Upload
todd-bates
View
220
Download
3
Tags:
Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
Frontpiece
Photos:Photos:Tessa OliverTessa Oliver
Where is the Cape Flats Nature Reserve?
The Reserve is situated between 33o S latitude and 19o E longitude.
Part of the University of the Western Cape campus, Bellville South, Cape Town.
Bordered by Modderdam Road to the north, and the Cape Flats railway line and Unibell station to the south.
History of the Cape Flats Nature Reserve Conceived in the early 1960's by a group
of University academics. Planning continued to 1977 with the
official proclamation of the Cape Flats Nature Reserve.
In 1978 the Reserve was proclaimed a National Monument.
The Cape Flats Nature Reserve is a private reserve and does not fall under the administration of Cape Nature.
The Curator liaises with Cape Nature to control illegal activities such as poaching harvesting of wild flowers.
Notice is hereby given in terms of section 12 (4) of the Nature Conservation Ordinance, 1974 (ordinance 19 of 1974), that the Administrator has approved the establishment of a nature reserve in the municipal area of Bellville by the University of the Western Cape, on land of which it is the owner and which will be known as Cape Flats Nature Reserve.
History of the Cape Flats Nature Reserve
The Reserve was originally 20 ha of Strandveld and Sand Plain Fynbos.
The area up to 1977 was heavily infested by dense stands of alien vegetation, especially Acacia saligna (Port Jackson) A management eradicated programme is in place. Outbreaks of these alien plants still exists in areas adjacent to the Reserve e.g. along the railway line and the entrance road. Parts of the Reserve such as sheltered areas between dunes and alien infested areas had informal settlements up to 1976.
New Life Science Building
CFNR extended in 1987 A southern Triangle area contributed 12 ha of
Reserve extension in compensation for loss of habitat in constructing the new entrance to UWC.
This area was also infested by alien invasive species such as Acacia saligna and Eucalyptus calophylla.
The entire area has been cleared of the alien invasive plants (except for planted Eucalyptus calophylla).
Dune Thicket Species include Rhus crenata, Rhus glauca, Rhus laevigata and Rhus lucida, Olea exasperata, Euclea racemosa and Nylandtia spinosa.
Leonotis leonurus found in the Triangle but not in the main Reserve area.
CFNR endemic Euphorbia marlothii occurs in both areas.
The Triangle was formerly inhabited by informal settlements and additionally was heavily infested with Acacia saligna. Originally this habitat was similar to other dune vegetation in the reserve.
Part of CFNR was also removed Dog-leg section was removed from the
original Reserve after the construction of the new entrance road.
This area has mostly been developed with the New Life Science Building.
This vegetation was acidic sandy flatlands between the dunes and a different vegetation type.
Former species found include Blombos (Metalasia muricata), Dekriet (Thamnochortus spicigerus) and Taaibos (Rhus laevigata). This site was very rich in geophytes.
The protea Leucospermum hypophyllocarpodendron and the orchid Herschelia lugens occurred nowhere else (not been seen for a few years).
Animals occurring in the CFNR Amphibian include the sand rain frog
(Breviceps rosei). Reptiles include Mole Snakes (Psuedapsis
cara), Cape Cobras (Naja nivea), Dwarf Chameleon (Bradypodion pumilus), and the Angulate Tortoise (Chersina angulata).
Bird species include Blacksmith Plover (Vanellus armatus), Blackshouldered Kite (Elanus caerulus), Lesser Double-collared Sunbird (Nectarina chalybea) and Cape Turtle Dove (Streptopelia capicola).
Mammal species such as Cape Dune Molerat (Bathyergus suillis), Cape Gerbil (Tatera afra), Small Grey Mongoose (Galerella pulverulenta) and Cape grysbok (Raphicerus melanotis).
Cape Flats: Part of World’s smallest Floral KingdomCape Flats: Part of World’s smallest Floral Kingdom Cape Flats and Lowlands
are part of the Cape Floral Kingdom and is smaller and more threatened than any of the other Kingdoms.
