Fransmanshoek Conservancy

Information

ROLES FULFILLED BY FRANSMANSHOEK CONSERVANCY


Fransmanshoek Conservancy is an organisation established in 1994 that aims to conserve the area’s ecological integrity.  The area has been identified as having great ecological importance and deserves a high conservation status.  Fransmanshoek Conservancy forms part of the Gouritz Initiative (GI).  The GI is a landscape-wide initiative managed by CapeNature which aims to create an ecological corridor along the Gouritz River linking the Karoo to the sea.  Fransmanshoek Conservancy facilitates the Gouritz Eastern Coastal Corridor Project (GECCP), the eastward stretching coastal arm of the GI.  Animals and plants can migrate along this corridor in response to environmental disturbances such as fire or global warming.

The conservancy has grown steadily from a small group of concerned land owners to an organization which now oversees 18 km of coastline, and inland areas, stretching from Cape Vacca Private Nature Reserve to Springerbaai Eco-Estate.  For 2008 the conservancy employed a full-time Senior Ranger qualified in Nature Conservation to fulfill the under-mentioned functions.  The ranger, Wayne Meyer, has already been employed by the conservancy for a year while completing his studies and is therefore already familiar with the area, residents and associated problems or concerns. 

What roles does Fransmanshoek Conservancy fulfil in the area?

  • The conservancy holds environmental education events for over 200 pupils from five of the local schools.  Three events are held annually which are greatly valued by the schools, their pupils and the community. 
  • Coastal law enforcement patrols are conducted throughout the year.  On these patrols inspections are done on all anglers and bait collectors, including commercial oyster harvesters, to ensure that all are abiding by the Marine Living Resources Act.  Terrestrial day and night patrols have also been conducted since the reporting of illegal game hunting in the area in 2006.  
  • The conservancy ranger may assist all conservancy members with matters related to nature conservation such as alien vegetation removal, the monitoring of illegal developments, snake removals, problem animal capture and general conservation advice and information, among other things.   
  • Upkeep and maintenance of public areas within the conservancy such as erosion control, rehabilitation of vegetation, litter picking, minor gravel road maintenance, signage and the upkeep and maintenance of visitor facilities. 
  • Although the ranger will not be a security guard, he will nonetheless fulfill the function of a general security presence whilst patrolling and living in the area.  He will keep an eye on vacant holiday homes and monitor suspicious-looking characters and activities.
  • The conservancy registers and gives input in all environmental impact assessment processes for proposed developments etc. within the area and gives feedback to all conservancy members.
  • The conservancy strives to create conservation awareness in the greater area by erecting posters, doing presentations, such as awareness campaigns and pamphlet distribution, putting articles in the local newspaper and generally educating the public during day-to-day conversation.
  • The conservancy collects important ecological data in the area such as rain measurements, Black Oystercatcher statistics, fixed point photography, faunal surveys and general biotic monitoring.  This data is used by the conservancy and CapeNature to monitor long-term ecological trends in the area and assist in decision-making processes. 
  • The conservancy rangers also do ecological research in the area.  To date, research has been done on insect representation over different veld types, intertidal organism populations, small mammal representation and individual Milkwood characteristics when sampled at different distances from the sea.  
  • The Conservancy has provided placement for students which has led to the successful completion of four Nature Conservation National Diploma’s.
  • The conservancy coordinates and performs beach cleanups for the area.
  • The conservancy ranger works hand-in-hand with Marine and Coastal Management and CapeNature doing law enforcement and keeping them up to date with happenings in the area.
  • The conservancy applies for funding for the execution of conservation-oriented projects,  such as the removal of alien vegetation and the rehabilitation of the area, and the conservancy ranger may act as the Project Manager for these projects.
  • General administration. 
  • Patrols are conducted with assistance from Marine and Coastal Management, Cape Nature, and the backing of the Mossel Bay Municipality.

All of the above roles which the conservancy fulfills are for the benefit of the long-term conservation of the area.  The conservation of the ecology of the area also adds to the aesthetics and soul of the area, the tourism value of the area and the value of homes and properties within the area, in this ever-increasing conservation-conscious world.

Wayne Meyer
Senior Ranger
Fransmanshoek Conservancy

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