HEADING OF SECTION OR PRESENTATION - Biodiversity Fire Application for Grassland Management
eThekwini Municipality | Planning Unit
ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNING & CLIMATE PROTECTION DEPARTMENT
by Bheka J. Nxele
Biodiversity, Climate & Green Project
Implementation Branch
“Fire Application for Grassland Management”
September 2012
HEADING OF SECTION OR PRESENTATION - Biodiversity
• Ecosystem Management
• Background on Grassland Management
• Fire-managed areas within EMA (selection)
• Working on Fire Programme - IFMS (WoF)
Training;
IAP Control;
Green economy;
Local Economic Development
• Herbicide-Assist Programme
Biocontrol trials on specific IAPs
Emerging-weed Control (Triplaris americana)
Indigenous invasive species (Pteridium aquilinum)
Fire training for landowners
• Challenges faced by green projects such as WoF
Contents
Fire Application for Grassland Management
HEADING OF SECTION OR PRESENTATION - Biodiversity Ecosystem Management
Ecosyst. Serv. Areas (id, mapping, mngment agreements etc).
Fire Application for Grassland Management
Sustainable Ecosystem Management Approach: • Vital for delivery of essential ‘life-supporting’ ecosystem services • Should be mainstreamed into societal conscience, political thinking & economic processes
Changing times – call for “mental disposition” • Incr. human pop – demand for finite resources – enviro. degradation – Climate Change – FEEDING THE WORLD??? = Sustainable Ecosystem Management & Equitable Governance (Munang et al. 2011)
Facts on Human Activities: • Dramatic in biod. loss; habitat destruction; incr. soil erosion; deforestation; desertification processes; soil degradation; limiting fresh water supply; changing global climate; facilitating IAS infestations etc. (Peters & Lovejoy, 1992)
HEADING OF SECTION OR PRESENTATION - Biodiversity Background on Grasslands
• Grasslands dominantly constitute a herbaceous layer of a variety
of species, including forbs.
• In savanna systems, the continuous herbaceous layer of grassland gets
broken by woody species.
• Grasslands usually support a rich diversity of both flora and
fauna – ever-growing conservation interest (Uys & Bond).
• Grasslands (Open Savanna systems) play a crucial role in providing;
a) grazing fields for livestock
b) carbon storage
c) agricultural fields,
d) other ecosystem services
In a nut-shell, grasslands greatly increase the ability of the land to
support people!
Fire Application for Grassland Management
HEADING OF SECTION OR PRESENTATION - Biodiversity Scientific Facts on Grassland Management
• Historically, fire has been the most dominant, natural, tool employed for a
number of reasons (moribund, manage species, control IAS etc. – effective!)
• Grasslands comprise of different species – respond differently to fires.
• Fire (intensity & frequency) affects different grassland species, differently.
• Whilst forbs seem to be less affected by fires, grass species composition
remains highly susceptible to bias as a response to fire.
• Impacts on grasslands, indirectly affects both fauna and the ecosystem
service value of a grasslands – more so if the impacts are unmanaged!
Fire-tolerant
species
Fire-
intolerant
species
Fire Application for Grassland Management
HEADING OF SECTION OR PRESENTATION - Biodiversity Scientific Recommendations to Grassland Management - Fire
• Understanding how grassland species respond to fire,
is essential in…
a) applying the correct fire regime and thus
b) sustainably managing a grassland
• Such understanding provides the basis for knowledge on….
i) species composition and response to fire regimes
ii) how spatial and temporal arrangement of fires affect biota and
iii) fire-regime interactions with other processes (ecological / anthropogenic).
Fire Application for Grassland Management
HEADING OF SECTION OR PRESENTATION - Biodiversity Grassland Status in EMA
KZN Vegetation Type1 Conservation Status EM3 Conservation Status SANBI
Dry Ngongoni Veld Endangered Vulnerable
Moist Ngongoni Veld Critically Endangered Vulnerable
Eastern Valley Bushveld Near Threatened Least Threatened
KZN Hinterland Thornveld Vulnerable Vulnerable
KZN Sandstone Sourveld Critically Endangered Endangered
North Coast Bushland Critically Endangered Endangered
South Coast Bushland Endangered Endangered
North Coast Grassland Critically Endangered Endangered
South Coast Grassland Critically Endangered Endangered
Fire Application for Grassland Management
HEADING OF SECTION OR PRESENTATION - Biodiversity Working on Fire Project
• WoF is a South African, government-funded, multi-partner org focused on
Integrated Fire Management and Veld & Wildfire fighting (IFMS).
• WoF specializes in control and eradication of IAS by various methods incl.
the use of fire in winter i.o.t. enhance the sustainability and protection of
ecosystem services and natural processes through integrated fire
management.
• WoF contributes to the National Vision of boosting economic empowerment,
skills development, social equity and accelerated service delivery.
• WoF currently operates in KZN as well as other provinces such as Gauteng,
wherein in it is responsible for widespread eradication of IAS, implementing
controlled burns and putting fire-breaks
Fire Application for Grassland Management
HEADING OF SECTION OR PRESENTATION - Biodiversity WoF Project in eThekwini Municipality, cont’d
Within eThekwini, WoF operates on sites strategically identified by the EPCPD (priority sites of conservation significance – Syst. Cons. Plan).
