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ENVIRONMENTAL FEATURE

Ecosystem development indicated by increase of annuals and
perennial persistence.

SPECIALIST RESTORATION WORK

KALBASKRAAL OFFSET: Article compiled by Carol
SALI DOUBLE GOLD AWARD Knoll from information and
VULA ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES photographs provided by
Deon van Eeden

Several sections of the N7 upgrade on the West Coast resulted in a dramatic decline
of ecosystem functioning along the road verge corridors. Problems encountered
at the Melkbos interchange during 2012-2013 inspired forward-thinking ERO
Engineer, Fred Henning, to put to tender the vegetation Search and Rescue
programme, prior to the awarding of the main civils contract, during the design
phase of the new Kalbaskraal intersection conservation offset. This was part of
the rehabilitation plan developed by Vula Environmental Services in line with the
proposal of Dr Dave McDonald of Bergwind Botanical Surveys.

Allowing the Search and Rescue to take place in advance maximised its potential.
In total, 152 000 rescued and propagated plants (from local genetic material) were
introduced into the conservation areas between 2017 and 2019. In excess of 500kg
of hand-harvested seed was collected and hydroseeded during the same period.

30 Landscape SA • Issue 95 2020