FOSTER Round Up 2024

This past year has been another exciting year with lots of activities, hard work, and excellent results from the invasive and alien clearing projects. Most importantly, we have been able to focus on and deliver on our vision to conserve, maintain, protect, and provide access to the biodiversity of the FOSTER–managed nature areas whilst promoting active stewardship of the environment and heritage. This enables us to fulfil our mission to nurture (foster) and preserve the biodiversity in the Irma Booysen, Seal Point, Seal Bay, and Cape St Francis Nature Reserves. Its secondary role is to ensure that the nature areas are accessible to the greater community and visitors.

Goals and Milestones

We also achieved a significant goal and important milestone, which many people have been working on for countless years: to have the Irma Booysen, Seal Point, and Seal Bay nature reserves officially declared as such. The proclamation notice was published in the Provincial Gazette on 20 September. This means that if no objections have been received within 60 days, what will be known as the Greater Irma Booysen Reserve will be formally declared as a municipal reserve, giving it the highest level of protection under our law, effectively securing safeguarding these areas in perpetuity. We have already been ensuring that the Cape St Francis Reserve is also incorporated. While there are challenges, these will be overcome to secure our reserve network for future generations.

Rotary Funding

Last year, Rotary provided funding for a pilot bitou removal project between the Hope Crescent and the tennis courts, which delivered more than the hoped-for results as the wetland recovered. Endemic and fynbos species were recovered, delivering a floral wonderland in October. This resulted in FOSTER embarking on a bitou clearing project around the lighthouse in August, with the first tangible results already in evidence, including the revival of some wetlands.

This, in turn, saw FOSTER again approaching Rotary for funding in October for two wetland rehabilitation projects in the Cape St Francis Nature Reserve, which was approved, and a three-week project commenced almost immediately. A big thanks to Rotary for all the work it does in supporting projects in the community and helping conservation.

The Fund-raising Events and Jols

Several fund-raising events, namely the “Jol”, the Wildflower and Shipwreck Experience and the Golf Day, helped to boost our lagging coffers as we struggled to maintain and increase our membership numbers. Fortunately, some very generous community-orientated people in our area support FOSTER with funding, which, on the one hand, helps boost employment whilst helping to remove aliens and maintain the trails and the general state of our reserves. A second 4-person team running independently has been formed under the banner of the “St Francis Alien Clearing Project” and working on adjacent land, funded fully for a year by a very generous local resident passionate about conservation and uplift- ing people through quality jobs. FOSTER committee members manage the team in their personal capacity, ensuring oversight and providing training.

The Elke M Shipwreck

The unfortunate wrecking of the Elke M at Shark Point slap bang in the middle of the Cape St Francis Reserve, saw FOSTER actively involved in preventing an environmental disaster with the unintended consequence of enhancing the Civics/Rotary/ FOSTER Shipwreck display at the entrance of the Irma Booysen Reserve as you enter the village which also saw the addition of a cannon which was kindly donated by the Cheetham family.

FOSTER is a nonprofit organization run by volunteers, funded through contributions from residents, property owners, and conservation-minded individuals. We invite you to visit our reserves and enjoy their beauty and tranquillity. Details of our trails, including maps, can be found on our website: foster.org.za. Why not become a member while on the website for a mere R350 annual family membership?