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ENVIRONMENTAL FEATURE

Leucospermum hypophylocarpodendron. Several propagated from cuttings have Geissorhiza radians (Wine Cup)...
been introduced and the populations on site have also recovered post fire. rescued from N7 upgrading. The
habitat range on the conservation
offset site was increased through
creating localised low points to
simulate seasonal wetlands to
support rescued plants.

he new Kalbaskraal/Chatsworth and bulb predation is ongoing and owl hand-watered using knapsack sprayers to
intersection is located on the N7 houses and resting perches were installed assist survival. The impact of the drought
Tsouth of Malmesbury. During the to encourage birds of prey such as kites, on the nursery was extreme.
upgrade of the N7, significant ecosystem hawks and owls to control the gerbil
losses occurred, primarily due to population. Typical restoration projects of this nature
earthworks. Several vulnerable vegetation in the fynbos and renosterveld usually take
communities were threatened and a The initial hydroseeding was undertaken 10 to 15 years to establish as a self-
conservation offset was reserved on land in April 2017 but unfortunately, this perpetuating ecosystem. In the case of
owned by SANRAL at the intersection. This was followed by drought which had a the Kalbaskraal project, active restoration
area was covered in alien vegetation and significant impact on the seeding success. and maintenance coincided and had to be
had to be prepared to serve as a receptor Plants from bags and cuttings had to be completed (from preparation to hand-
area for rescued vegetation. In December
2016, alien vegetation was removed in Leucadendron thymifolium is endemic to this area....meaning that it grows naturally
preparation for a prescribed ecological only here and nowhere else in the world. These were propagated and planted and
burn in March 2017. This was followed by then stolen from site, clearly by a rare plant expert!
seeding and planting between April and
July in 2017, 2018 and 2019.
The N7 traverses a wide range of conditions
and thus several vegetation types were
found in localised micro habitats. The
receptor site was less diverse. The new
habitat was thus not ideal but the land
was available and belonged to the client.
Several species of conservation concern
were discovered in greater numbers
during the restoration. To increase the
habitat range, localised low points were
created to simulate seasonal wetlands
that would support, amongst others,
Geissorhiza radians, commonly known as
Wynkelkie, that had been rescued.
Restoration projects require specific,
local genetic material. All plants used
were propagated and grown or rescued
by Vula Environmental Services. Several
of the plants had not been propagated
previously and involved considerable
effort. Plants of 80 different species were
provided through propagation. Seed

Landscape SA • Issue 95 2020 31