AGRICULTURAL NEWS - The rehabilitated area of 2 200ha, consisting of mostly Boland granite fynbos, will be declared a private nature reserve, and the possibility of public access is being investigated.
Speaking to Farmer’s Weekly, Leslie Naidoo, commercial and risk manager for Vergelegen, said a wildfire had swept through the farm in 1997. Utilising funds from the wine business, Vergelegen Wines started an alien vegetation clearing programme and a successful rehabilitation of 140ha.
At a board meeting in 2001, owners Anglo American took a decision to extend the programme to rehabilitate 2 200ha of land invaded by alien plants.
Besides Boland granite fynbos, 15ha comprise of critically endangered Lourensford alluvium fynbos, and 105ha of critically endangered Swartland shale renosterveld that had also been uncovered on the farm. About 21 known Red Data plant species occur within this vegetation type.
