Almost half of the Hartbeespoort dam is covered with hyacinth
Breakfast with Martin Bester spoke to Rudy Joles, CEO of Harties Foundation, over the growing hyacinth problem at Hartbeespoort dam. Here's how you could help!
Breakfast with Martin Bester spoke to Rudy Joles, CEO of Harties Foundation.
This comes after growing concern over the excessive growth of algae and water hyacinth.
According to Joles, this is a problem that has been ongoing for more than 50 years.
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Joles told Martin Bester that almost 900 hectares of the Hartbeespoort dam is now covered with hyacinth.
“Almost 900 hectares of the dam is covered by hyacinth, and it grows about four to eight hectares daily,” he said.
“This is causing severe problems for investment, housing, jobs. No clubhouse can operate. It’s affecting everyone and anyone that has anything to do in Harties.”
Speaking about a possible solution, Joles confirmed that The Harties Foundation was given permission by the government to solve the hyacinth issue.
This will be done by physically going onto the dam with a vessel or boat and removing the hyacinth by hand.
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“The solution is entirely doable and practical,” said Joles. “The only thing standing in our way now is help and funding,” he continued.
For anyone who would like to help, please contact The Harties Foundation at [email protected]. ‘The Hartbeespoort Rehabilitation Project,’ aims to clear the dam in a sustainable and solution-driven manner.
According to the Harties Foundation CEO, if nothing is done, the dam could be entirely covered by hyacinth by August this year.
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