Rare and Endangered Plants Project

  South Africa

Kwa-Zulu Natal

Durations of Program: 2-4 weeks, 5-8 weeks and 9-12 weeks
Typical Duration of Program: 2-4 weeks
Dates: Open all year

Description: The Manukelana Indigenous Nursery is situated outside the town of St. Lucia, and on the border of the iSimangaliso Wetland Park, where it enjoys a good relationship with the iSimangaliso Wetland Park Authority. Largely unassisted, the Manukelana Indigenous Nursery began independently contributing to conservation in 1999 by establishing a diverse collection of local indigenous plants, grown from seed, which it sold to passing visitors. More recently, this plant stock has been deployed in rehabilitation work on behalf of the iSimangaliso Authority and major urban greening in partnership with the African Conservation Trust. Manukelana currently boasts a palette of approximately 60 + different indigenous plant species, a stock of roughly three thousand plants, sound botanical and horticultural skills and an impressive record of growing local indigenous plants from seed.

Despite the successes of the Manukelana Indigenous Nursery as a sustainable enterprise the nursery business is often marginal, and work remains to be done in honing Manukelana's talents and identifying market opportunities for the sale of plants. After successfully partnering Manukelana in the greening of an RDP housing settlement in Mtubatuba, ACT's next goal is to specifically work towards establishing Manukelana as the leading local community run nursery in northern KwaZulu-Natal. This requires the following approach:

* maintain the current availability and diversity of local, indigenous woody species in modest numbers so that sales from this component continue
develop a small niche market of botanically interesting species i.e. rare, endemic, conservation-significant and medicinal plants that will attract local interest and maintain Manukelana's reputation in conservation circles
* develop new horticultural skills and a correspondingly new plant palette of Cycads, Orchids, Ferns and succulent species that are local, obtainable, easily grown and, most importantly, easily sold in markets both local and further afield
* establish market contacts for these species
* practical and conceptual mentoring required to operationalise the above

Manukelana will require help to grasp the necessity for a new approach, and to fully understand its relation to their long-term sustainability and autonomy. They will also require funding to operationalise this approach through:

* creating a better 'digital shop window' for the nursery to attract customers through the website.
* improved presentation of their product at the nursery in order to promote re-visits from customers
* researching selection of new plant palette
* different seed collection, propagation and nursery management techniques required for the change over to non-woody taxa
* equipment needed to grow plants i.e. compost, fertiliser, packets, seed trays etc.
* sourcing cuttings and seeds legally from conservation and surrounding areas with facilitation from the African Conservation Trust
* establishment of market linkages for new plant stock

Your Role as a Volunteer

As a volunteer you will assist the Manukelana team in all aspects of this project from the:

* collection and identification of seeds of key identified plant species in the surrounding area
* assisting with the specialised preparation of seeds for propagation
* propagation of seeds
* assisting with the marketing of the specialised plant palette
* general nursery work

As a volunteer you will also have the opportunity to experience the Zulu culture of the area under the expert guidance of the Manukelana team.

The specialised learning opportunities for anyone interested in Zulu culture and/or indigenous plant propagation and care is immense.

Highlights: Weekend activities are numerous, from exploring the iSimangaliso Wetland Park to visiting the nearby Imfolozi-Hluhluwe Game Reserve to premier wildlife viewing. The Manukelana team and your project manager can assit in planning these activities.

Cost in US$: 1900 per month

Experience Required: no

Age Range: 17 -70

This Program is open to Worldwide Participants. This Program is also open to Families, Couples and Individuals

Participants Travel to South Africa Independently

Typically Participants Work in Groups of 1-4

Application Process Involves:

• Written Application

Post-Program Services Include:

• Exit Debriefing Abroad

African Conservation Trust's Mission Statement: The African Conservation Trust is a registered South African Non Profit Organisation (NPO 030-243) and Public Benefit Organisation (PBO 930014758). The mission of the Trust is to provide a means for conservation projects to become self funding through active participation by the public. This gives ordinary people a chance to make a positive and real contribution to environmental, cultural and heritage conservation by funding and participating as volunteers.

Year Founded: 2000