Decades of poor farming practices, combined with the recent clearing of the neighboring cane fields for development resulted in the soil not being able to hold the excess rain, leading to devasting floods and mudslides.
The Umdloti floods are a classic example of soil degradation.
Who are we and where is Umdloti?
Remember-Umdloti was the brainchild of local Umdloti resident, Donald Alexander, assisted by local activists who banded together to bring attention to this lovely little beachside village located just outside of Durban on the northeast coast of South Africa. Umdloti (Zulu, pronounced “Um-schloe-ti”) is affectionately known throughout the country as a place to escape for its laid back, back-to-nature lifestyle. Locals open their doors to the tropical breeze, ever shoo’ing the maurading monkeys, while surfers and kite surfers are known to share the swells with dolphins. In season, whales are often spotted from the beach and millions of barn swallows make Umdloti their migratory home.
What happened?
Umdloti was truly nature’s paradise until this spring. For a few days in April, torrenting rain caused flooding and mudslides of unimaginable proportions throughout the Durban area, including Umdloti. Over 450 people died, over 4,000 homes were destroyed, and over 40,000 people were displaced.
A month later, the rains came again, and Umdloti was one of the hardest hit, a knockout blow to the already devastated community. Homes and apartment complexes collapsed down the natural sand dune and were carried down onto the beach front, and highways and infrastructure collapsed. Residents have endured endless weeks of no water or electricity and raw sewage continues to spill into the streets.
What caused it?
In hindsight, what happened to Umdloti was decades in the making, beginning when the native trees and grasses were cleared from local hillsides for sugar cane. The ensuing years of industrialized farming, combined with the long-held practice of burning cane prior to harvest compacted and destroyed the soil’s microbial life. South African cane and gum tree plantations are called “green desserts,” and it’s fitting that soil in this area is among the most degraded on the planet.
The final blow came to Umdloti when the cane fields in the rolling hills behind the village were cleared for residential development. The sand was so compacted, and without life, that it couldn’t absorb the water, and with no longer any root structure to hold the sand in place, it simply collapsed under its own weight, taking houses, bridges, and roads with it.
What is our purpose?
What happened to Umdloti isn’t and won’t be an isolated incident. This scenario will play out in its own unique way across our global communities. 52% of global agricultural soil is classified as “severely degraded.” Soil health plays a critical role in reducing greenhouse emissions and is vital for almost every element of life on this planet, but it is an area of which we’re the least informed.
One of the goals of this website is to make the global community aware of the very real hazards of poor soil health and its devastating consequences.
In addition, the Durban floods were of such magnitude that there is a 72% shortfall in funding for reparations, which are estimated to be well over $1 billion. (News24, Oct 20) In Umdloti, the shortfall of the sewage treatment repairs alone is over $270,000 (Umdloti Sewer and Pump Station Report, Oct 24). Local residents pitched in to fund the first round of shortfalls, but the second flood was simply too much for this small community. Umdloti can be saved; Mother Nature carved her path, but it will take significant repairs to the infrastructure and remedial efforts to restore this once vibrant community.
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The Route Du Rhum is an international transatlantic non-stop solo yacht race and is one of the most popular sporting events in France, second only to the Tour de France. The 3,500 nautical mile course takes place every four years and over 2 million spectators will pass through the race village before the 138 international sailors competing in four different classes depart this November 6th. The race goes from Saint Malo, France to Guadeloupe in the Caribbean.
Donald is the only South African to have completed this grueling race, and this year, he’ll be the oldest in the Class 40 category, competing against 54 mostly sponsored professionals. Donald is self-sponsored and his goal is to spread the word about Saving our Soil. In fact, Donald will be presenting live from his boat to the COP 27 Conference in Egypt as a voice for the Save Soil and Conscious Planet movement.
Follow the race on your Smartphone app or the website
Donald’s boat is: Conscious Planet #151
