Silverglen Nature Reserve
LocationChatsworth, South Africa
Coordinates29°55′54″S 30°53′32″E / 29.9316013°S 30.8923483°E / -29.9316013; 30.8923483
Area460 ha (1,100 acres)
Governing bodyeThekwini Municipality

Silverglen Nature Reserve is a 460 hectare conservancy on the Umlaas River located aside the suburb of Silverglen, Chatsworth, KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa.[1] The reserve is the largest piece of coastal grassland and bush clump mosaic in Greater Durban, and is home to the first medicinal plant nursery in Africa, established in 1986.[2][3]

Plants and Animals

Silverglen Nature Reserve has the highest number of tree and bird species of any of the nature reserves in Durban.[4] Over 280 grassland plant species, and over 35 grass species are naturally occurring in the reserve.[2] Of the 120 tree species in the reserve, notable specimens include the forest milkberry, red beech, forest bushwillow and the silver oak. The reserve attracts a number of bird species, including the Narina trogon, green malkoha, and Burchell's coucal.[2][4]

Crime and Land Invasions

The nature reserve was closed to the public during the 1990s due to violent crime, but was reopened in 2017.[4][5] In 2018, residents from the nearby Umlazi township began illegally demarcating land in the reserve for settlement in what has been named a land invasion.[6][7] The eThekwini Municipality has since erected a fence around the reserve to prevent further attempts at land grabs,[8] and following the discovery of a body in the reserve, an entrance was shut down by authorities.[5] In March 2021 two municipal game rangers on patrol were killed by unknown gunmen.[9][10][11] Following the discovery of another body in the reserve in April 2021, two men were arrested for murder.[12]

References

  1. ↑ "Chatsworth Nature Reserve has potential for eco-tourism". www.cityofdurban.co.za. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
  2. 1 2 3 Olivier, Willie. Hiking trails of South Africa (Fourth ed.). Cape Town, South Africa. ISBN 9781775846024. OCLC 1015238773.
  3. ↑ "Silverglen Nature Reserve and Nursery | Open Green Map". www.opengreenmap.org. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
  4. 1 2 3 "Community enjoys picnic at Silverglen Nature Reserve dam". Rising Sun Chatsworth. 9 November 2015. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
  5. 1 2 "Discovery of another body leads to Silverglen Nature Reserve's closure". Rising Sun Chatsworth. 30 July 2019. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
  6. ↑ "Landgrabs - Silverglen Nature Reserve not off limits | The Mercury". www.iol.co.za. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
  7. ↑ "Protesters demand land and housing at Silverglen Nature Reserve". Rising Sun Chatsworth. 26 June 2018. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
  8. ↑ "City to fence Chatsworth's Silverglen Nature Reserve to stop land invasions | Independent on Saturday". www.iol.co.za. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
  9. ↑ "Mayor Kaunda Condemns the Killing Of Two Municipal Game Rangers In Chatsworth". www.durban.gov.za. Retrieved 23 March 2021.
  10. ↑ "Game rangers killed in a hail of bullets at Silverglen Nature Reserve". Rising Sun Chatsworth. 5 March 2021. Retrieved 23 March 2021.
  11. ↑ "Warning over Silverglen Nature Reserve safety". www.iol.co.za. Retrieved 23 March 2021.
  12. ↑ "Two arrested following murder at Silverglen Nature Reserve". Rising Sun Chatsworth. 19 April 2021. Retrieved 22 April 2021.
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