The programme focuses on,..
a) Invasive Alien Plants (IAPs) clearing b) Application of fire-breaks and controlled burns. Current WoF team comprises of aprox. 60 members (locally based youth) – one base in Pinetown (New Germany) One highly specialized High Altitude Team (HAT), work on steep area/cliff lines.
Fire Application for Grassland Management
HEADING OF SECTION OR PRESENTATION - Biodiversity Ecosystem Management & Co-management
Fire Application for Grassland Management
Status quo - assessment
Planning & Co-management
Implementation – evaluation & adaptation
Info dissemination
….& awareness
HEADING OF SECTION OR PRESENTATION - Biodiversity Ecosystem Management, Training & Co-management
Fire Application for Grassland Management
Fire Dept.
IFMS & EPCPD
2-way participation
Site Preparation Live-fire Application
HEADING OF SECTION OR PRESENTATION - Biodiversity
Training, cont’d
Fire Application for Grassland Management
Machinery – timber processing
Coffin manufacturing
Chainsaw handling
Fire Application & confidence
HEADING OF SECTION OR PRESENTATION - Biodiversity Health & Safety – a priority for WoF!
Human safety and avoiding
Environmental contaminations
form the bases of WoF principles.
Fire Application for Grassland Management
Chemical application
Protective gear
HEADING OF SECTION OR PRESENTATION - Biodiversity Some WoF Managed Areas in eThekwini Municipality
WoF Managed Area Area (Ha) Virginia Airport D'MOSS 18.61
Krantzkloof Nature Reserve
High Meadow Managed Area 17.63
Edgecliff Managed Area 81.99
Cliffdale Managed Area 8.28
Assagay Managed Area 7.92
Alfred Park Managed Area 1.02
Crestview Managed Area 14.20
Empisini Nature Reserve 56.44
Giba Special Rating Area
Monteseel 25.27
Bluff Grasslands 8.58
Treasure Beach Dune (St Geran) 1.33
Hillcrest 1.19
Forest Hills 4.53
Cliffdale (Erf 127) 6.54
Langefontein 1.44
Remainder of Hamilton No. 14305 26.2
Remainder of Tongaat (Erf 747) 1.65
Crestview (Erf 48) 0.4
Waterfall Farm No 978 4.6
Total Area 287.82
Fire Application for Grassland Management
New areas – land
acquisition
HEADING OF SECTION OR PRESENTATION - Biodiversity Biocontrol Trials
Fire Application for Grassland Management
Over and above mechanical and chemical controls implemented,
there are also biocontrols released.
• Biocontrol agents, sourced from the same area as IAP, are host specific.
St. Helier strains of Cyrtobagous selviniae released for Kariba weed.
In New Germany, hypogeococcus pungens released for The Queen of the Night.
Normally one strain is released per IAP.
WoF has released two strains of Hypogeococcua sp.
WoF Programme is recognised as the 1st breeding programme in the country
to introduce two genetically diverse strains of the same species.
Aggressive approach to controlling the spread of an unwanted weed
HEADING OF SECTION OR PRESENTATION - Biodiversity Emerging weed Control
Fire Application for Grassland Management
• Whilst there is much focus on well-established and widespread IAP populations,
close attention is paid on emerging weeds.
• Few Projects, in collaboration with SANBI, aimed at controlling emerging weeds such
as Triplaris americana through the Early Detection & Rapid Response (EDRR)
• HAT plays a great role in these projects, mainly on steep slopes.
• Collaborations with national WfW (HAT Manager, Mr. Q. Pretorius), through SANBI,
have also been initiated to control another priority emerging species
Furcraea foetida (Mauritius hemp) – Paradise Valley, Westville, Umngeni Rd verges
& Cator Manor
Population of of Diplocyclos palmatus
(Lollipop climber), were greatly reduced
by the WoF team – mainly from
Edgewood Nature Reserve & Edgecliff
area in Pinetown.
HEADING OF SECTION OR PRESENTATION - Biodiversity Indigenous Invasive Species – Bracken fern
Fire Application for Grassland Management
Bracken fern (Pteridium aquilinum). is indigenous. It rapidly invades areas and render the land less productive, just as do alien species. Bracken has an extensive root system, which enables the fern to effectively outcompete other species for moisture and nutrients. Old, dead fronds often remain in the stand and form dense mulch on the ground, inhibiting the germination and growth of other plants, including pasture species. Bracken also regenerates rapidly after fire and may dominate recently burned areas. Various national Acts protect South African ferns both directly and indirectly but… Bracken fern is excluded from this protection (Fern Society of Southern Africa) – invasive plant.
HEADING OF SECTION OR PRESENTATION - Biodiversity
WoF as implementing agent, for the EPCPD of eThekwini Municipality
faces an array of challenges (minor but can be detrimental!)
a) Lack of understanding for fire application, as a management tool, in
grassland management – {awareness}
b) Lack of appreciation and acknowledgement of WoF Crew
c) Inherent danger associated with fire (e.g. damage to properties, break-
away fires, etc). – {quality of WoF staff & training}
d) Logistical pressures & the subsequent miscommunication with property
owners.
Challenges faced by WoF
Fire Application for Grassland Management
HEADING OF SECTION OR PRESENTATION - Biodiversity Environmental Planning & Climate Protection
Green Projects for
Sustainable
Development
Bheka J. Nxele
Cell: 082 – 780 9499
Office: 031 – 322 4310
Fax: 031 – 311 7134
eThekwini Municipality
“BIODIVERSITY, WE ARE ALL IN IT,
TOGETHER!!!”
The End!!!