fauna and flora

Its indigenous forest, wetland and grassland are home to many species of birds and small mammals, and the small dam which was built is populated with fish. Bushbuck, blue duiker, porcupine, dassies and mongooses are resident [1] and some 47 species of bird have been recorded. [2] The plant life is diverse but many exotic species are present.

Facilities

The walks and park benches are popular with the residents, especially on weekends. The pathways meander around the reserve, and includes a boardwalk over the wetland. Lawn areas around the dam are suitable for picnics, and a small gazebo and deck near the entrance are available for a braai. [1]

Access

Since May 2013 the entrance gate in Edward drive is however closed at all times due to crime issues and inconsiderate revellers, and access is arranged by means of a computer and cell phone system. Phone numbers displayed at the entrance gate can be used upon arrival in order to gain access and again to leave the premises. An Iphithi sundowner stroll is arranged from time to time. [3] Monthly donors have automatic access.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve</span> American national park in Colorado

Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve is an American national park that conserves an area of large sand dunes up to 750 feet (230 m) tall on the eastern edge of the San Luis Valley, and an adjacent national preserve in the Sangre de Cristo Range, in south-central Colorado, United States. The park was originally designated Great Sand Dunes National Monument on March 17, 1932, by President Herbert Hoover. The original boundaries protected an area of 35,528 acres. A boundary change and redesignation as a national park and preserve was authorized on November 22, 2000, and then established on September 24, 2004. The park encompasses 107,342 acres while the preserve protects an additional 41,686 acres for a total of 149,028 acres. The recreational visitor total was 527,546 in 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie</span> Largest tallgrass prairie restoration area in the United States, located in Illinois

The Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie (MNTP) is a tallgrass prairie reserve and similarly preserved as United States National Grassland operated by the United States Forest Service. The first national tallgrass prairie ever designated in the U.S. and the largest conservation site in the Chicago Wilderness region, it is located on the site of the former Joliet Army Ammunition Plant between the towns of Elwood, Manhattan and Wilmington in northeastern Illinois. Since 2015, it has hosted a conservation herd of American bison to study their interaction with prairie restoration and conservation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">RSPB Dearne Valley Old Moor</span> English wetlands nature reserve

RSPB Dearne Valley Old Moor is an 89-hectare (220-acre) wetlands nature reserve in the Dearne Valley near Barnsley, South Yorkshire, run by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB). It lies on the junction of the A633 and A6195 roads and is bordered by the Trans Pennine Trail long-distance path. Following the end of coal mining locally, the Dearne Valley had become a derelict post-industrial area, and the removal of soil to cover an adjacent polluted site enabled the creation of the wetlands at Old Moor.

Gillitts is a town in the KwaZulu-Natal Province of South Africa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve</span> Natural public land in Orange County, California, US

Bolsa Chica State Ecological Reserve is a natural reserve and public land in Orange County, governed by the state of California, and immediately adjacent to the city of Huntington Beach, California. The reserve is designated by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) to protect a coastal wetland and upland, with both migratory and resident threatened and endangered species of wildlife and wildflowers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wildlife of Togo</span>

The wildlife of Togo is composed of the flora and fauna of Togo, a country in West Africa. Despite its small size the country has a diversity of habitats; there are only remnants of the once more extensive rain forests in the south, there is Sudanian savanna in the north-western part of the country and larger areas of Guinean forest–savanna mosaic in the centre and north-east. The climate is tropical with distinct wet and dry seasons. There are estimated to be over 3000 species of vascular plants in the country, and 196 species of mammals and 676 species of birds have been recorded there.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Happy Valley Forest</span>

Happy Valley Forest is a 6.48 square kilometre provincially significant ecological area, classified as an Area of Natural and Scientific Interest by the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources. It consists of an upland forest on steeply rolling topography, various wooded swamps, and minor wetland areas. A few small kettle ponds are also present.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Boggs Lake Ecological Reserve</span> Nature reserve in Lake County, California

The Boggs Lake Ecological Reserve is a nature reserve in Lake County, California. The land area is about one quarter of a square mile and contains a large vernal pool as well as endangered plants such as the Boggs Lake hedge-hyssop.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Refugio Mbaracayú</span>

