FoTP launches IUCN Save Our Species Rapid Action Grant Project

Part 1: Tackling alien vegetation

The project will continue the battle against alien vegetation and will tie in with Friends of Tokai Park’s existing Adopt-a-Plot programme and ongoing volunteer hacking activities. In addition, the interns will augment work done by Working for Water, performing detailed and high-quality, ecologically strategic follow-up with specific focus on treating hard-to-eradicate alien species that coppice and require repeat attention.

Paying particular attention to the hard-to-control Blackwood, the interns will use tried and trusted methods and test if some more-recently developed methods are viable at a larger scale.

Although targeted specifically at restoring Western Leopard Toad (EN) habitat, the project takes a holistic approach, considering whole ecosystem restoration. Invasive alien species threaten not only Western Leopard Toad (EN) habitat and Critically endangered (CR) fynbos. Invaded areas have been shown to be avoided by other charismatic animals, such as caracals and small mammals.

In addition, the higher biomass of alien vegetation, mainly trees, poses a fire hazard to adjacent residential areas. We will therefore be contributing to the protection and resilience of local communities.

Part 2: Re-vegetation of rare and locally missing indigenous species

We will be working with a well-known local business, FynbosLIFE, to restore specific areas by propagating fynbos plants using cuttings and seeds taken from the closest available site (where those species occur).

This process of propagating fynbos may sound simple but, in reality, much care is needed to ensure that only local plant populations are used (to preserve genetic integrity). This means that only species that would have occurred in the area are replanted and that there is no soil contamination or pathogen introduction.

The project will also be championing the revegetation of species such as the much-loved Silver Tree, which has suffered from pathogen-associated decline in recent years and was almost eradicated from the slopes of the Peninsula by forestry.

Early last year, some Silver Tree seedlings from Kirstenbosch Botanical gardens were planted in an experimental design to find the best planting method for the species. This work will enable us to achieve maximal survival rates.

The project to restore Western Leopard Toad habitat starts in February 2022 and ends in July 2022. To follow our progress, please keep an eye on our website and social media pages. And be sure to say hello to our friendly interns if you see them in the field!