GRDM asks for R29m grant for alien plant control

GARDEN ROUTE NEWS - The Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) has applied for a grant, through the Western Cape Government Provincial Treasury, to reduce the fire risk and improve water supply in the district.

Alien plant invasions are estimated to have reduced mean annual run-off in the major rivers within the district by almost 20% by 2007.

The proposed project, budgeted at approximately R29m, will include a coordinated alien invasive species clearing, ecological restoration plan and community training programme. It is planned for the various catchments and rivers/tributaries and their habitats within the region.

GRDM Mayor Memory Booysen says that if funding is approved, the project will give marginalised communities the opportunity to generate income through invasive alien vegetation clearing projects and so contribute to their integrated development.

"The GRDM and partners also plan to grow the community's skills by enhancing their knowledge about identifying alien vegetation and clearing it," he said in a media statement issued on Wednesday 5 October.

The programme will enable the restoration of ecosystem, wetland and estuarine functions, the protection of biodiversity, the initiating of regrowth of indigenous plants, and reducing of fire risks. Water security will also be increased and erosion control improved.

Booysen said the area's tourism potential will also benefit and the agricultural potential of land will be restored. "Long-term conservation of the mountain catchments, rivers and wetlands will profit from this. The programme will also facilitate the establishment of a positive working relationship between local communities and local government."

Invasive alien plants could double in 15 years

A lot of invasive alien plants (IAP) thrive throughout the Garden Route and its seven local municipal areas. Dr Nina Viljoen, head of Environmental Management, says projections indicate IAPs could double within the next 15 years if something isn't done soon. Such plants pose a threat to biodiversity, water conservation efforts, agricultural management and fire risk management.

Managing IAPs is based on two fundamental principles - acting early and following up. This includes initial control to drastically reduce the existing IAP footprint, and controlling seedling, root suckers and regrowth.

Finally, maintenance to keep IAP numbers down and further decrease them, will yield more positive results.

"Many alien plants consume more water than local plants, depleting valuable underground water resources, which results in additional fuel for veld fires. Lower slopes, river floodplains and forest and scrub vegetation are largely invaded by species such as Acacia mearnsii and Acacia melanoxylon, among others," said Viljoen.