Page 10 - Landscape SA 103

FEATURE

Erosion at site one before treatment. Photo: Eben Olderwagen Site one after construction and planting. Photo: Eben Olderwagen

REHABILITATION OF

ERODED WATER COURSES AT

VERGELEGEN

Vergelegen wine estate in Somerset West, Cape Town, renowned for its biodiversity and
commitment to environmental sustainability, recently completed an extensive programme
to rehabilitate eroded water courses. This complex environmental undertaking on five
sites has seen the removal, storage and replanting of some 15000 indigenous plants that
were housed temporarily while the programme was underway.

T he R12 million project has saved
wetlands
rehabilitated
and
alluvium
Lourensford
fynbos
vegetation, which could have been badly
affected by sediment washing onto the
area. In addition, it has halted sediment
contamination of the Lourens River, part of
which runs through the estate. This is the
only river in South Africa where a section
of adjoining land is a protected natural
environment.
Vergelegen has been acclaimed for
completing the largest privately funded
alien vegetation clearing project in
South Africa. Some 2200 hectares of
the 3000 hectare estate were cleared
of alien vegetation by 2019. It is likely
that the woody alien vegetation laid the
foundation for erosion by displacing the
indigenous, deep-rooted species which
protect the soil against degradation in the
event of heavy rainfalls. Structures that
concentrate the flow of water, such as
roads and road culverts, also contributed
to the erosion. Says Vergelegen risk and
Lower site five damage before treatment. Photo: Hans King commercial manager Leslie Naidoo: “We

8 Landscape SA • Issue 103 2021