KNYSNA NEWS - Following on the last article published (KPH, July 6) about the predicament the Brenton blue butterfly (Orachrysops niobe) may find itself in and the request for sponsors to help fund research into its future, the Brenton Haven beachfront resort rose to the occasion and donated R50 000 to the Brenton Blue Trust at a function held at the resort's restaurant Butterfly Blu, on July 26.
As general managerof the resort Sarie Exton stated, the butterfly is intrinsically linked to the establishment. From the name of the restaurant, the name of the deli Indigo – in honour of the fynbos plant Indigofera arrecta on which the butterfly is totally reliant, to the names of the suites in the hotel, each of which is named after a species of butterfly that is on the red list due to its threat of extinction, the butterfly is regarded as part of the resort and they are championing it.
The gymnasium is called Brenton Active, with its mission to follow the cycle of the butterfly in achieving a metamorphosis for its members and embracing change. The waiters were sporting their butterfly wings in honour of the occasion.
Long history
Dr David Edge, who is the chairperson of the trust and who gratefully accepted the donation, reminded the audience that the history linking the butterfly to the site of the resort extends back 22 years. It was on the same site occupied by the restaurant today that – at the then Brenton-on-Sea Hotel – an auction was held in June 1995, when artworks generously donated by local artists were sold to raise funds.
These were subsequently used to obtain an urgent court interdict preventing the owner of one of the stands hosting the butterfly and the garden landscaper from disturbing the vegetation on the property. On the day of the auction, Edge stated, their hosts were Eddie and Anne Bain who, 22 years later, were in the audience to witness the handover of the donation.
The battle to save the butterfly, instead of knowingly watch the extinction of the species, forms part of South African history and has been hailed as a victory for conservation.
Finally, on April 30, 1997 the then minister of the environmental affairs and tourism Pallo Jordan exercised his powers in terms of section 31A of the Environment Conservation Act of 1989.
This was the first time in the country's history that section 31A was successfully applied and the sale and development of the 13 erven at Brenton-on-Sea was halted. The ground was subsequently expropriated and the Brenton Butterfly Reserve run by the trust was created. The Brenton Blue saga has been used nationally as a case study of biodiversity conservation.
Eddie and Ann Bain have been supporting the Brenton blue butterfly project for 22 years.
Another crisis
Edge went on to state that "22 years later the Brenton Blue faces another existential crisis, following the great Knysna fire".
"Nature has amazing powers of recovery and over the next few months and years we expect first the plants, then the ants and finally the Brenton Blue will 'arise like a phoenix from the ashes' and re-establish themselves," he said.
"To witness and record this seeming miracle we have assembled a team of top environmental scientists, including botanists specialising in fire recovery, who will meticulously record the growth of new plants, ant experts who will track the establishment of a new ant community, and butterfly experts who during November will be on the lookout for that miracle.
"This wonderful donation from Brenton Haven will go a long way towards funding this pioneering research, which will enable us to learn so much about how these organisms survive and recover from fire."
Edge went on to say that, while this donation will go a long way towards funding the research, further funds are needed to complete the study. Any contribution will be greatly appreciated and nature lovers and concerned parties are urged to donate to the trust via www.brentonbluetrust.co.za, or by making a direct deposit into its bank account, details of which are: Brenton Blue Trust, Nedbank acc no. 2089033681, branch code 108914), reference "Knysna Fire".
He concluded by thanking all present for their continued support and warmly thanked the owners and staff of the resort for the generous donation and hosting the function.
The Knysna-Plett Herald looks look forward to following the progress of this project.
ARTICLE: JULIE JEFFERYS, KNYSNA-PLETT HERALD CORRESPONDENT
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