| City’s partnership with Stellenbosch University assists Fynbos Restoration research project | City’s partnership with Stellenbosch University assists Fynbos Restoration research project | | <img alt="" src="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/cityassets/PublishingImages/Commercial%20Food%20Gardens%20And%20City%20Farms%20Header.jpg" style="BORDER:0px solid;" /> | <p>This week City staff from the Blaauwberg Nature Reserve and Professors Karen Esler and Pat Holmes from the Stellenbosch University planted propagated rootstock on degraded plots stretching over a four hectare area within the reserve that has recently been cleared of invasive alien Acacia saligna (Port Jackson).<br></p> | <p>The main aim of this planting event and specific aspect of this research project is to improve the effectiveness of the Sand Fynbos ecological restoration within the City's Blaauwberg Nature Reserve and beyond. </p><p>The partnership, coordinated by Stellenbosch University, involves rescuing threatened species and determining best practice for successful reintroduction into the City managed Blaauwberg Nature Reserve. The current project funding comes from an Anglo Nature Positive Grant and the other partners include three nurseries namely Vula, FynbosLIFE and the Stellenbosch University Botanical Garden.</p>
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<p>'Several key fynbos species were reintroduced into this restoration area of the nature reserve this week, species that have long been lost due to the dense invasive alien trees. As such, this is a very positive and promising planting event and forms part of the overall Cape Flats Sand Fynbos ecological restoration initiative. We look forward to monitoring and seeing the Fynbos vegetation flourish in this area so that the unique biodiversity is restored to its former glory,' said the City's Deputy Mayor and Mayoral Committee Member for Spatial Planning and Environment, Alderman Eddie Andrews.</p>
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<p>In collaboration with the City, Professors Esler and Holmes have focused their research on the reserve since 2012. Past research at Blaauwberg Nature Reserve has found that certain functional types of fynbos plants do not establish well in the field from pre-treated seeds. This research study therefore investigates large-scale propagation methods for threatened plants, including resprouter structural plant species that fail to establish well in the field following direct sowing of pre-treated seeds. this work is highly relevant to the United Nations decade on ecological restoration (2021-2030) that aims to prevent, halt and reverse the degradation of ecosystems.<br></p>
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</p> | 2023-06-01T22:00:00Z | GP0|#1d539e44-7c8c-4646-887d-386dc1d95d70;L0|#01d539e44-7c8c-4646-887d-386dc1d95d70|City news;GTSet|#62efe227-07aa-45e7-944c-ceebacca891d | | | | | GP0|#c830068a-1fe7-4344-9e73-bb727500199c;L0|#0c830068a-1fe7-4344-9e73-bb727500199c|fynbos;GTSet|#2e3de6c1-9951-4747-8f53-470629a399bb;GP0|#6ec4174a-5cde-4fbb-b20f-42e26e79bb87;L0|#06ec4174a-5cde-4fbb-b20f-42e26e79bb87|nature reserve;GTSet|#2e3de6c1-9951-4747-8f53-470629a399bb | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | 0 |
