CLEAN UP THE MOUNTAIN
Hacking is not only happening on computers. In the context of alien vegetation, hacks are vital for the preservation of our precious indigenous flora around Cape Town.
One of the organisations that oversees the removal of invasive alien species from areas like Table Mountain and Newlands Forest is the Sugarbird Trust, a non-profit, whose goal is to ensure the restoration of the indigenous fynbos and forest in these places. They are funded by public donations and work with SANParks. Their reach along the Table Mountain National Park covers 2800 hectares and this includes the lower slopes of Devils Peak from Deer Park where 80% of the dense invasive growth has been cleared, despite an intense race against time to ensure they were eliminated before seeding time in mid-November. The Devils Peak team is funded by Rotary International.
Future plans include expanding the area being cleared to 4000 hectares, checking areas already cleared and to clear all the other area that have been adopted.
Some of the species that need to be removed include Rooikrans, Black wattle, Port Jackson, Silky hakea, Long-leafed wattle, Stinkbean, Australian myrtle, Spider gum, Cluster pine, and Blackwood. These invasive species are major threats to the indigenous vegetation as they use more water than indigenous plants and take up the space where these plants should be thriving. Pine trees also release gases that contribute to air pollution and they help spread wild fires. There are therefore huge benefits to the removal of invasive alien plants, such as better water security, fire risks are reduced, biodiversity and land productivity are improved and jobs are created.
Volunteers from local communities have been joining these hacks to clean up the slopes of Table Mountain and Devils Peak, among other areas around the peninsula. The last hack of the year will take place on Saturday 7 December from 09:00 until 12:00. Space is being cleared so that fynbos and silvertrees can flourish.
If you are wanting to help, contact Janet on 083 245 6748. Volunteers are invited to meet in the gravel parking area at the top of Deer Park Drive.
It is advised to wear long pants and closed shoes. If you have garden gloves, lopers or bow saws, those should be brought along, although the group does have some tools to share.
This is a wonderful opportunity to absorb some Vitamin D, to get to know your neighbours and to clean up part of our natural wonder of the world!
