Browsing by Author "Mnisi, Bongani"
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- ItemThe Iingcungcu Project : restoring nectar feeding birds, building biodiversity leadership.(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2017-03) Mnisi, Bongani; Pauw, Anton; Geerts, Sjirk; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Science. Dept. of Botany and Zoology.ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Plant-pollinator interactions are threatened by habitat fragmentation and little is being done to mitigate its varying impacts. Thus the Iingcungcu study put together three chapters 1) aiming to establish a methodology to establish ecological corridors linking two protected areas using high school gardens as stepping stones planted with nectar producing plants; 2) Have nectar-feeding birds returned to restored sites?; 3) Did the study manage to nurture future leaders for biodiversity? The methodology included setting up a nectar producing and bird-pollinated plant species list for the Cape Floristic Region (CFR); criteria for establishment of ecological corridors and another for selection of suitable plants for planting at high schools; selection of suitable plants for planting within the study area. This chapter concludes with a communication and a media strategy used to communicate the study progress. The results following bird observations suggest that planting suitable nectar producing plants can restore nectar feeding birds, thus restoring plant-pollinator networks. An upward trend in bird abundance was observed on the two species i.e. Zosterops virens (Cape white-eye) and Cinnyris chalybeus (Southern double-collard sunbird). Furthermore, the results following interaction with grade 10 learners showed an increasing trend over time in the experimental group especially in their responses to one of the grouped questions that tested the knowledge variable. This concludes that there was a significant statistical interaction between the two variables Period (time) and Treatment. I found that learners are always eager to engage in new projects to learn new things and that their attitudes can change over time towards biodiversity when engaged in environmental education projects. Restorative efforts on a landscape scale, especially in urban ecosystems, can be best achieved when ecologists begin working together with social scientists. Biodiversity will continue its perilous path if it does not consider humanity its biggest partner in perpetual existence.