Halt Harmful Development on Botmaskop Mountain
The Issue
For centuries, the abundant beauty of Botmaskop has been a grounding feature of local life in the greater Banghoek valley. But a new, reckless development is staking claim to our shared ecological treasure and has already tarnished our beloved mountainside. The project has circumvented the correct application procedures, showing a clear lack of regard for our community’s attachment to Botmaskop, for the basic purpose of an urban edge, and for standard procedures and regulations.
Moreover, the development turns a blind eye to its substantial social and environmental impact. Botmaskop is not just a towering rock; it is a sensitive ecosystem, home to a variety of vulnerable species and functioning as the lungs of our local environment.
The grading of Botmaskop threatens biodiversity while disrupting ecological balance in the valley. More frequent sightings of snakes, porcupine quills, and a variety of spiders, in the residential areas surrounding the foot of Botmaskop, testify to a loss of natural habitat. The construction that has corroded the mountainside is an unwelcome scar carved into our communal morale.
Beyond being a refuge for wildlife and fynbos, Botmaskop holds the key to the physical and mental health of members of our community. It's a place where we walk, cycle, reflect, enjoy the company of our pets, and the raw beauty of nature. The mountain is more than a landmark; it is a symbol of our soaring human spirit.
This petition aims to stop the irregular development, and restore the integrity of Botmaskop, for the benefit of generations to come. We urge our local authorities to take into account the environmental and social implications of this project together with the symbolic insult it communicates; and as our representatives, to foreground and uphold the decided disapproval of the wider Stellenbosch community. Let us stand together to preserve the beauty of Botmaskop, a magnificent mainstay of our natural heritage; a cherished and integral part of sustainable living at present; and the backdrop to our children’s promising future.
Please sign this petition and aid us in this cause. (You are also welcome to type the name of your neighbourhood in the ‘About me’ field.)
More information on the irregular process, here: https://youtu.be/aVDI2PT172k?feature=shared
3,578
The Issue
For centuries, the abundant beauty of Botmaskop has been a grounding feature of local life in the greater Banghoek valley. But a new, reckless development is staking claim to our shared ecological treasure and has already tarnished our beloved mountainside. The project has circumvented the correct application procedures, showing a clear lack of regard for our community’s attachment to Botmaskop, for the basic purpose of an urban edge, and for standard procedures and regulations.
Moreover, the development turns a blind eye to its substantial social and environmental impact. Botmaskop is not just a towering rock; it is a sensitive ecosystem, home to a variety of vulnerable species and functioning as the lungs of our local environment.
The grading of Botmaskop threatens biodiversity while disrupting ecological balance in the valley. More frequent sightings of snakes, porcupine quills, and a variety of spiders, in the residential areas surrounding the foot of Botmaskop, testify to a loss of natural habitat. The construction that has corroded the mountainside is an unwelcome scar carved into our communal morale.
Beyond being a refuge for wildlife and fynbos, Botmaskop holds the key to the physical and mental health of members of our community. It's a place where we walk, cycle, reflect, enjoy the company of our pets, and the raw beauty of nature. The mountain is more than a landmark; it is a symbol of our soaring human spirit.
This petition aims to stop the irregular development, and restore the integrity of Botmaskop, for the benefit of generations to come. We urge our local authorities to take into account the environmental and social implications of this project together with the symbolic insult it communicates; and as our representatives, to foreground and uphold the decided disapproval of the wider Stellenbosch community. Let us stand together to preserve the beauty of Botmaskop, a magnificent mainstay of our natural heritage; a cherished and integral part of sustainable living at present; and the backdrop to our children’s promising future.
Please sign this petition and aid us in this cause. (You are also welcome to type the name of your neighbourhood in the ‘About me’ field.)
More information on the irregular process, here: https://youtu.be/aVDI2PT172k?feature=shared
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Petition created on November 21, 2024