Co-governance needs rules of engagement

This is the good NEWS – Ed.

News about the non-renewal after 60 years of the Hermanus Botanical Society’s (HBS) lease at the Fernkloof Nature Reserve (FNR) has spread like wildfire over the last few days.

The FNR and its management have been hot topics of debate ever since the municipality made public its Integrated Management Plan (IMP) in 2017. This plan came under heavy fire from conservationist lobby groups and resulted in the redraft- ing of the plan, which is yet to be officially approved.

The latest news has added fuel to the fire that the decision not to renew the lease is a further move by the municipality to forge ahead with its proposed development plans in the reserve. These plans included, amongst others, a zipline facility, a coffee shop, tourism offices and an education centre. Mention was even made of a cableway to the top of the mountain.

The FNR is one of our top-attractions and the work done over the past 60 years by the HBS has made the reserve world famous.

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