"We have amended our concept design by removing residential plots from the planned housing component, altered the course of the road layout and instituted an upgraded ecological burning plan in the area where the gladiolus fourcadei plants occur."
Ken Coetzee, who prepared the Biodiversity Sensitivity Analysis for the project, said this was a reversal of the norm. "Usually the conservation of nature comes off second best when it comes to development issues. Here, nature conservation is the first and, at this stage, the only beneficiary in the proposed Garden Route Dam development."
This unusual situation arose when a local member of Crew (Custodians of Rare and Endangered Wildflowers) discovered the rare gladiolus fourcadei plants in bloom after a veld fire had spread through the area around the Garden Route Dam.
This is a potential a success story for the conservation of nature and the developers as both may benefit when development plans are suitably adjusted and adhered too in the future."
Gladiolus fourcadei is critically endangered species and remained dormant at this site for 50 years as its habitat was overgrown by a commercial pine forest that was cleared a few years ago. Once the pine plantation, situated on municipal land, was harvested, it was not re-established as the area was identified as a potential source of income by Council and was set aside for future development.
Ismail Ebrahim, of the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) Threatened Species Programme (TSP), says this shows the developer's commitment to sustainable development and the protection of the critically important biodiversity of the country.
"Furthermore, it illustrates that development and conservation goals can be achieved through positive engagement of all stakeholders."
Jan Vlok, a renowned Botanist and vegetation management expert, noted that all fynbos species are resilient to fire. "Fire is the mechanism that recycles precious nutrients from old declining growth into the soil. It simultaneously removes the shading effect of taller plants, which enables bulbous plants to appear and flower within the first year or two after a fire."
Gladiolus fourcadei is restricted to a few sites in the Southern Cape.
All these areas are under threat and the species has not been seen flowering for many years at these locations. The Garden Route Dam site holds the potential as one of the last remaining safe sites for this species, but it all depends to what extent the proposed development layout is adjusted and, ultimately, how well the area will be managed to secure the future of this species.
Carel Venter from Council's Planning Department. Photos: Myron Rabinowitz
ARTICLE AND PHOTOS: MYRON RABINOWITZ
