5 June 2020 WEEKLY UPDATE

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Email info@capenature.co.zahttps://www.capenature.co.za/essential-

services-will-continue-lockdown/

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CAPENATURE welcomes the

announcement by the Minister of

Tourism to lift national lockdown

regulations under Alert Level 3 to

permit hiking and fishing activity.

While we are eager to open up

access to our 27 nature reserves

across the Western Cape to pro-

vide some much needed relief

for our struggling tourism sector,

we would much rather approach

this safely and at the appropriate

time, for our staff and visitors.

We are working diligently to get

our properties compliant and

visitor ready. We will have a

staggered approach to opening

selected reserves for hiking and

recreational fishing etc. but for

the time being all our nature

reserves currently remain closed.

Members of the public will be

notified of any changes as visitor

safety is our top priority.

What was previously described as an environ­mental disaster may well be a saving grace for many families suffering financially from the results of the COVID­19 lockdown.

Earlier this year, the devastating news of the carp infestation of Groenvlei made headlines, with many clamouring for a solution to be found. Now it seems that this same species of fish will go a long way to meeting the growing demand for hunger relief to those in need within the Greater Knysna area.

A specialised local volunteer team has been working in partnership with CapeNature for the past two years, attempting to substantially re­duce the population of the invasive Carp species. Now, thanks to the combined efforts of this team, CapeNature, Gift of the Givers and Knysna

Municipality, a plan has been put to gether to dis­tribute the harvested fish as a valuable source of protein for locals struggling to put food on the table.

CapeNature, the custodians of Groenvlei, has issued a permit to four private individuals to har­vest this nutrient rich fish. Knysna Municipality has produced an informative brochure on how to gut and clean the fish which will be included in the Gift of the Givers fish food parcel.

Gift of the Givers will be distributing the food parcels, using the Knysna Municipal Food Parcel Database to ensure fair and equitable distribu­tion. A lady who received one of the first carp – which weighed in at about 4kg – later reported that it had fed 13 people!

Groenvlei fish feeds families

Presents

Online presentations and Q&A on allthings nature this June in celebration of

LEARNING TO

18 June – Adults13h00 L i fe between the t ides13h30 Defend ing our c l imate f rom change14h00 An imal se l f ies – camera t raps for conser vat ion14h30 B iod iver s i t y – the key to more var ie ty15h00 No ra in , no ga in – a l l about ra inwater har ves t ing

World Environment Day, 5 June 2020

12 June – ages 13–18 13h00 Exp lor ing l i fe under water – our mar ine b iod iver s i t y13h30 L i v ing foss i l s - c ycads14h00 The fabu lous forms of f i sh14h30 Mag ica l fores ts

11 June – ages 8–12 13h00 The wonder fu l wor ld o f insects – nature ’s superg lue13h30 The web of l i fe – a l l about in terdependence14h00 Worms on a miss ion – ear thworms and compost ing

A spot prize will be drawn

at each session

FREE!

RSVP by 10 June

RSVP by 11 June

RSVP by 17 June

Queries and RSVP: learning@capenature.co.za

LEFT: Juan Ferreira, volunteer team member busy harvesting carp from Groenvlei lake.