Photographer: Dr Brian van Wilgen
Photographer: Dr Brian van Wilgen
Cover profile
Endangered species such as the Geometric Tortoise depend on healthy Renosterveld to survive. change as temperatures rise, the landscape becomes drier and wind speeds increase. “At the moment, wildfires (as opposed to controlled burns) provide the extremely hot fires that some plants need. But if we do many more controlled burns under the conditions currently permitted, we run the risk that more species may disappear,” said Dr Van Wilgen. The answer, he says, is a nuanced approach to fire management that will help preserve the extraordinary rich biodiversity of the fynbos region, while not posing risk to communities and local economies. In areas where invasive aliens are a problem, controlled burns should take place in cool or mild conditions. Some plants that need very hot fires might be sacrificed in these areas, in the interests of controlling rampant invasion. In areas where invasive alien plants are not a problem and where risk to communities can be controlled, hotter controlled burns ought to be allowed. Another piece of the fynbos-andfire puzzle, which fire management ought to address, according to Dr Van Wilgen, is the risk that toofrequent wildfires pose for Proteas. Proteas are rejuvenated by fire roughly every eight to 20 years. 6
l
Volume 2 No. 10
Mass flowering in Watsonias in the spring following a fire in the previous summer.
However, an increase in the quantity of wildfires in the fynbos region, as a result of a dramatic increase in people living close to fynbos, means that reseeding Proteas do not have enough time to mature and set seed between fires. As a result, their regeneration is initially inhibited, then gradually prevented due to successive, short-interval fires.
Fynbos requires fire in order to rejuvenate, therefore managing fynbos equates to managing fire. This is a very real threat to the survival of many fynbos plant species and fauna such as the Cape sugarbird, which feeds on Protea nectar as well as to pollinate the plants. Yet another issue to take into account with regard to the preservation of fynbos and fire, according to Dr Van Wilgen, is that the speciesrich Renosterveld – a small-leaved, evergreen shrubland found only in the south, south-west and south-east Cape – remains only in fragmented patches of terrain, as crops now take up much of this area. Endangered
species such as bontebok and the geometric tortoise depend on healthy Renosterveld to survive. The remaining habitat is largely fragmented and occurs in relatively small patches, most of which are under private ownership. These patches either burn too frequently or not at all. Dr Van Wilgen concluded that there was “a clear need for a better understanding of how to use the limited opportunities for prescribed burning strategically”, in order to maximise the conservation of fynbos. Fire managers should create a mosaic of vegetation with different post-fire ages, he advises. This would reduce the impact of large fires, and ensure sufficient habitat for endemic species. He said his discussion with the FPAs had been ‘constructive and positive’ and they were enthusiastic about helping to protect the ecology of the fynbos biome. “A more holistic approach to fire management, that takes ecological needs into account, would help to protect the extraordinary biodiversity of the fynbos region,” he concluded. Said Val Charlton, spokesperson for the GEF FynbosFire Project: “Brian’s presentation was very helpful, as it highlighted practical ways in which FPAs can help to preserve the complex fynbos ecology. We look forward to learning more as the research continues.”