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Wildfires

6 February 2025 Media Release: The 2017 Knysna Fires vs. 2025 California Wildfires

Media Release: The 2017 Knysna Fires vs. 2025 California Wildfires

6 February 2025

Wildfires have long posed a major threat to communities worldwide. Two (2) of the most deadly fires in recent history occurred in vastly different regions: the Knysna and Bitou Wildfires in South Africa (2017). Now also abroad – the most recent California wildfires (2025). Despite geographical differences, both events share alarming similarities in their causes, impacts, and lessons for the future.

Weather and Climatic Conditions

On 7 January 2025, Santa Ana winds exceeding 161km/h drove wildfires in California, including the Palisades and Eaton Fires. As a result of severe drought conditions, this situation was even worse. As a result of low humidity and strong winds, fire spread across Los Angeles. A gale-force north-westerly Berg Wind reaching 120 km/h fueled the Knysna fires on 7 June 2017.

A prolonged drought had left vegetation dry, exacerbating fire intensity. The fires consumed 19,000 hectares of plantations and indigenous forest and led to widespread destruction in Knysna and Plettenberg Bay.

Warnings and Preparedness

Both regions received early weather warnings. In California, the National Weather Service issued Red Flag Warnings days before the fires, highlighting extreme fire risk. Despite these warnings, the wildfires overwhelmed emergency responses.

In the Western Cape, the South African Weather Service warned of a major storm expected on 6 June, prompting school closures and disaster management activation. The strong winds fuelled the fires instead of bringing anticipated rain.

Emergency Response

California mobilised extensive resources, including 7 500 emergency personnel, 65 fire engines, and military support. Private firefighters were also deployed to protect high-value properties.

In Knysna, firefighting efforts included nearly 1 200 firefighters from various Municipalities, the City of Cape Town, local forestry companies, private firefighters, and Working on Fire (WOF) crews, as well as aerial water bombers Working on Fire, the South African National Defence Force, and Savanah Helicopters. Emergency operations were coordinated through a Joint Operating Centre in Knysna, as well as Multi Agency Coordinating Centre at the Western Cape Provincial Disaster Management Centre. Despite efforts, the fire spread uncontrollably, forcing thousands to evacuate, this being the only safe option at the time.

Destruction and Loss

The 2025 California wildfires burned nearly 40,000 acres, destroyed 16,255 structures, and claimed at least 29 lives. The fires forced more than 100,000 people to evacuate, making them some of the most devastating in the state’s history. The economic loss for the USA is about one trillion sixty-nine billion eight hundred fifty-five million Rands.

The Knysna Fires left seven dead, burned 16,000 hectares, and displaced 10,000 people. More than 900 structures were either damaged or destroyed, with economic losses estimated at four and a half billion rands.

Environmental and Urban Planning Factors

Fuel loads played a significant role in both disasters. In Knysna, invasive alien vegetation, such as black wattle and pine plantations, contributed to extreme fire intensity. Studies confirm that fuel loads in plantations and invaded areas were significantly higher than in natural fynbos. Some natural fynbos were encroached with alien invasive species.

Similarly, in California, a build-up of dry vegetation due to prolonged drought and extreme wind, created conditions primed for wildfires. Invasive plants such as Harding grass and yellow star thistle further exacerbated fire spread.

Post-Fire Consequences

Following both disasters, heavy rains triggered mudslides and flash floods, exacerbating further negative impacts. In Knysna, five months after the fires, burned mountain slopes contributed to severe mudslides. In California, post-fire rains led to toxic ash runoff and landslides, further endangering residents.

Lessons Learned

Both wildfires highlight the need for proactive fire management and climate adaptation strategies. Key takeaways include:

  • Fuel Load Reduction: Managing invasive vegetation and reducing combustible materials through controlled burns and firebreaks, and other innovative measures can mitigate risks.
  • Urban Planning: Fire-resistant landscaping, strategic buffer zones, and defensible spaces are crucial for minimizing damage.
  • Preparedness & Early Response: Investing in predictive modelling, community awareness, and emergency planning is essential for minimizing losses.
  • Climate Change Action: Both disasters underscore the impact of rising temperatures and prolonged droughts on wildfire intensity, emphasizing the urgency for global climate mitigation strategies.

The Knysna/Bitou and California wildfires serve as stark reminders of the evolving wildfire threat. As climate change accelerates, regions must adopt proactive fire management, enforce strict land-use policies, and enhance emergency preparedness to prevent future catastrophes.

Feature Image:  Knysna Fire 2017 – Deon Raath

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10 January 2025 Media Release: GRDM Fire & Rescue Services had a Busy Fire Season So Far

Media Release: GRDM Fire & Rescue Services had a Busy Fire Season So Far

10 January 2025

GARDEN ROUTE DISTRICT MUNICIPALITY HOLIDAY FIRE SEASON: 01 December 2024 to 05 January 2025

It has been an exceptionally demanding holiday season for the Garden Route District Municipality’s (GRDM) Fire & Rescue Service, as the summer sun intensified, and the annual wild-and-veld fire season commenced on 01 December and officially ends on 30 April.

