Chapter Five
5.5. Use value
The way in which people view KNR determines the type of value they place on it. If hikers were to view KNR as being over-run with alien invaders or picnickers were to view KNR as having poor recreational facilities, the corresponding value will be assigned to it. These views may, however, differ from a subsistence user who may regard the fruit of an alien invader (e.g. guava) as valuable.
Criminals place a high value on KNR since attacks may occur in isolated areas and there is plenty of area to hide away or to hide stolen goods. Thus funding appears not to be the only recreational threat to the reserve.
The crime factor within KNR boundaries has a negative impact on how the users value the site and one of the respondents approached for an indirect valuation in a shopping centre had reduced their visitation from frequent to not at all due to this threat. The need for security increases the concentration of dogs that puts pressure on the animals in KNR.
People will be much more willing to visit KNR if their security is assured and if the crime rate increases it will reduce the number of visitations and thus the potential income.
One of the main factors causing the high crime rate is the high rate of unemployment amongst the Emolweni community. It is therefore extremely important to develop income generating projects for the unemployed (potential muggers) as soon as possible in order that the high value associated with KNR will remain.
Crime and removal of forest produce that damages resource value are associated with entry at uncontrolled points, that is, at the bottom of KNR near Molweni and the Uve entrance near Kloof. Fencing these areas off to deter some of these activities as been futile since the fence has just been cut away and removed.
5.5.1. Water consumption
The value of KNR will diminish if safe water can no longer be consumed from the Emolweni River. Tables 5 - 15 and 5 - 16 estimate the possible costs to the community.
Table 5-15 - Estimated costs if2 00 people contracted gastro enteritus per annum (increase in toxicity).
Cost to cure sickness R20 X 2000=R40 000
Cost of transport R2 X 2000 = R 4 000
Income loss R50 X 1000=R50 000
TOTAL R94000
Alternatively, the cost to the community due to the deterioration in water quality (increase in sediment load) was estimated by the need to travel to obtain pure water or the cost of building 10 settlement tanks (Table 5 -
16).
Table 5-16 - Estimated settlement tank costs divided into materials and labor.
materials per tank R700 X 10 tanks = R 7000
Labour per tank RI300 X 10 tanks = R13 000
TOTAL R20000
If the tanks operate efficiently for 5 years then the cost per annum will be:
R20 000 / 5 = R 4000
Or ... the cost of travel to obtain pure drinking water can be estimated (e.g. 1000 peopleXR50 per annum = RSOOOO.
If both toxicity and sediment load were increased then the total cost to the community could be:R94 000+R4 000 = R98 000
5.5.2. Forest produce
The extent to which the goods and services provided by the indigenous forest of KNR are used by the community is unknown, but indigenous trees and plants are used extensively for medicinal purposes and for fire wood. Commuters between place of residence and work have access to KNR at the Upper and Lower Molweni areas resulting in the potential for abuse of the indigenous vegetation. Efforts to fence off these areas have failed due to the cutting and theft of the fence wire. Trees of which bark has been removed for medicinal purposes have been identified, but the removal of other plants e.g. bulbs cannot readily be quantified.
The cost of fencing has to be justified in terms of the gains likely to come from it, with crime figures down, removal of forest produce presumably occurring on a small scale and some people require openings to provide passages to work. The socio-economic and political context of the use of access points in the Molweni area will have to be taken into account.
The plant wholesale marketing study, considered as a direct, "consumptive" use is given a quasi option value ofR300 000.
Thus there is a lack of relevant data required to evaluate the subsistenceor commercial use of forest produce in KNR and will have to be estimated at R30 000 per annum. This will include the amount that comes from nursery sales.
To estimate the potential income for KNR we would need totake into account the extent of appropriate areas and accessibility; accessibility to vehicle pick-up points, to water,to markets etc. To estimate then one would have to do a feasibility study for all the potential areas. In thisway the total area open to the development of nurseries may be quantified and compared to the private land where the study took place. The estimate of R300 000 for this development project was arrived at as follows:
One person working on average once a week can build an income(average) ofRI 600 p.a. working in an area of approximately 0.4 ha. If we consider that approximately 10 % of KNR may be amenable to nursery development then this is 67.5 ha. The average income then forthis area is 67.5 /0.4 XRI 600= R270 000.
AddIDg the other R30 000 possibly obtained from the sustainableremoval of medicinal plants and from the KNR nursery, gives an estimation ofR300 000 p.a.
This would be an estimation value based on the sustainable removal of forest produce. The unsustainable consumptive value of forest produce in KNR will be much greaterthan the estimated R300 000
Indigenous plants are often assigned conservation or medicinalvalue. Common plants with little conservation value and limited medicinal value are generaUy left out in anyvaluation. These plants may, however, have significant horticultural value. Even disturbed areas have an inherent potential value owing to the horticultural value of different types of pioneer plants. Regenerated patches of indigenous plants allows saleable plants to be removed sustainably since many of these regenerated plants will not reach maturity since they regenerate in dense patches that only allows the more dominatingindividuals to survive.
Many of the plants tested for marketability were commonly found and thus not threatened. Ifvalue can be shown to exist for these plants that can be removed sustainablythen possibly interest in the utilisation of these plants will act as an alternative to the harvesting of muthi plants,which are being threatened. Keeping a low- key nursery at KNR to reduce the extent of competition with retailers in the area is understandable. Any nursery development then would be in the area of supplier, withplants that are harvested sold wholesale to the local nursery owners. Excess stock can be purchased by the localconservancies to use for the rehabilitation / landscaping of degraded public areas
Indigenous herbs, shrubs and trees are increasing in market value as more and more people wish to plant indigenous. Landscapers require indigenous plants and income could quite easily be generated from an indigenous nursery. Plants tested for their marketabitity are given below. UnJessotherwise referenced the description of these plants come from Botha& Botha, 1997.
Nurseries povide an opportunity for educatingthepublicabout the value of planting indigenous plants, in general, and about theparticularattributes of each plant Besides promoting indigenous plantsandwarning about alien invaders with the help of glossy pbotograpbs and information displayed in conservation pamphlets, detailed information on individualplantscould helpinthe popularisationandsale of the plants.
HERBS
·Scadoxys puniceus - snakelily
Striking
redlorange flower
(plate5-1)producedin in early spring. Bright redseedsinsummer.
Specially protected. Greatgardenandpotplant.Plate 5-1 - ScadaxyspwriCftS
*Crocosmia aurea - fallingstars
Brilliant
orange.
strikingflowers
(plate5-2)inmid tolatesummer, sun
IshadePlate 5-2 - Crocosmiaaurea
Plectranthus sp - fly bush.
Vigorouslygrowinggroundcoverwithpmplefoliage