Page 19 - Landscape-Issue136(2)

FEATURE

Ecological benefits of urban
forests
Urban forests are living, breathing growing
organisms that silently deliver ecosystem
services to people. According to the
science, the ecosystem services generated
by urban forests include the ability to limit
localised air pollution, reduce surface
heating and thermal discomfort, aid in
the survival of urban-adapted wildlife,
improve property values, and provide a
sense of place and personal identity for
community members.
Despite this, forests and cities have
generally not been compatible. In Durban,
natural historian Donal McCracken
relates how survivors of the shipwrecked
Stavenisse in 1680 observed “dense
forests with tall straight and thick trees…
fit for ship timber.” These forests fringed
the early Port of Natal where the village
of Durban would develop. Flamingos,
pelicans, spoonbills, fish eagles and hippos
lived in the steamy mangrove swamps of Green Twin Spot, found in the Virginia Bush Nature Reserve. Photo by Hugh Chittendon
Beechwood and Bayhead.
Richard Boon identified seven different
forest types in Durban including dune
forest at the beach, mangrove forest at
the bay and northern coastal forest that
dominated the Berea and Bluff ridges. He
then developed an estimate of the extent
of the total historic forest in 1850 as 57 174
hectares, and the current extent to be some
63% of the original forest, totalling 35 868
hectares.
Pigeon Valley Nature Reserve
Portions of the original Glenwood forest
still remain within Pigeon Valley Nature
Reserve (PVNR), a ten hectare remnant
of coastal forest on Durban’s Berea. The
original forest grew on the eastern slopes of
the Berea ridge, stretching from the Umbilo
River in the south to the Umgeni River in
the north. The reserve nestles just below
Howard College, UKZN, and is flanked by Red Duiker. Photo by Pieter Verheij
suburbia on each side. The reserve boasts a
high level of local biodiversity richness with
a current bird list of some 152 species and
an indigenous tree list of 110 species. Delegorgue in 1847. Robins are prolific in of 23 August 2018 as part of the National
Vegetation at PVNR consists largely of the reserve and the Natal Robin may easily Environmental Management: Protected
what Boon describes as northern coastal be spotted foraging in the leaf litter layer, Areas Act (NEM: PAA, Act No. 57 of 2003).
forest, a rich sub-tropical forest with species while forest raptors include Black Kite, This was the fruit of collaboration between
including the Natal Elm (Celtis mildbraedii) Black Sparrow Hawk, African Goshawk, eThekwini Municipality and Ezemvelo
and the Natal Loquat (Oxyanthus pyriformis and the Spotted Eagle Owl. Red Duiker are KwaZulu-Natal Wildlife (EKZNW). The
subsp. Pyriformis). The former is endemic resident in the reserve, troops of Vervet proclamation process also appointed
to the area and is a surviving relic from monkeys feed in the forest and various local eThekwini Municipality as the management
the original Stella or Glenwood Bush. The snakes have been spotted. Pigeon Valley authority.
protection of this tree within the reserve is frequented by members of the Natal This secondary regenerating forest is
gives it national heritage status. A close Bird Club and the Friends of Pigeon Valley, characterised by pioneering species such
relative of the White stinkwood (Celtis a special community interest group that as Flat Crown trees (Albizia adianthifolia),
africana) also found in the reserve, the Natal liaises with the city on the management of Coastal Gold leaf (Bridelia micrantha) and
elm is characterised by its larger leathery the reserve. Pigeonwood (Trema orientalis). Being part of
leaves and distinctive flaring buttress roots. the coastal lowland forest, the reserve also
The Natal loquat is a member of the Coffee Virginia Bush has stands of Wild banana (Strelitzia nicolai)
family (Rubiaceae) and forms an attractive Virginia Bush Nature Reserve, situated and Silverleaf (Brachylaena discolour). There
garden subject with its glossy green leaves approximately 15 km from the centre of are reportedly more than 170 species of
and gardenia scented flowers. Durban across the Umgeni River is some plants within the reserve.
The reserve was initially named after the 49, 85ha in size. It was formally proclaimed Bird species include the Boubou Shrike,
Bronze-naped Delegorgue’s Pigeon, which a protected area in 2018, through the Bush Shrike, Flycatcher, Blue Billed Firefinch,
was first collected here and described by KwaZulu-Natal Gazette Notice No 1988 Southern Black Flycatcher, Green Twin Spot

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