UMGANO COMMUNITY PROJECT 

The Umgano Project is an initiative of the Mabandla Traditional Authority (MTA), which is administered by the Mabandla Community Trust, a legal entity established by the authority for the furtherance of its business interests, to benefit the Mabandla people in terms of local employment and business opportunities. The Umgano Project area is approximately 7 000 ha in extent, principally freehold land, presently on lease from the Department of Land Affairs, but also with a component of communal land. The project area has been zoned into four primary zones, a Natural Zone (approximately 1 300 ha, 18.5% of the area), a Commercial Afforestation Zone (c. 1 500 ha, 21.5% of the area), a Livestock Management Zone (2 200 ha, 31.5% of the area) and an Agricultural Zone (c. 1 500ha, 21.5% of the area). Two proclaimed State Forests, Umgano and KwaHoha, adjoin the project area. In addition, a community development sub-zone, outside the project area, about 500 ha in extent, will be employed for small-scale production of vegetables, small-stock and poultry.

The area is located within the Maloti-Drakensberg Transfrontier Project Area, and the Ntsikeni-Coleford Corridor in the Umzimkulu Local Municipality, and the Sisonke District Municipality. It was previously in the Eastern Cape Province, but has recently been incorporated into KwaZulu-Natal province. It is also located in the general vicinity of a number of important protected areas. It is 20 – 25 km south-east of the Ukhahlamba-Drakensberg Park World Heritage Site, and five other areas (Ntsikeni NR, Coleford NR, iGxalangenwa, Ntsikeni and KwaYili  State Forests) lie within a radius of about 15 km.

The area is located at the interface of two internationally recognized biodiversity hotspots (Drakensberg Alpine and the Maputaland-Pondoland Centres), which are characterized by high levels of species-richness and endemism. The principal vegetation types of the reserve include: high altitude grasslands and associated wetlands; Protea savanna; Podocarpus forests; riverine communities and cliff face scrub, most of which are in good condition. The natural communities present are important for the achievement of provincial nature conservation targets. They are also considered to play an important role as a viable reservoir for the re-population of wildlife (animals and plants) into surrounding areas.

The avifauna of the reserve is of special significance, by virtue of the high proportion of endemic and threatened birds present. The reserve plays a significant role in the provision of intact habitat for a range of seasonal altitudinal migrants from the Alpine and Sub-alpine Belts of the adjacent Ukhahlamba-Drakensberg Park World Heritage Site. Included in particular are grassland birds (e.g. Yellow-breasted Pipit, Anthus chloris, and Drakensberg Siskin Pseudochloroptila symonsi), wetland birds (e.g. White-winged Flufftail Sarothrura ayresii) and nectariferous birds (e.g. Gurney’s Sugarbird Promerops gurneyii and sunbirds such as Malachite Sunbird Nectarina famosa).