GEORGE NEWS - The Garden Route National Park’s (GRNP) Wilderness Section is investigating the illegal clearing of indigenous vegetation in some areas along Waterside Road on the banks of the Touw River, in the direction of Ebb and Flow.
Chamell Pluim, senior section ranger of the park, confirmed that two site visits were carried out following Wilderness resident Prof Christo Fabricius bringing the matter to their attention.
The clearing is apparently done by nearby property owners for better views. It leaves these areas exposed to destabilisation and erosion, and a loss of indigenous vegetation, which contributes to biodiversity loss in the long run.
Fabricius says it is an ongoing matter.
“It is on SANParks land. Some homeowners seem to think it is acceptable to clear established vegetation, presumably to open up the view to the river, much to the upset of tree lovers, birders and lovers of nature.
"Those responsible should be brought to book, or at least warned or informed of the illegality of what they are doing.”
Phokela Lebea, Garden Route National Park communications manager, said officials from SANParks and the Department of Forestry Fisheries and Environment (DFFE) jointly responded to reports of the vegetation clearing.
"Parties responsible for the clearing have been instructed to cease clearing activities with immediate effect. The matter is under investigation. No further information can be given pending the outcome of the investigation," said Lebea.
Sensitivity of the Wilderness area
Wilderness resident Dr Arne Witt, international co-ordinator of invasive species management at the Centre for Agriculture and Bioscience International, in a recent letter to George Herald warned that the destruction of habitat (indigenous vegetation) is one of the main drivers of biodiversity loss, along with climate change and invasive alien species.
He stressed how sensitive and precious the Wilderness natural environment is. The Wilderness Lakes Ramsar Site and Garden Route National Park (which includes Wilderness) fall within the Garden Route Biosphere Reserve.
He wrote: "The Garden Route National Park is an integral part of the Cape Floral Region Protected Areas World Heritage Site. The Cape Floral Region (CFR) is one of the world’s six floral kingdoms, and the only one entirely contained within a single country. Incredibly, the CFR makes up less than 0.5% of the area of Africa, but is home to nearly 20% of the continent’s plant species.
"Just under 70% of the estimated 9 000 plant species in the CFR are endemic - that means they occur nowhere else on Earth, which is why it has been identified as one the world’s 35 biodiversity hotspots. Sadly, 1 736 of these plant species are threatened and 3 087 species are of conservation concern," wrote Witt.
‘We bring you the latest Garden Route, Hessequa, Karoo news’
