Ecological burns scheduled for City nature reserves 2025
22 January 2025
The City of Cape Town’s Biodiversity Management Branch staff and partners will be conducting ecological burns at various nature reserves in February, March and April 2025. The actual dates will be dependent on weather conditions. Ecological burns are vital to the ecological functioning and preservation of natural vegetation as well as reducing fire risk.
Carefully managed burns are necessary to maintain maximum species diversity. There are numerous benefits to burns. For example, by removing the canopy created by the mature vegetation, sunlight is allowed to reach the ground, which helps with seed germination.
'Heat and smoke generated by fires also provide the critical stimulation which many of our unique fire-dependant plant species require to germinate. There are many short-lived species which complete their life cycles shortly after a fire event, these are known fire ephemerals. Very many species, including the majority or Erica species and the highly threatened Serruria aemula, have their seeds stored in the soil which are stimulated to germinate by the fire. Other species, such as Protea burchellii and Protea scolymocephala, store their seeds on the plant in cones (serotiny). These seeds are released soon after the fire and can germinate in the open habitat with little competition,’ said the City's Deputy Mayor and Mayoral Committee Member for Spatial Planning and Environment, Alderman Eddie Andrews.
The recommended potential ecological burns areas for this season are as follows:
- Meadowridge Common Conservation Area – 1,5 ha northern block
- Muizenberg East Private Conservation Area – 3 ha
- Westlake Conservation Centre – 1,66 ha
- Uitkamp Wetland Nature Reserve – 8,12 ha
- Camphill Village Conservation Area – 6,1 ha
- Blaauwberg Nature Reserve: Hill Section – 19 ha
- Camdebo Conservation Area – 2,92 ha
Competent, trained staff from the Environmental Management Department (EMD) will work with Cape Town Fire and Rescue Service and other partners. All of the above ecological burns are scheduled for the month of February to April 2025.
‘While fires that occur too frequently can lead to a decline in slow growing species and reduced seed production, withholding fire for a long time will lead to bush encroachment and the local extinction of species. It is also imperative to ensure that there is a mosaic of different veld ages where possible. Another advantage of burning old vegetation is that it reduces fuel loads, which in turn reduces the risk of wild fires,' said Alderman Andrews.
In addition to fynbos and renosterveld regeneration, ecological burns are also used as a tool for restoration: as a first treatment for invasive plant clearing, and to restore habitat for critically endangered species such as the Ranger butterflies (Kedestes spp.).
For more information, contact Biodiversity@capetown.gov.za.
To report a wildfire, please contact the City’s Fire and Rescue and Emergency Services on 107 from a landline and 021 480 7700 from a cellphone.
High resolution images are available here.
Published by:
City of Cape Town, Media Office
