Aims & objectives of Botfriends (Friends of the Bot River Estuary and its Environs) 16 September 2018
Thank you all for the support in keeping Botfriends going.
Botfriends is a forum where you all can share concerns about the environment of the Bot River Estuary and Environs.
I remind you of the revised main aims and objectives of Botfriends
To promote the conservation of the Bot River Estuary and its Environs with an active team of volunteers carrying out suitable activities
To stimulate public interest in environmental affairs and create pride in its natural heritage
To cooperate with any other associations with similar aims
To assist with and/or co-ordinate with the local authorities in environmental matters in the interests of all concerned persons
Estuary mouth with good Fynbos in the foreground, Hawston sewage works and severely invaded alien vegetation stretching to the mouth.
Briefly, we are already involved with a number of current issues.
Estuary management. The present management system is not working and needs to be changed to a more stable system, encouraging much greater biodiversity, that will be sustainable in the long term
Alien clearing. We are presently losing the battle against clearing of invasive aliens. Recent work primarily by Bruce Beyer has shown that this can be turned around relatively cheaply where we work with nature and let nature do most of the work for us.
Developments. Such as the Yacht club. The present situation is not working as far as the environment is concerned and potential future development is on the cards. This must be environmentally sound and Botfriends has a major role to play here
The existing EIAs approved or in the process of approval are based on faulty data and biodiversity maps. We are in the process of establishing new biodiversity corridors from the water to the mountains and have agreement from Minister Bredell to proceed with a number of these issues. Some areas around the estuary have been so badly destroyed in recent years by poor or destructive management that they will cost too much to recover.
Botfriends can play a vital role in the greater picture and in many smaller things in viewing any issue which concerns the environment with a critical eye bearing in mind our aims and objectives.
Lets work together to achieve a stable and sustainable estuary and its environs.
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