SANParks’ recent aerial survey of fire scars around the Garden Route National Park show Harkerville as the most affected area. The Kranshoek Viewpoint and picnic areas were also badly burned.
Area Manager of Knysna, Johan de Klerk, said: “The area burnt used to be fynos islands that turned into thicket because it had not burnt over a few years. The recent fire will turn it back into fynbos.” The ecological succession would kick in, added de Klerk.
Nature will take its course in a few areas in Knysna, such as the devastated veldt near the N2. Although not an indigenous forest, it will recover naturally due to seeds on the ground.
There is a small pocket of indigenous forest close to the N2, the Garden of Eden (Harkerville), Brackenhill area and in Tsitsikamma.
Residents have been encouraged to eradicate alien species and may log their query. SANParks’ Biodiversity Social Programmes teams can assist. All municipalities are equipped to assist residents to identify and eradicate aliens in their property according to the National Environmental Management Biodiversity Act.
It has been noted that landslides could end up in the estuary. Follow-up meetings indicate that there are various soil types in the areas surrounding the Knysna estuary. There are areas with clay-type soil, such as Upper Old Place and Hunters Home, and more sandy soil nearer to the coast. A landslide will only result if heavy rainfall occurs.
SANParks is liaising with an NGO regarding proposed areas for silt traps for the areas of concern.
