Alien clearing eases fire risk on Glencairn mountain
A Muizenberg non-profit has reduced the risk of a major fire on a Glencairn mountainside by clearing a forest of alien vegetation, according to the general manager of Cape Peninsula Fire Protection Association (CPFPA), Riaan Fourie.
The property had posed a major fire risk because the previous owner had refused to clear the invasive alien species - mostly hakea, gum trees, rooikrans, and Australian myrtle - because of the cost involved, said Mr Fourie.
A wildfire on a hot, windy, or low-humidity summer's day could have damaged or destroyed a number of nearby houses, he said.
The Cape Kids Foundation, an organisation working with young people from disadvantaged backgrounds, bought the 81-hectares site in May last year.
Dave Froneman, the foundation’s spokesman, said they had been working on the property for about six months to restore the mountain to its natural state with fynbos and indigenous fauna and flora.
The CPFPA has been managing the clearing for the foundation.
Established in 2003, the CPFPA coordinates efforts across some 250 000 ha to prevent, predict, manage and extinguish wildfires. It is headed up by Philip Prins, the manager of fire and technical services for Table Mountain National Park (TMNP), and offers access to firefighting expertise, equipment, and manpower.
Mr Froneman said the mountain would serve as a retreat/adventure centre for the foundation’s young people.
“The purpose would be to provide them with a wilderness experience, and our aim is to have a mountain that our young people can come to in small groups and learn about the fauna and flora and how to take care of it. It will be a time for them to enjoy nature away from their difficult circumstances,” he said.
The foundation wanted the mountain trails to be enjoyed by everyone, he said, adding that the idea was to experience nature, not disturb it.
Mr Froneman said the foundation had cleared about 75% of the alien vegetation. Some of it had been dragged down, chipped, and removed while the rest had been cut up and stacked to be burned by the CPFPA.
All legal and regulatory processes had been followed to clear the alien species and the same would be done in applying for permission to run the retreat/adventure centre, he said
Simon’s Town Community Police Forum chairwoman and Glencairn resident Eileen Heywood said she had been campaigning for the clearing of the alien vegetation for many years.
Alien vegetation was illegal and burned at a much higher temperature than indigenous plants, she said. Had the mountainside caught fire, it would have been worse than the devastating 2000 fires, she added.
“A fire of that nature could have jumped over the fire break and would have spread to the surrounding community causing extensive damage. I am delighted and very relieved with the work that is currently being done,” she said.
SANParks spokeswoman Lauren Clayton said the site was not part of the TMNP, but it been identified as conservation-worthy due to important biodiversity found there.
Mayoral committee member for spatial planning and environment Eddie Andrews said the site was included in a spatial plan that shows terrestrial and aquatic features critical for conserving biodiversity and maintaining ecosystem functioning. As such, he said, it needed to be conserved and alien invasive species should be cleared.
