Bringing the curtain down on the 2014 Paddle for the Planet campaign, P4P together with the Ocean Heroes Movement were delighted to hand over a substantial cash donation to the Dusi Umngeni Conservation Trust (DUCT) team working tirelessly to rehabilitate the Umngeniu River mouth and estuary. Canoeist and visitors to Blue Lagoon and the river mouth into the Indian Ocean welcomed an improved state of the Umngeni River over the past few months, where DUCT has been actively involved with removing over 500 bags of rubbish bi-weekly from the Umngeni River, as well as treating alien types of plants infecting the river.
Five minutes with DUCT stalwart Bart Fokkens
Q. What is DUCT?
DUCT is an NGO formed by a group of canoeists concerned about the health of the Duzi and uMngeni river systems.
Q. What do you do at DUCT?
I manage a number of River Care teams working along the Lower uMngeni River from iSithumba down to Durban. These teams are usually involved with terrestrial alien plant control, and litter collection. I am also involved with invasive aquatic plant control, spraying herbicide and implementing biocontrol.
Q. What are the major issues DUCT are addressing?
- Monitoring failing sewage systems in Pietermaritzburg, and assisting with solutions.
- Solid waste collection from the river system using mainly litter booms.
- Educating communities about the importance of river health.
- Alien plant removal from the river and river banks.
- Monitoring water borne diseases such as bilharzia.
- Monitoring of sand mining operations to try and reduce illegal operations.
Q. Major challenges DUCT are facing?
Continuous funding is one of the challenges. Having had a 3 year contract with Lotto, a new contract has recently been signed with Dept of Environmental Affairs.
Q. DUCT is a Not for Profit Organisation, how much is the operating costs per annum?
DUCT can only operate within a budget of funds which have been secured. Operating costs have increased considerably since inception, in 2006 (R300K pa) to over R10M currently. Number of staff employed has increased dramatically and so has the size and impact of DUCT.
Q. Paddle for the Planet and Ocean Heroes raised R10K from the rally.
Every donation is appreciated and acknowledged! This money has been allocated towards the acquisition of equipment for river care, specifically removal of solid waste. Hay forks, Pool scoop nets, Life Jackets and litter booms.
Q. General advice to public to help conserve the Umgeni River and its mouth into the Indian Ocean?
Report any problems re river health to either DUCT or the new DEA HOTLINE.
Managing volunteers is not an easy job so we have decided to that best way of utilising volunteers is to use their personal skills: eg an engineer could advise on litter booms, doctor advise on Bilharzia and other water diseases, mapping and GIS work, donation of various items such as parking and storage of equipment. A mechanic could service a vehicle etc.
See more at www.duct.org.za
