MARCH TALK
Andrea Benn
Keir Lynch – The Overberg Lowlands Conservation Trust Watercourse Restoration Project
Another unique area was described in this talk by Keir Lynch. Once again we were made aware of how important good stewardship is for these areas of global interest.
Keir and Eloise have been involved in Conservation Management as game rangers in Klaserie, Phinda, Sanbona and Shamwari. It was David Attenborough programs that opened a new world for Keir. The question that became his passion was, are we able to protect what David Attenborough speaks about? In the Western Cape there are tiny fragments of plant wealth remaining. Since 1920 there has been a 52% decline in plant species. “We ignore this decline at our peril.” 80% of our biodiversity is on private land!
Keir is working on a three-year project funded by WWF Green Trust. The Renosterveld area extends from Bot River to Swellendam, then down to Bredasdorp and Napier. The ecology of this area is now highly endangered. Only 6% of the original area remains. This project is working to link the critical remaining fragments of Renosterveld through watercourses between the mountains. The major river systems are the Riviersonderend, the Sout (228 km), the Caledon, the Vreekbotha cluster, and the Doring which leads into the Breede River.
There are several differences between the eastern and western areas. The east becomes more Karoo-like with succulent species. The west is shale-based with more grasses – a South African Serengeti where vast herds of bontebok, springbok, buffalo and quagga once roamed. It was biodiversity in a nutshell.
In working with farmers to establish these conservation corridors, forming nature reserves, many problems have arisen. Problems areas include: planting Australian Rye grasses for cattle grazing, ploughing right up to the watercourses and even into them to plant wheat, spraying Roundup – an herbicide which drifts into streams, dumping animal carcasses into the streams, general mismanagement of the slopes bordering the watercourses, burning land for fresh grazing, and quarrying. Some farmers have, however, become passionate about preserving their endemic species.
Recently cameras were placed on a game trail and encouragingly several animals were photographed. There was grey rhebok, porcupine, bushbuck, genet, grysbok, mongoose, duiker, honey badger and, near de Hoop on the Sout River, a leopard. There were no baboons as the area is too fragmented.
Water samples are collected in the dry and end of wet seasons. Various chemicals, phosphates, nitrates and herbicides are found which impact on the invertebrate species. Each river has its own species of redfin, a small fish.
Although conservation is on a voluntary basis, there is no legal requirement. The aim after the three-year project is to have a conservation strategy along the major watercourses in perpetuity for that area of land.
