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PROJECT

The near-threatened Lampranthus explanatus Ursinia sp Brunsvigia orientalis

Pelargonium, Ruschia and Watsonia. (Full list and surrounds, taken to the Vula nursery
available from Francois Combrinck). in Morningstar and cultivated. From these
These were specifically chosen as they cuttings, plugs were produced, plants grown
are Cape Flats fynbos species, were present to the 4kg bag size, and planted on site. Some
on the site or surrounding areas being plants were maintained for longer at the
developed, and could be propagated in nursery and used as mother stock for future
Vula’s nursery. They were also selected cuttings. The final source of plant material
based on their functionality, so numerous was through search and rescue operations in
pioneering species were selected to areas adjacent to the corridor. These regions
establish vegetation cover fast. Longer had numerous valuable species, as well as
lived species were also added and allowed species of conservation concern that had
to grow in, with the aim of establishing to be removed prior to development. They
a functional base ecosystem with all the were generally bulbs which would be directly
necessary fynbos elements such as re- transplanted into the fynbos corridor, away
seeders, re-sprouters, groundcover species, from the threat of any future development.
restios, bulbs and larger woody elements. In the later years of the project, Chasmanthe floribunda
Once this base line was established and the Combrinck says they would supplement the
system was stable, additional species could vegetation on site by adding to the species
be introduced via more passive means such assemblage in areas where vegetation homeowner’s association. Local community
as seed dispersal. cover was low, or in regions where a specific members will be employed, trained and
The area was also heavily overseeded plant component was not present. These assigned to take care of the day-to-day
with material of viable indigenous plants planting efforts would occur after a site maintenance of the site, while receiving
collected from surrounding areas. During the inspection by Deon van Eeden and Vula’s scientific and technical support from both
initial seeding events, the mix was very rich botanist, Jannie Groenewald. Vula and the City of Cape Town.
with pioneering species, as there was a lot Despite the ongoing struggle between
of barren ground to cover. Thereafter, longer Stewardship balancing human expansion and the
living taxa were included, also collected from Stewardship and the responsibility of the conservation of natural resources, projects
the surrounding areas. Combrinck says that site took a different approach, opting not to like the Sandown Fynbos Corridor
they are only now seeing germination and rely on the already burdened City of Cape demonstrate that it is possible to strike a
expression of species sown three to four years Town, but rather to establish a collaboration balance and protect our environment for
ago, meaning that these seeds persisted in between the city, the developer and the future generations. n
the substrate until environmental conditions
triggered germination.

Revegetation and restoration
approach
As there was no irrigation on site, Vula was
limited to the rainy season for all plant work.
Revegetation was based on three sources of
plant material, and seed was recovered from
mature plants in the corridor and surrounds.
As plants tend to have different seeding
times, seed was collected throughout the
year, cleaned, treated and sown. Cuttings
were recovered from remnants in the corridor

Text and photos supplied by Francois
Combrinck, Assistant Ecologist, Vula
Environmental Services. Intensive clearing of woody aliens (Acacia saligna) from the riparian zone within the fynbos corridor

6 Landscape SA • Issue 130 2023