Milnerton Racecourse Nature Reserve
Burning the Nature Reserve
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.
» Click here to view pictures of the burn (opens in a separate window)
Why Does The MRNR Need Fire?
•	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.
•	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.
•	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.
•	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.
Fire Management?
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.
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.
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.
he first burn on 24 April 2008 lasted little more than an hour. The second burn in 2010 lasted only 40 minutes.
What About Any Animals?
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.
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.
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.
Where Can I Get More Information?
If you would like further information please feel free to contact:
Koos Retief Area Manager Biodiversity Management Branch
E-mail: koos.retief@capetown.gov.za
Tel: 021 _550 1086 Fax: 021 _550 7517