‘Stop unnecessary walls, fencing to save wildlife’

GEORGE NEWS - Increasing development in Wilderness Heights has brought a proliferation of fencing and walls around large properties, with devastating consequences for wildlife.

The populations of wild pigs, porcupine, duiker, caracal and bushbuck in the area have dwindled significantly, according to long-time resident Rozann Coppin.

She says although the area is still very rural, there have indeed been dramatic changes - for the worse. She has lived here for several decades. "It used to be fynbos veld. Now we have people planting crops and spraying poison that pollute our groundwater, chopping down trees, and erecting high fences and walls," she complains.

Dr Arne Witt, international project coordinator for the Global Environment Facility/United Nations Environment Facility (GEF/UNEP) programme, who lives in Wilderness Heights, says fences destroy the natural pathways of wild animals, often separating the young from their mothers and leading to their death.

"Young animals are naive when it comes to fences and have no idea how they should deal with them. It means that fewer and fewer youngsters survive into adulthood, so we will lose all of our bushbuck in the long term."

He says the George Municipality must stop the erection of unnecessary and damaging fences, and work towards establishing corridors. "It is within their powers to do something to achieve a long-lasting legacy for those that come after us."

He says in most cases, the reasoning that walls and fencing provide security does not hold water. "A fence that is not monitored 24/7 provides a false sense of security."

Charles Scott of the Wilderness and Lakes Environmental Action Forum (Waleaf) has also expressed concern that building control regulations pertaining to fences are not enforced consistently. There has been an instance where the municipality is considering an application for relaxation in height restriction for a wall after the owner had illegally erected the wall.

Policy to be developed

According to municipal planning and development director Lauren Waring, the department recognises the need for policy that better addresses the erection of fences and walls around smallholdings in rural and semi-rural landscapes across the municipal area. "We will soon start with relevant procedures to compile and approve such policy and possible related by-laws."

She said the department has recently appointed a dedicated environmental officer to set policy and strictly monitor and enforce it.

The policy may include a fining system through which an offender could pay by planting suitable indigenous trees in designated areas for afforestation and to address issues such as alien invasive vegetation management, fire management, lack of dedicated conservation spaces and sense of place.

Waring said Waleaf and other relevant stakeholders will be given opportunity to inform the compilation of policies.

"These policies must balance the rights of property owners to erect walls and fences to protect their property and family with long-term sustainable solutions that would address development requirements as well as maintain the unique wild nature of the region."

Scott says the municipality's response is "the usual standard lip service" that Waleaf always receives.

"Nothing is ever adequately addressed, and no time frames are ever given. It has taken the municipality 12 years to fill the vacant post of environmental officer."

Two young male bushbuck on Erica Road in Wilderness Heights photographed recently. They were looking for a way through the fences.