District boost keeps Birdlife flying high

uThungulu District Municipality reaffirmed its long-standing support of the Zululand Birding Route with a R100 000 sponsorship cheque this week. At the handover were uThungulu Deputy Municipal Manager - Danie Lubbe, ZBR Manager - Michael Blose, uThungulu District Mayor - Ald Stan Larkan and Municipal Manager BB Biyela

Home to some of the world’s most rare and exotic species of birds, the Zululand Birding Route (ZBR) received a welcome boost of R100 000 from the uThungulu District Municipality last week. The ZBR is a conservation programme of Birdlife South Africa, aimed at creating awareness that birding tourism can generate income for destinations and local communities. Through the annual District sponsorships, the ZBR has kept the region’s birding spots firmly in the spotlight and showcased the route as one of the world’s most exciting birding destinations. Handing over the R100 000 sponsorship cheque, uThungulu District Mayor, Ald Stan Larkan said the valuable tourism and birding asset might have been hidden to the world had it not been for the tireless efforts of ZBR staff.‘uThungulu will most certainly continue giving consideration to grants of this nature as we are always kept fully abreast of the birding route activities and continued successes. ‘We are furthermore satisfied that our funding is being well accounted for and utilised, attracting many visitors to the area thereby benefiting our respective communities,’ said Mayor Larkan. The District Mayor said the ZBR was also instrumental in creating a new career path for previously disadvantaged South Africans through training as bird guides. Individuals are selected from communities’ neighbouring key birding areas for training courses, which ensure locals benefit from the natural resources in their region by creating job opportunities. The uThungulu District has in the past assisted the ZBR with much-needed funding for the publication of brochures and with the start-up funds to establish their own office in Richards Bay. The ZBR uses creative marketing tools and earnest lobbying with its European counterparts to ensure that bird lovers and tourists from across the globe travel to the region on regular tours and expeditions. There are over 605 bird species in the Zululand area.