By Sunel Craythorne | Fundraising Administrator
We are happy to report back on our land restoration project at HERD Trust.
We have 2 new dedicated Nature management students joining our team during the 3rd year of their studies. During their time at HERD, our conservation students immerse themselves in a diverse range of conservation activities, gaining hands-on experience while contributing to our vital initiatives. They help with road maintenance and erosion control, and everything involved in helping to restore our elephants’ home. Our students explore the complexities of land restoration, wildlife management, and habitat conservation while with us. They cultivate a deep appreciation for nature and a sense of responsibility toward its protection.
Our land rehabilitation work in the reserve is running smoothly. However, we have had far below-average rainfall to start the year off. We are busy with different techniques to combat erosion and rehabilitate key areas on the reserve.
When there are open areas of soil, there is nothing to slow down the flow of water which in turn causes it to flow faster and wash away important topsoil. We therefore rip small trenches into the soil in contours with the slope of the ground which helps to slow the water flow and collects biomaterial and seeds washed down by the water. Slowly the area should start to sprout grasses and stabilise.
We are still constructing gulley plugs, which we use for small erosion channels where erosion occurs. By making these plugs at the base of the gully, we stop them from becoming larger over time. When water and debris flow down the channel, they build up behind the gulley plug and prevent it from becoming larger. The material recedes backwards, filling the gulley and providing an area for soil and grass to grow.
Brush packing forms part of our work to restore and maintain the land. This helps vegetation to be slowly rehabilitated. First, it requires us to dig up the compacted ground and then we start to plant wild grass seeds, adding on a layer of our very own elephant dung on top. Lastly, we pack the entire area with thorny branches to stop herbivores from eating the grass while it is establishing itself. Over time, the branches will decompose and create nutrition for the soil and the grass will start to spread. We have witnessed the success of this in many parts of the reserve where we have carried out this work, with the help of our conservation students and the JabuLadies, our HERD women’s empowerment initiative.
In addition, we have been creating cement pyramids which we place around important trees that need protection from our elephants and other wildlife in the reserve. We have surrounded many marula trees and other key trees that large animals may debark or push over. This helps the trees to grow stronger and provide for the animals in our wilderness for longer. Trees are important for so many reasons – they provide shade, shelter, food, and nutrition to big and small animals, and help stabilize the environment.
To all those who have donated to this vital project, thank you for helping the herd and other wildlife in this important way. Ensuring that their home is able to look after them now and long into the future is a vital part of our mission, for the benefit of all the species sharing our home with us.
Warm wishes,
Adine and the HERD Team
By Sunel Craythorne | Fundraising Administrator
By Sunel Craythorne | Fundraising Administrator
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