Page 7 - Landscape-Issue127

PROJECT

South westerly view of the site during planting in October 2022

rehabilitation area, within the stream channel, was retained Materials
at all times during rehabilitation activities and any area up or All harvested plant material, including living propagation materials
downstream thereof was treated as a no-go area. such as runners, sods, cuttings, whole plants, bulbs, rhizomes,
Because wetland vegetation flourishes within a specific niche, harvested seed and harvested indigenous mulch, were labelled with
it was important to note where specific vegetation should be the genus and species of plant, and the specific location and habitat
planted/seeded. The rehabilitation area consisted of the high from which the material was harvested, in order to ensure correct
northern, more terrestrial stream bank, the seasonally saturated placement during planting.
instream areas, as well as an intermittently wet floodplain area. All Plant material was obtained either from the site and surrounding
other areas falling within the stream channel were left untouched areas during search and rescue operations prior to clearing or from
and allowed to further re-establish naturally. an area in close proximity to, and of the same veld type as, the site.
Under the supervison of rehabilitation specialist Chris Devine, Living plant material obtained from the site included whole plants,
the rehabilitation plan aimed to meet the following objectives: cuttings (propagation material), bulbs, corms, runners, rhizomes,
• mechanical removal of all alien invasive vegetation; grass sods, restio sods, etc. Living plant material, obtained from
• reshaping of the disturbed channel, creating a more meandering localities in close proximity to the site, included cuttings and runners
main channel, with ridges and pools located alongside it and only.
immediate revegetation of all disturbed areas with suitable Once all material was propagated, germinated and rooted, 70 000
local plant species. This would include the higher banks on the cuttings were established into seed trays and transported from the
northern section, the reshaped instream areas and the larger Somerset West nursery to the farm nursery. The farm had to ensure
floodplain area; that each plant was transplanted into four kg bags and packed in the
• All other freshwater areas were to be treated as no-go areas; approved manner for that species or variety, and that all necessary
• In order to keep the gene pool undisturbed, all open ground precautions were taken to ensure that the plants arrived on site in a
transplanting, cutting and seed collection would originate no proper condition for successful growth. Trucks used for transporting
further than five km from the affected site; container plants were equipped with covers to protect the plants
• Seed germination and cutting propagation was done in a from windburn. Plants with exposed roots were not subjected to
specialist nursery in Somerset West, after which the seed trays prolonged exposure to drying winds and sun, nor to water logging
were transported to a farm nursery at Citrusdal, where they or force-feeding at any time after planting into the bags.
were transplanted into four kg bags, transported to the site and Seeds used in the revegetation process were harvested in an area
planted. Plants selected for the different areas were placed on free of alien/ invasive vegetation, either at the site prior to clearance
site by Devine. or from suitable neighbouring sites.

Landscape SA • Issue 127 2023 5