The Hawaan Forest Conservation Trust
What is so special about living in the Hawaan Forest Estate transcends a variety of qualities – a sense of privacy and tranquility immersed within a gorgeous indigenous forest and grasslands habitat, striking homes designed with an outside-inside lifestyle theme, the sights and sounds of beautiful birdlife and the reassurance of a highly secure, well managed property development complex.
The approval for the application for the proposal of Hawaan Forest Estate as well as the legislative and compliance principles and conditions associated with its property development are contained in the proceedings from the Kwa Zulu Natal Development Tribunal, chaired by Ray Swart.
Hearings and presentations were conducted over 5 days in two meetings held in September and October 2003 from both the applicant and objector parties including a wide array of environmental and ecological scientists and expert witnesses representing the Developers, Hawaan Investments (Pty) Ltd., the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry, the Department of Agriculture and Environmental Affairs, eThekwini Municipality, Moreland/Tongaat Hulett, the Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa and Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife.
The preservation of the Hawaan Forest was the cardinal focus and of prime importance to all parties concerned and the development proposal met the requirements of being fully compliant with the principles enshrined in the DFA (Development Facilitation Act no. 67 of 1995.)
Following their commitment within the Development Tribunal, the developers established a Conservation Trust, with a purpose of protecting and monitoring the portion of the forest that protrudes onto the Hawaan Forest estate land.
The Hawaan Forest Conservation Trust is governed by a Trust Deed and has trustees representing the stakeholders and experts mentioned above, who attended the Development Tribunal as well as trustees nominated by The Hawaan Owners Association.
Details of its membership, financial management and responsibility for conservation management matters are contained in the Trust Deed which is included in the Homeowners section of the website.
The Conservation Trust employs an ecologist consultant who attends to a broad spectrum of Conservation operations and activities associated with the sustainability of the forest and grasslands habitats and the Environmental Management Plan, in consultation with Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, WESSA and eThekwini Municipality.
The ecologist is also involved with the propagation of wild plants and flowers, the monitoring of the camera traps as well as the supervision and guidance of the Conservation Trust employees who carry out a schedule of maintenance duties such as the removal of alien plants/weeds from the forest, regular desnaring inspections, clearing/tidiness of the walking trails/picnic sites/birding deck and assisting with the seasonal grassland burns.
A Home Owners Association was established with the responsibility of managing the Estate, architectural and property construction regulations, the roadways and security/gatehouse environment and the maintenance of a 40 metre buffer zone between the property units and the forest edge.
All property owners become members of the HOA and ascribe to the rules and regulations of the HOA. (HOA rules included in homeowners section)
As the Hawaan Forest estate embraced an Eco theme involving the planting of indigenous trees, shrubs and grasses, designed to enhance the integration of fauna and flora between the estate and outlying forest, it does not permit domestic animals.
Both the HOA and Hawaan Forest Conservation Trust meet regularly and share the same vision of supporting the sustainability of its stunning natural forest and grasslands environment.
