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Because of the botanical
importance of this conservation
area, botanists recommended that
the southern portion still
within the confines of the
racetrack not be opened to the
public. The northern portion is
accessible to the public where
there is a footpath – originally
people were allowed to take dogs
on a leash through this area,
but so many people abused this
privilege and allowed dogs to
run free that dogs are now no
longer allowed there. |
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|
 |
The MRCA is managed by an
Environmental Management
Committee (EMC) consisting of
representatives from the City,
the Royal Ascot Master Property
Owners Association, Gold Circle,
BOTSOC, Friends of Rietvlei and
interested local residents. |
| Recently an Environmental
Management System (EMS)
commissioned by the management
committee, has been put into
operation at the MRCA. |
| The EMS, prepared and
facilitated by Planning in
Balance, contains a set of
procedural manuals for the
carrying out of individual
management tasks, an annual plan
of operation that schedules
these tasks, and a data base
that organises all the
information gathered by these
management activities. |
|
This model allows for changes in
management structure while
standardizing work conducted on
the ground and retaining all
previous information gathered. |
 |
|
Presently the MRCA is sustained
through funds acquired from
environmental noncompliance
fines issued during the
construction of Royal Ascot, as
well as
various levies from the Master
Property Owners Association. |
|
The management goals for the MRCA
in the medium to long
term are: |
|
• |
Strong awareness amongst
residents must be
developed to create an
increased understanding
of the MRCA and its value
to biodiversity
conservation. |
|
• |
An appropriate burning
programme must be implemented
to ensure the continued
survival of the rare
plant communities.
See Burning the MRCA page. |
|
• |
Alien vegetation must be
brought under
control and eradicated
where possible. |
|
• |
A viable corridor
between the northern and
southern conservation
areas must be secured. |
|
• |
Official conservation
status must be awarded
to the Milnerton
Racecourse Conservation Area. |
|
