FEBRUARY TALK
Andrea Benn
On Saturday 20 February, Sean Privett of Fynbos Trails gave a talk on ‘Forests in the fynbos, the southernmost Forests in Africa’.
Sean Privett is a passionate naturalist with a wealth of information about the unique pockets of forests among the fynbos. These are found between Danger Point and Stanford. On a world scale they are tiny, but big in the fynbos. The fynbos around these forests is itself special with several endemic species including four limestone aloes.
In 1938 the first aerial photography was done. The most recent in 2014 showed a shrinkage in forest sizes. Acacia cyclops had been planted to stabilise coastal dunes and when that supply of wood ran out, the forest trees were used. Material from the forests is now used for propagation, keeping within the natural ratios and densities.
Grootbos, where Sean is the botanist, is about 25,000 hectares in extent and about four kilometres from the coast. The ancient milkwood trees here reach six to seven metres. They are difficult to age. In spring, winds cause natural pruning. In February the trees self-prune, dropping branches. New growth is sideways. Along the coast, milkwoods reach to only one metre.
The ecology in the fynbos is different to the forest areas where longevity, holding onto and keeping a space is important. Seeds are dropped but the density and shade of the big trees prevents growth. The big ones ‘kill them off’ as they ‘want to be alone’. Fynbos needs fire, which sets seeds which then germinate in the space, with ash providing the nutrients.
There are not many species of trees in the Cape. Some that are found in the forests are – no yellow woods! – Diospyros whyteana, Sideroxylon inerme (milkwood), Olea europaea ssp africana (olive), O.sp.macrocarpa, O.sp.exasperata, Euclea racemosa (sea guarri), Kiggelaria capensis, Aspodytes – white and hard pear, Rapanea melanophloeos (Cape beech) and others.
The fungi/lichen have a symbiotic relationship with the trees and are a sign of pure, unpolluted air. In winter, when they absorb moisture and swell, the diversity of these species is large. One ancient milkwood was found to have 17 species on it!
The big question is why these forests exist. Sean gave us a few theories. First, wind and the shape of the land from Pearly Beach inland, where there are dunes, mean infrequent coastal fires. There are longer intervals between fires that start closer to the forests – 30 to 40 years – because of the coastal protection. In 2006 a quick fire burnt some tree canopies but they re-sprouted. Secondly, calcareous and koffieklip subsoil hold water better than sandy dunes.
Platbos, a re-forest is now privately owned. In 1940 the forest was felled for potato farming. Acacia aliens took over. Today a firebreak surrounds the forest and there are no aliens. A nursery propagates local trees. An honesty box welcomes visitors.
What animals inhabit these wonderful forests? There are no bushbuck beyond Stanford. But camera traps recently recorded honey badger, porcupine, caracal, the first ever recording of bushpig, and five leopards from the area. Big, hard, white-shelled kidney snails that burrow into the soil in the day are used by five species of bees and wasps. The interest list is endless – waterfalls, flower valleys, and birds!
This wonderfully unique area is not far away and well worth a visit. Thank you, Sean, for making us more aware of this gem and for your interest in keeping it natural.