Let me first assure you that you have a well co-coordinated hard working committee. I should like specifically to mention Felicity Ellmore who has been secretary for over 15 years and has provided accurate, practical notes and ensured efficiently run meetings.

We have had a new addition – Ms Jenny van Niekerk, who now helps Frank with his sterling work at the West Coast Field Study centre.

Let me highlight a few issues:

The House Crow: After a year of unsatisfactory interchanges with the NSPCA it has been decided not to pursue attempts to obtain ethics committee approval for this project. There are a number of reasons for this but the critical factor was revealed in their final communiqué when it was stated that they were opposed in principle to the use of poison.

There are a few administrative problems that require attention, but we are reasonably optimistic that these can be solved and the project can then go ahead. It is not pleasant to contemplate poisoning several thousand birds but let me assure you that reports from several countries attest to the need to remove this alien. To those who are pessimistic I would say look at Durban – their population of house crows is down to about 50 from around 4 - 5000.
Strandfontein: We have learnt a lot in our attempts to improve habitat, one being that nature doesn’t always play ball. You may know that we have concentrated on a few pans – P2 being one. Our aim was simple to lower the water level to increase wader habitat. However Typha also enjoyed this change of water level and became rampant. We have taken on the challenge and have decided to try and produce a “Typha” free habitat.
The reason is three fold; 

• to maintain the littoral edge, 
• to allow Scirpus reeds to become dominant improve habitat for passerines, and
• finally to allow for improved visibility.

Other good news is that construction of the Julie te Groen information centre is about commence. There were a number of reasons for delay, one being that the road to the centre had to be improved. Contractors have been appointed to construct a gravel road and this should start within the next few weeks.
Several major problems has not been successfully tackled – water hyacinth. – Salt, mechanical removal and poisons have been proposed. We are currently pursuing the salt option as it is less toxic than herbicides, but obtaining truck loads of salt is a major task.

Our second problem is finding a sponsor to allow us to continue this work once our funding from the City Council runs out in June 2009. So if anyone has any suggestions I would be most grateful to hear from them.

Finally I should like to compliment Eben Oldewagen our new conservator who has worked extremely hard and efficiently since his appointment in January.
We have had no further news on the ring road which would have threatened Strandfontein, but other proposed roads in the southern peninsula could have major implications and we are monitoring these developments.

Other projects include

Liesbeeck/Black River: We are actively negotiating with the owners of the river club to have the river’s edge revegetated and have a bird hide constructed. We have had constructive discussions with the Observatory in this regard.
Edith Stevens: Together with Stacy, the conservator, we are planning an open day with a view to initiating a Cape Flats Bird Club. We will keep you posted as we may well need help for this project.
West Coast Field Study Centre: Frank and Jenny continue their sterling work. Quite literally, thousands of children are introduced to nature and conservation through their efforts. Currently they are being plagued by rogue dogs but we are working to have them removed.
I feel pessimistic about extensions in Saldanha bay. Together with a number of other organisations we have expressed reservations about these developments, but the financial and political muscle of the developers is considerable and I do not see this development being halted. We are still awaiting the court judgement on the Myburgh extension on the perimeter of the West Coast Nat. Park. It is felt that should the decision go against the “greenies” there is little we can do, but we are optimistic that logic will prevail.

Two major national challenges have arisen – proposed mining in the Wakkerstroom area and development along the banks of the Berg River. Both these are receiving attention, and will no doubt feature prominently in next year’s report.

This is not all your committee has been involved in but I trust will give you some idea of the scope of the tasks which we tackled during 2007.

Dave Whitelaw
Chairman: Conservation Committee