Law could protect the blue swallow's diminishing breeding site. (23 November, 1998)

Kaapsehoop û The historical mining town of Kaapsehoop in Mpumalanga, which is famous for its wild horses and for being the natural habitat of the endangered blue swallow, may soon be declared a Protected Natural Environment.

Environmental officer at the Mpumalanga department of environmental affairs, Brian Morris, said recently that if the initiative was supported, the declaration would ensure the area, particularly the Kaapsehoop Natural Heritage Site, was given higher conservation status. "This area is important for the conservation of the blue swallow which is threatened as a migratory bird species on a global scale," he explained.

The birds arrive in Kaapsehoop from East Africa in spring to breed in the diminishing indigenous forests surrounding the town. About nine breeding pairs arrive each year, making the Kaapsehoop blue swallow population the highest breeding density in the world. Morris said the declaration of a Protected Natural Environment would also ensure the preservation of important and rare plants found in the surrounding grasslands and forests and would extend across both private and state land. Tourism would also be boosted, he added.

"The level of tourism in the area is substantial and there is further potential for tourism development focusing on ecotourism and adventure activities," he explained. The declaration would allow government, landowners, residents of the town and other interested parties such as birders or tour operators to manage and direct any future developments. It would also place restrictions on certain developments, such as road construction or the installation of telecommunication masts.

An advisory committee would be set up under the Protected Natural Environment declaration to advise on the future management of both the natural and man-made environment in the area. A workshop will be held shortly on the initiative. Any queries can be made to Morris or Cornelius Ruiters on (013) 759 4003.

News article provided by African Eye News Service