GEORGE NEWS - Over the past two weeks, Working on Fire’s High Altitude Team (HAT) in conjunction with CapeNature has launched a pilot project in the Drakenstein Mountains, to clear a number of pine trees that has dampened the flow of water into the Berg River Dam catchment area.
This is one of many projects done across the Western Cape to improve water supply in the Western Cape.
According to HAT Ground Operations Manager Jason de Smidt, "17 of the best HAT chainsaw operators from as far as George in the Southern Cape, came together to clear a very important catchment area above the Berg River Dam.
"After being air lifted to their base camp they worked very effectively to clear the targeted area.
"There is still much more work to do but this 'first' for HAT operations in the Western Cape to have been a big success.”
Over the past few years, HAT Teams have cleared invasive plants surrounding the following catchment areas:
- Voelvlei catchment area, and Tulbagh surrounds
- Berg River Dam catchment
- Hottentots Holland Mountains
- Cape Peninsula - focusing on Chapmans Peak drive and the section North of Constantia Nek.
- Genadendal and Greyton Catchments
- Outeniqua pass and Garden Route dam
- Knysna River catchment
Across the Western Cape there are 14 HAT teams of 136 participants stationed at partners such as CapeNature, South African National Parks and the Cape Winelands Municipality.
In the period of April 2017 – 2018 more than 3250 hectares of invasive alien vegetation.
Invasive alien plants have a negative impact on biodiversity, which threatens indigenous plants, increases fire frequency as well as absorbing large amounts of water impacting on water security in South Africa.
The Department of Environmental Affairs environmental programmes such as Working for Water, Working on Fire and High Altitude Teams contribute significantly to protecting the environment while creating work opportunities under the Expanded Public Works Programme.
HAT is currently working in all the strategic stressed catchments with the aim of expanding into other water stressed catchments.
In 2011 the HAT project was handed over to Working on Fire to implement on behalf of the Department of Environmental Affairs with a national implementation mandate.
HAT is currently working in all the strategic stressed catchments with the aim of expanding into other water stressed catchments.
Currently the HAT project provides work opportunities to more than 450 participants throughout South Africa from previously disadvantaged communities and 99% are youth.
There are also strong women presences and there are 30% women working in HAT projects. Over the 2017/18 financial year more than 8080 hectares has been cleared.
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