The Perfect Restoration Burn
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SANParks’ restoration burn of Prinskasteel Wetland Block 19A
By Tony Rebelo
Tuesday March 23’s prescribed restoration burn by SANParks of Tokai Park’s Prinskasteel Wetland Block A19, conducted in perfect conditions (32ºC at 30% humidity), proved an historical occasion.
Not only was it the first wetland burned by SANParks at Tokai; the area contains a major population of extinct-in-the-wild Whorled Heath. These plants have been flowering and attracting birds, butterflies, moths and bees for more than 10 years since they were planted alongside the pine plantations following the 2008 clearing of aliens in the wetland.
The wetland contains “the eye” of the Prinskasteel River; where the water bubbles from the granites beneath. Even during the depths of the recent drought, the eye did not dry up.
The burn was a long time coming. It was delayed after the pines were cleared, first by the drought and then by Covid-19. While the delays postponed the restoration of the Fynbos, they did give the planted Whorled Heaths a breather, enabling them to produce more seeds.
Teams at Kirstenbosch are already germinating seeds, rooting cuttings and getting ready to reintroduce threatened species of recorded plants which have recovered poorly in adjacent restored areas at Tokai. Anyone interested in volunteering to help with this work can contact Solly Modimola at Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens for more information.
The prescribed burn ran like clockwork. Started just after morning tea, the block burn was completed by lunch time. However, wood stacks and stumps left after clearing the pines continued to burn until afternoon tea, after which they were systematically extinguished. Being a hot, dry day, with a gentle breeze, the fire was hot and fast and ideal for stimulating the soil-borne Fynbos seedbank.
It is always nice when prescribed burns can be called controlled burns.
From Wednesday 24 March, 2021, we will start monitoring the regeneration of Fynbos. If we are lucky, we may be treated to a few fire lilies before the rains and, afterwards, to the bulbs and resprouters. At least four years will have to pass before we can assess a complete inventory of all species regenerating in the block.
While monitoring Fynbos regrowth, we are also planning alien removal, because alien seed banks will also be stimulated. Long-leaf, Golden and Port Jackson Wattles are all present in the area, and will be tackled before they get big enough to negatively influence the recovering Fynbos.
You can follow progress on iNaturalist or, better still, join one of our Tokai Park bioblitzes.
