Rare and Endangered Plants Project

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.

Project Location:

This project will be located at the Manukelana Indigenous Nursery, near the town of St.Lucia, just outside the Isimangaliso Wetland Park of northern KwaZulu-Natal.

Project Age Limit:

Minimum 17 years

The Rare and Endangered Plants Project

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.

Project Support

Throughout your stay on the project you will have the support of the Manukelana team as well as the project manager.

Project Orientation

On your first full day you will be given a comprehensive orientation by the Manukelana team, or one of the project coordinators. The orientation will include:

• An introduction to Zulu culture and values
• Basic local language lessons
• Your health and safety whilst on the project
• An introduction to the area, the rare and endangered plants project and the staff
• Local food and practices
• Places to visit and things to do in your free time
• Excursions Project Accommodation and Meals

You will initially be accommodated in a nearby backpacker lodge and collected daily for your work at the Manukelana Nursery. Once you have settled in you can choose to stay with one of the Manukelana team, if they have room, so as to greater experience local community life.

Leisure Activities

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.

Getting There

You will fly into Durban International Airport where you will be met by a project representative. You will then be transported by road to the Manukelana Indigenous Nursery about 250km's north of Durban.

Project Dates

Project dates for 2008 are:

The project is available from February 2008 onwards.

Project Costs

4 weeks £950

Project Cost Includes:

• Airport transfers to and from Durban International Airport
• Orientation on arrival
• All accommodation during your stay
• Full support and assistance from your coordinator throughout your time in South Africa
• Breakfast, lunch and dinner each day.

Project Cost Excludes:

• All flights
• Comprehensive travel insurance
• Any extra nights of accommodation before or after the agreed project start or end dates
• All items of a personal nature, such as curios, gifts, clothing.
• Email/Internet and telephone calls
• Soft drinks, beer, wines and spirits
• Any excursions over and above your planned itinerary in South Africa