|
On
Tuesday
5
March
the
City
successfully
burned
the
reedbeds
at
Wave's
Edge
in
the
Table
Bay
Nature
Reserve. |
|
The
City’s
Biodiversity
Management
Branch
executed
the
burn
and
this
was
done
safely,
effectively
and
efficiently.
This
type
of
work
is
especially
difficult
considering
the
complexities
and
dangers
of
burning
vegetation
near
an
urban
residential
area
with
heavily
traffic
roadways. |
|
The
burn
helped
to
reduce
large
amounts
of
accumulated
dry
and
dead
reeds
in
the
wetland,
as
well
as
open
up
areas
for
birds
and
animals
to
benefit
from
the
open
water
areas.
The
reduced
“fuel
load”
will
decrease
the
likelihood
of
unplanned
wildfires.
The
remaining
green
reeds
will
systematically
be
cut
back,
and
any
new
regrowth
will
be
treated
with
herbicide
to
suppress
the
reed
beds.
A
lot
of
litter
and
rubble
found
in
the
burnt
areas
were
removed. |
|
When
the
winter
rains
floods
this
area
again
(usually
in
April)
the
teams
will
withdraw
from
the
site
and
be
redeployed
in
terrestrial
areas. |
|
Biodiversity
Management
expresses
a
special
thanks
to
the
community
of
Wave’s
Edge
for
their
tireless
involvement
and
support
for
the
management
of
the
Table
Bay
Nature
Reserve.
Despite
the
heavy
smoke,
their
patience,
good
faith
and
cooperation
with
the
burn
team
impressed
everybody
on
site. |
|
The
City
of
Cape
Town’s
Subcouncil
1,
Air
Pollution
Control,
Fire
&
Rescue,
and
Traffic
Services
also
deserve
recognition
for
their
valuable
input
into
the
permit
application
process
and
for
being
present
on
site
during
the
burn. |
