A WINDOW ONTO NATURE'S WORLD The Magic Circles That Sustain all LEVELS OF LIFE

Once upon a time the scattered tribes built their home in a Circle with maybe compacted clays, stout wooden beams, even reeds and rushes, depending on the local vegetation. Then in the northern hemisphere the Eskimo built his round igloo with ice blocks. Early man had only two examples of SHAPE - the Sun and the Moon, both round. It took the ingenuity of the Egyptian architects to draw the SQUARE out of the Circle, the angle of 90° was born, followed by towering round Greek and Roman pillars, but the era of buildings with square corners, is still the preferred mode today.

The Circle of Life is enduring, the clock goes round, the Calendar ticks twelve months, the points of the compass indicate, the rotation of Planets, Moon and stars, then our climatic seasonal changes with response from all Life Forms in Nature. Our migratory birds, butterflies, and sea-life rely on these cycles with already changes in patterns being observed, due to "Climate Change". A nearby fresh water dam indicates water fowl species are moving southwards. Last August the Stork had already left the roof-top heat wave in Europe to wade in our cooler waters.Whether in the Garden, Eco-Estate, Public Park, or area of Conservation, Nature entertains and sustains the Circles of Life.

Prime examples are our unique conservation areas of "D'MOSS" Bio-diversity, the original initiative of the Wildlife Society (WLS now WESSA) with Keith Cooper and George Antoni the names most commonly used with its inception, but others like Jean Senogles and Nolly Zaloumis played significant roles. Professor Debra Roberts presented herPhD thesis on the vision of "D'MOSS", which added a scientific basis to WESSA's proposals. Essentially the concept originated from a remarkable piece of work by two Americans by the names of Macarthur and Wilson (the very famous E.0 Wilson) who developed the theory of Island Bio-geography, which spawned dozens of scientific research papers worldwide. The theory stillstands. The Durban City Council first adopted WESSA and Professor DebraRobert's proposals in 1989. Eventually, as Durban grew and the Councils were amalgamated, D'MOSS was included in all EThekwini Municipality's 54 town planning schemes. We recollect John Forbes, the

TownPlanner, who became part of the excellent Team with Richard Boon M.Sc and Penny Croucamp from EThekweni Environment Department creating foundation criteria and management initiatives.

Today there are 11 recognised broad vegetation types of "D'MOSS" conservation which includes the Kwa-Zulu Natal Coastal Belt, the Sub-Tropical Dune thicket, and rare Veld Grasslands as at Cato Manor. A total Open Space system of approximately 95,000 Ha was"Approved" by the Durban Council 2017/2018. The Conservationchallenge remains "dynamic" and increasingly essential due to"Climate Change" and Global Warming, and un-checked population growthWorld wide.

The indigenous composition of a"D'MOSS" area and its Bio-diversity may be critical. For example, in a Swamp environment the trees, bulrushes, and arum lilies are able to survive the aquatic conditions with low levels of oxygen. The Protected St. Lucia"Wetlands" are a prime example. In the Forest habitat tree density represents "the lungs", taking up our carbon emissions and converting into oxygen. Mature, lush swathes offer a "Buffer Zone" of Protection against the turbulent Coastal winds, provide a shade element during mid-day heat, and achieve a "Cooling Effect". The Forest bio-diversity protects its Circle of Life hosting fauna, mammals, reptiles, butterflies, bees and insects, a bird watcher's paradise!.

Each "D'MOSS" sanctuary along our Coastal Belt presents an exciting variety of trees, shrubs, bulbs, ferns, succulents, grasses and a large range of ground cover species adapted to the aspect, soils, and topography. In turn each tree or plant gives up its bounty.Fresh pollen ensures germination, new fruits and seeds are scattered - the natural cycle of re-birth. Let's all join in Unity to Protect, and CARE for allNature's Gifts to ensure "Continuity" of the Circles of Life.

Acknowledgements : Richard BoonM.Sc. / Mr. Sabelo Nkosi (Head of Environment Dept,. EThekweni)