Table Mountain National Park has allowed various recreational activities within the park since its establishment in 1998, including the use of the seasonal backshore lagoon at Noordhoek Beach, which is located above the high water mark. These activities include mountain biking, dog walking, horseback riding, and paragliding. To minimise their environmental impact and reduce conflicts between users, the Park implemented approved Environmental Management Plans (EMPs) for each activity.
However, in 2007, the arrival of kiteboarding as a recreational activity raised concerns among environmental and other recreational user groups.
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This decision was communicated, and signage indicating the prohibition of kiteboarding was installed at the car park and along the trail to the beach. Unfortunately, the ‘No Kiteboarding’ signs have been removed and replaced multiple times.
Table Mountain National Park management has reviewed the situation and reaffirmed the decision that kiteboarding is not allowed at Noordhoek Lagoon. This decision is based on SANParks’ conservation mandate and the interests of all users.
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Several environmental factors contribute to the unsuitability of Noordhoek Lagoon for kiteboarding:
- Environmental impact: The lagoon is a rare and possibly unique habitat on the Peninsula. It serves as a refuge for roosting birds that have been displaced from rocky shore roosts due to human disturbance.
- Fauna: The lagoon is a crucial breeding ground for the African Black Oystercatcher, an endangered species listed in the Red Data Book. The horse-riding community has agreed to restrict access to protect these birds. Positive outcomes have been observed, and allowing a high-impact activity like high-speed kiteboarding would reverse this progress. The lagoon also supports breeding pairs of White-fronted Plovers, which face difficulties in breeding along the coastline due to urbanisation and human disturbance. Moreover, the lagoon is an important commuting zone for Cape Clawless Otters travelling between the sea and Noordhoek wetlands.
- Flora: The dune vegetation plays a vital role in the functioning of the dune ecosystem but is easily disturbed. Permitting an activity that poses a threat to its health is highly undesirable.
- Access and erosion: If the vegetation is stripped away, erosion will occur. Additionally, the introduction of kiteboarding would lead to users accessing the area through different routes. Proper conservation practice mandates managed access through sensitive areas to minimise damage. The creation of new access routes would redirect other path users to these areas, negatively impacting the dune vegetation.
- Impact on other users: Kiteboarding has been observed to startle horses, endangering riders and other users. It also disrupts the tranquilly and safety of the area for families with young children. The speed of kiteboards poses a risk to birds and other users.
It is hoped that, despite potential opposition from some kiteboarding enthusiasts, their support can be garnered in the interest of conserving this precious ecosystem.
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