The Mbaracayú (Maracaju) Biological Sanctuary is a binational reserve, located on the border between Paraguay and Brazil. It is one of the sites earmarked as ecological reserve by Itaipu Binacional, which operates the Itaipu Dam. Itaipu is the largest dam in production in the world, located between Paraguay and Brazil. It was founded in 1984 and is located at 300 km north of the city of Hernandarias. It has 1,356 ha. The refuge is managed by these two countries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cosumnes River Preserve</span> Jointly managed protected area in the Central Valley of California

The Cosumnes River Preserve is a nature preserve of over 51,000 acres (210 km2) located 20 miles (30 km) south of Sacramento, in the US state of California. The preserve protects a Central Valley remnant that once contained one of the largest expanses of oak tree savanna, riparian oak forest and wetland habitat in North America. Agricultural development has changed the landscape from groves of oaks and tule marshes to productive farmlands.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pigeon Valley</span>

Pigeon Valley is a Natural Heritage Park and formally declared municipal nature reserve in Durban, South Africa. It is an unusual example of an urban reserve with very high levels of biodiversity. It was established to provide protection for the Natal elm and other forest giants of the coastal climax forest. Another rare tree that occurs here is Natal forest loquat, which is endemic to the Durban area and to oNgoye Forest.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Scratchwood</span>

Scratchwood is an extensive, mainly wooded, country park in Mill Hill in the London Borough of Barnet. The 57-hectare site is a Site of Metropolitan Importance for Nature Conservation and together with the neighbouring Moat Mount Open Space. It is a Local Nature Reserve.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bentley Priory Nature Reserve</span>

Bentley Priory Nature Reserve is a Site of Special Scientific Interest and Local Nature Reserve in Stanmore in the London Borough of Harrow, surrounding the stately home of Bentley Priory. It is a 55 hectare mosaic of ancient woodland, unimproved neutral grassland, scrub, wetland, streams and an artificial lake, an unusual combination of habitats in Greater London.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Krantzkloof Nature Reserve</span>

The Krantzkloof Nature Reserve, managed by Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, conserves 668 ha of the Molweni and Nkutu River gorges that incise the sandstone Kloof plateau in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. The reserve conserves coastal scarp forest, sourveld grassland, a cliff face biotope, and aquatic environments along its rivers. Scarp forest is a threatened forest type, protected by South Africa's forests act of 1998, while the grassland is classified as KwaZulu-Natal sandstone sourveld, the most threatened terrestrial habitat in the Durban metropole. The reserve was established in 1950 and was augmented by land donations as late as 1999.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Springside Nature Reserve</span>

The Springside Nature Reserve, proclaimed in 1948, is situated in Hillcrest, KwaZulu-Natal. It conserves 21 ha of forest, grassland and wetland, and is managed by the eThekwini municipality and Hillcrest Conservancy. It was developed jointly by the Wildlife Society and the Hillcrest town board.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Klipriviersberg Nature Reserve</span> Largest nature reserve in Johannesburg

Klipriviersberg Nature Reserve is a nature reserve consisting of veld and koppies (hills) run by the Johannesburg City Parks. It is located 11 kilometres (6.8 mi) south of Johannesburg, in an area of 640 hectares. Home to many species of flora and bird life, it is also home to large and small mammals such as blesbok, zebra, wildebeest and duiker. The reserve has a number of hiking trails and archaeological sites, with the Bloubosspruit flowing through the area.

Silverglen Nature Reserve is a 460 hectare conservancy on the Umlaas River located aside the suburb of Silverglen, Chatsworth, KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa. The reserve is the largest piece of coastal grassland and bush clump mosaic in Greater Durban, and is home to the first medicinal plant nursery in Africa, established in 1986.

References

  1. 1 2 3 A. Torr, M. Gardiner. "Iphithi Nature Reserve: About". facebook. Retrieved 24 July 2014.
  2. "Iphithi Nature Reserve". Birds in Reserves Project. Animal Demography Unit. Retrieved 23 July 2014.
  3. The Iphithi Committee. "Gate system update". facebook. Retrieved 24 July 2014.

Commons-logo.svg Media related to Iphithi Nature Reserve at Wikimedia Commons