by Jacob Baugh
For the last five weeks, I have been interning at NVT, focusing on hands-on conservation, community engagement, and learning more about the local environment. The main focus of my work has been investigating the vegetation occurring within the Groot river estuary. I have been identifying species in preparation for field surveys with the overall aim to produce species distribution maps across the site. This has been really eye opening to just how biodiverse Natures Valley is. The estuary is unique being a temporary open-closed system, potentially being a nursey for marine fish and nesting areas to variety of coastal birds. From just a few surveys we have seen Pied, Giant and Malachite King fishers, Thick-knees, Cape Cormorant and Reed Cormorant, Cape guls, Plover. The vegetation also supports other animals such as invertebrates, mammals, rodents and fish. It has been great to document these species and contribute to ongoing research efforts.
In addition to fieldwork, I’ve been involved in the Kids in Parks (KIPs) program. Helping guide activities like macroinvertebrate studies in rivers and rocky shore lessons has been really rewarding. Seeing kids get excited about marine life and learning about their environment has been a highlight of my time here and reinforces the importance of introducing environmental activities to children at a young age to spike their interest.
Aside from my own project I taken part in broader conservation efforts, including water quality monitoring, invasive species removal, and bird surveys. The CWAC bird count along the river banks of the Keurbooms river was defiantly a highlight for coastal birds, however being part of the bird ringing here in Natures Valley Phyll Martin Botanical Garden was hard to beat; I got to see Cape Robin-Chats, African Paradise Flycatchers, and other species up close.
Helping out with other interns’ projects has given me the chance to learn about different aspects of environmental research. Whether it’s hiking to conduct Mini SASS studies, removing barbed wire from reserves, or assisting with data collection, each experience has added to my understanding of the area. Even during our own time we have had the opportunity to snorkel in our local shores and estuaries where we were fortunate enough to see the Knysna Seahorse for example.
Overall, my time at NVT has given me valuable experience in conservation and research. I’ve gained practical skills, contributed to projects, and explored an incredible natural area. I look forward to continuing this work and learning more.
