Fynbos and the St Francis fire
Fynbos is a fire-adapted vegetation that requires regular burning for its persistence. In the absence of fire, fynbos is gradually replaced by thicket species. It thrives on infertile soils and fire is the mechanism that recycles precious nutrients from old moribund growth into the soil. Fire in fynbos is far from a disaster, but rather a crucial trigger that resets the fynbos ‘succesional clock’. It provides the stimulus for dormant seeds to germinate and the opportunity for many annuals, short-lived perennials and bulbs to grow, flower and seed during times of abundant nutrients and sunlight. They complete their short life cycles, returning to the soil as the larger shrubs overwhelm them, and remain dormant until the next fire. The optimal fire cycle for fynbos is between 10-14 years. Shorter fire cycles can wipe out slow maturing species, while species start dying when intervals become too long.
Fires are more common in fynbos than in any other heathlands in the world and it’s rare to find fynbos stands of more than 20 years of age. Some species re-establish by sprouting from a woody root-stock (these plants are known as resprouters); while others germinate from seed that has been stored in the soil or on plant canopies between fires (reseeders). Some resprouters, including many of the larger Proteaceae, protect their trunks from fire with a thick, insulating layer of corky bark and resprout from buds buried in the trunk following fire. Unlike sprouters, the seeders have a complete turnover in generations after each fire and are therefore subjected to a greater frequency of natural selection and higher speciation. The high diversity of species in fynbos can, at least in part, be ascribed to population fragmentation and regular turnover in generations as a result of fire.
The huge 2006 fire that swept across the Agulhas Plain was frightening to witness, yet the subsequent regrowth and succession of fynbos over the last five years has been a wonder to behold.
Article from Harry Voerman
I would like to see the empty stands maintained. Once upon a time anyone not building on their stands had to keep them maintained. The stand behind my house has not been touched for over 15 years to my knowledge. Not only has it been a hidey hole for undesirables who have broken into our homes but it’s full of massive Port Jacksons which are a potential fire hazzard. All the empty stands around my area are totally overgrown and neglected. Can’t we bring back the rules on maintenance ???
You are so right Pauline. Streets off St Francis Drive on route to the port and beyond accommodate large thickets of rooikrans. Diaz Drive, Cayenne, Coriander Crescents are possible tinder boxes and a disaster waiting to happen, because vacant stands are not maintained by their owners. It is very worrying indeed.
Jean Fynn
I agree totally with Pauline Hardy. There are large areas of rooikrans along St Francis Drive to the the port and beyond as well as down the side streets such as Diaz Drive Coriander, Cayenne etc., in St Francis on Sea. The vacant stands in these roads are another disaster waiting to happen. The rooikrans is huge and meters high. Not only does it have to be taken down, but it has to be removed or chipped.
Jean Fynn
What has happened to the awarding of Tenders called for by the Kouga Municipality sometime ago. The tenders were for the clearing of alien vegetation from plots not being maintained by the owners. The Municipality has the right to have the plots cleared of the alien vegetation, at the owners cost, if the owners do not respond to the request by the Municipality. My recollection of the Tender Notice was that the work was to be awarded to those that would need to be resident in the greater area, in that way employing those that would very likely be currently unemployed.
It would seem that it was a another good idea on the part of the Municipality, but the administration of awarding the tender, issuing the notices to owners to clear their plots and then handing over the work for clearing is just so overwhelming that nothing is likely to get done.
But be sure there is likely to be a note in the 2015/2016 Kouga Municipal report that this was put into place.
What is required is that our Ward Councilor look into this matter and issue a public statement.