Cape Floral Region – one of 34 Global Biodiversity Hotspots and first non-tropical one to be recognised
Cape Flats: Part of World’s smallest Floral KingdomCape Flats: Part of World’s smallest Floral Kingdom
Cape Flats NR: Centre of the Cape LowlandsCape Flats NR: Centre of the Cape Lowlands Cape Flats: human
impacted, little remaining natural vegetation
Map shows Ecotone between two vegetation
The Cape Flats Nature Reserve, eighth most important site: due to size & floristics
Dune Strandveld
Dune Strandveld
SandFynbosSand
Fynbos
EcotoneEcotone
Cape Flats NR: Centre of the Cape LowlandsCape Flats NR: Centre of the Cape Lowlands
Broad-leafed shrubs
Calcareous sand substrate
50% transformed in Cape Town
Much disturbed (sand-mining)
False Bay/Blaauwberg
Meets the 10% IUCN conservation target
Cape Flats Dune Strandveld Cape Flats Dune Strandveld
Related to Sub-tropical Related to Sub-tropical Thicket of the east coastThicket of the east coast
Cape Flats Dune Strandveld Cape Flats Dune Strandveld
Protea, fine-leafed and restio plants
High species richness
Deep, leached acid sands
> 75% transformed in Cape Town
Highly disturbed (invasives, mining)
One percent conserved One percent conserved
Cape Flats world highest Cape Flats world highest species extinction rates! species extinction rates!
Cape Flats Sand Fynbos Cape Flats Sand Fynbos
Cape Flats Sand Fynbos Cape Flats Sand Fynbos
Cap
e Fl
ats
Nat
ure
Res
erve
199
8
3 ha3 ha3 ha3 ha
7 ha7 ha 7 ha7 ha
23 ha23 ha
6 ha6 ha
Natural Vegetation: Area/ConditionNatural Vegetation: Area/Condition
Sand Fynbos
Sand Fynbos
Dune Strandveld
Dune Strandveld
42 ha Natural42 ha Naturalvegetationvegetation
Natural Vegetation: Area/ConditionNatural Vegetation: Area/Condition
Dune Strandveld – Heavily Disturbed/RestoringDune Strandveld – Heavily Disturbed/RestoringC
ape
Flat
s N
atur
e R
eser
ve 2
002
Annual PlantsAnnual Plants
More BareMore BareGroundGround
Indicators of Disturbance
Indicators of Disturbance
Dune Strandveld – Heavily Disturbed/RestoringDune Strandveld – Heavily Disturbed/Restoring
Cap
e Fl
ats
Nat
ure
Res
erve
200
2Dune Strandveld –Slightly Disturbed/Original SiteDune Strandveld –Slightly Disturbed/Original Site
Original ReserveOriginal ReserveLeast disturbedLeast disturbed
Reserve ExtensionReserve ExtensionSome restorationSome restoration
Dune Strandveld –Slightly Disturbed/Original SiteDune Strandveld –Slightly Disturbed/Original Site
Cap
e Fl
ats
Nat
ure
Res
erve
200
2
Area Area excavatedexcavated
for buildingfor building fillfill Gu
m T
rees draw
Gu
m Trees draw
of su
rface mo
isture
of su
rface moistu
re
Fairly disturbanceFairly disturbanceInvasives &Invasives &PloughingPloughing
Sand Fynbos: Light and moderate disturbanceSand Fynbos: Light and moderate disturbance
Sand Fynbos: Light and moderate disturbanceSand Fynbos: Light and moderate disturbance
8 km radius and only two other reasonable habitats8 km radius and only two other reasonable habitats
8 km8 km8 km8 km
Few
and
dis
tant
hei
ghbo
urs
XX??
Closest 2 sites lost or under Closest 2 sites lost or under threat and are Dune threat and are Dune ThicketThicket
9km9km9km9kmClosest sites Closest sites with Sandplain with Sandplain Fynbos all Fynbos all threatenedthreatened
? ? ? ? ? ?
XXCape Town
8 km radius and only two other reasonable habitats8 km radius and only two other reasonable habitats
Botanical Society: Assessment of core sites 1997Botanical Society: Assessment of core sites 1997
Cape Flats NR: rated 8th most important
Had the 8th most number of species
Most isolated and last viable site in the central Cape Flats area
Only one of two sites to have a transition between veg. types
Other Consideration…Other Consideration…
Botanical Society: Assessment of core sites 1997Botanical Society: Assessment of core sites 1997
Events since Botanical Society site ratingsEvents since Botanical Society site ratings #1 Milnerton RC been
developed – small part reserved.
#3 Macassar – sand mining/human pressure.
#4 Kenilworth RC under threat of still more housing development.
#7 N1-N7 brushcut by Eskom due to fire risks.
#8 Cape Flats NR: development.
Only Rondebosch Com. & Rondevlei safe
?
Events since Botanical Society site ratingsEvents since Botanical Society site ratings
Postscript