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Milnerton Racecourse Nature
Reserve |
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Burning the Nature
Reserve |
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Approval was granted to the
City of Cape Town to do a burn in the
Milnerton Racecourse Nature
Reserve
(MRNR). In 2007 a group
of specialists under the
auspices of the Royal Ascot
Environmental Management
Committee recommended strongly
that the valuable fynbos in the
conservation area should be
burnt as soon as possible.
A block which was about half the
southern part of the
conservation area was burned
very successfully on 24 April
2008. |
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Click here to view pictures of
the burn (opens in a separate
window)
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Cape Flats Sand Fynbos is the dominant vegetation
type within the Milnerton Racecourse Nature Reserve. Fynbos
is fire adapted and relies heavily on fire to remain
healthy and to perpetuate species. Many species of
plants require fire stimulation of seeds or seed
bearing cones to allow for seed dispersal and
germination. Without fire a number of species would
not disperse their seeds or seeds would not
germinate, over time species would be lost from the
area. |
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Fire is required to remove old
and moribund plant material and
to stimulate new growth
resulting in renewed vigour in
vegetation growth. This ensures
that the vegetation is kept
healthy and productive. |
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Renewed growth and vigour in the
vegetation results in more
available and choice food sources
for the fauna within the MRNR;
this helps keep the fauna
healthy and reduces pressures
created by limited resources. |
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By undertaking controlled burns
the amount of available fuel for
a fire that accumulates over
time is limited. Should
controlled burns not be carried
out, the fuel load continues to
increase unchecked with the
result that any uncontrolled
fire runs the risk of being
unmanageable and damaging
property. |
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A long term fire management plan has been drawn up
with input from botanical and biodiversity
specialists as well as representatives of public
forums and the City of Cape Town. The long term
objective is to, over time, replicate natural fire
cycles in order to properly manage and conserve this
important area of high biodiversity along with its
threatened and endangered species for the future. |
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Each of the three Blocks into
which the MRNR has been divided
for fire management will be
burned separately. A two year
gap will be left after each
block is burnt. Only after two
years will the next block be
burnt. Once all three blocks
have undergone an initial burn
(occurring over 6 years) no
blocks will be burnt for the
next twelve consecutive years.
After twelve years the six year
cycle will be repeated. |
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The City of Cape Town’s
Biodiversity Management Branch
will have a number of staff on
site with fire beaters to
control the burn in addition to
other available equipment such
as off-road vehicles with fire
fighting equipment including a
Unimog. |
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he first burn on 24 April 2008
lasted little more than an hour.
The second burn in 2010 lasted
only 40 minutes. |
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A population of Grysbok within the MRNR is
currently very large in relation to the size of the
area. In order to lower the size of the population a
game capture operation will be carried out and some
of the Grysbok relocated prior to the controlled
burn taking place. A more suitably sized and
sustainable population will be left to enjoy the
conservation area. |
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The smaller and less conspicuous
residents of the MRNR are well
adapted to life in fynbos. Fire is
a natural part of fynbos and
therefore its inhabitants have
developed specific methods for
dealing with fire and escaping
the threat. Officials will be on
site preventing the movement of
snakes and similar leaving the
conservation area and moving
into gardens and residences. In
the unlikely event that this
does occur officials can be
contacted to assist with the
situation. |
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As only a portion of the MRNR
will be burnt both the remaining
Grysbok as well as other fauna
will still have access to safe
refuges from the fire. All care
will be taken to ensure that
fauna will not be negatively
impacted by the fire as they all
play an integral role in the
ecosystem of the MRNR. |
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If you would like further information please feel
free to contact: |
Koos Retief Area Manager
Biodiversity Management Branch |
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E-mail:
koos.retief@capetown.gov.za |
Tel: 021 _550 1086
Fax: 021 _550 7517 |
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