Fires in the Garden Route district, renowned for their picturesque landscapes, often threaten the environment as well as residents and infrastructural safety.  The GRDM team responded to a total of 17 fire emergency incidents across the district, with the majority involving vegetation fires in areas such as Melkhoutfontein and Jongensfontein near Still Bay, Korinterivier in Riversdale, the Swartberg Mountains in Oudtshoorn, and Kammanassie and Buffelsdrif Mountains in the northern parts of George.

Through coordinated efforts, including rapid response, public awareness campaigns, and partnerships with local communities, farmer organisations and other fire management agencies, the team continues to mitigate risks and manage the impacts of these fires.

A few pictures captured during the recent wildfire operations in Hessequa and Oudtshoorn.

From 6 December 2024 to 5 January 2025, the GRDM Fire and Rescue Services, were inundated with veld and mountain fire incidents, better known as wildfires.

A total of 17 veld and mountain fire incidents were attended to, with eight (8) of these fires escalating to extended wildfires, with the Jongensfontein, Hessequa wildfire extending to 14 days, the Melkhoutfontein Fire extending to 18 days, including several ‘flare-ups’, the Swartberg Mountain Fires extending to 15 days, and the Kammanassie and Buffelsdrif Mountain wildfires extending over 5 days respectively.

Additionally, the GRDM substation in Ladismith responded to seven (7) veld fires, including a dump site fire.

The wildfires in the Hessequa Municipal area were extremely challenging, due to the type of terrain, access limitations, including the very difficult to manoeuvre coastal dunes, and excessively overgrown and old vegetation type, including Acacia Cyclops (the famous Rooikrans and / or Rooiputjie), as well as Fynbos, including the Metalasia muricata (Blombos) vegetation types.

The Swarberg Mountains presented very challenging terrain, for both vehicles and ground teams, especially due to the rugged and steepness of the terrain, exacerbated by various hills, gorges and valleys. This necessitated trooping in ground crews, a total of 54 trooped in at one stage, to ensure more effective firefighting operations, walking up these mountains were timeous and straining.  

A total of 23 Municipal firefighters, including GRDM and Hessequa Municipality, as well as 08 Garden Route Volunteer Fire Members, with 4 bakkie units, and daily, either a three (3) or four (4) team response from the Working on Fire Program, consisting of average 20 members mitigated the Hessequa Fires on peak days. Additionally, local farmers assisted with a bulldozer, and tractors. The Hessequa Municipality assisted with JCBs and a bulldozer, mainly constructing fuel and fire breaks, either in attempts to stop fire spread or preparing counter burn breaks.

For the Swartberg and Kammanassie mountain fires, CapeNature provided additional ground teams to assist with groundwork, having several ‘stick’ teams, ranging between 08 – 12 members, and ranging between 2 and 4 teams.

Calculated burnscars for some of the largest fires to date include,

  • Swartberg Mountain (Oudtshoorn): 15 251 hectares
  • Melkhoutfontein (Hessequa): 1346 hectares
  • Jongensfontein (Hessequa): 300 hectares
  • Korinterivier (Hessequa): 562 hectares
  • Kammanassie (George): 437 hectares
  • Buffelsdrift (George): 700 hectares
  • Herbertsdale (Mossel Bay): 30 hectares

A total of 48 aerial firefighting hours were utilised to date, including a combination of resources, i.e. bomber planes, spotter planes and helicopter.

Despite rapid initial attacks through the activation of aerial firefighting resources, early and precise detection of fires remains an area requiring continuous improvement. Several simultaneous lightning strikes, often occurring just before sundown, present significant challenges. These incidents limit the immediate activation of aerial firefighting resources and frequently result in fires intensifying during hot and humid evenings. This necessitates the strategic deployment of aerial resources in the days that follow. Addressing these challenges will require innovative measures and strategies moving forward.

Firebreak compliance and the prevalence of excessive alien invasive plants (essentially accumulative fuel loads that drive wildfires), remain significant challenges. However, efforts are underway to strengthen compliance measures in the future. Counter-burning (fighting fire with fire) emerged as a key and strategic firefighting tactic, particularly for managing coastal fires. Ultimately, this approach proved highly effective and will continue to be a preferred tactic in future firefighting efforts.

The deployment of firefighters on the ground, alongside aerial suppression, is a vital reinforcement given the combination of challenging topography, limited access, and high fuel loads. Heli-tack crews (firefighters who are part of helicopter-based initial attack teams) are a highly desirable solution for rapidly suppressing fires in their incipient stages, particularly in difficult-to-access terrain.

A coordinated and collaborative response approach remain the most ideal manner in combatting wildfires, and major incidents, which include landowners, local authorities, including local (structure protection) and the district municipalities, Working on Fire, the Fire Protection Association and trained disaster management and firefighting volunteer groups.

As mentioned before, the December holiday period proved extremely challenging due to multiple wildfires. However, resources were coordinated effectively, allowing us to address all the reported incidents. Notably, the success achieved during this period includes the preservation of lives—no lives were lost—and the protection of property, with no structures destroyed.

It is highly recommended that landowners, on whose land these fires occurred, innovatively utilise these burned areas for sound environmental rehabilitation and management of especially alien invasive plant species and constructing of fire breaks.

To report wildfires, call 044 805 5071 or WhatsApp 081 709 5193.

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10 December 2024 Media Release: Garden Route District Municipality ready for the 2024/2025 Summer Fire Season

Media Release: Garden Route District Municipality ready for the 2024/2025 Summer Fire Season

10 December 2024

Last week, on 5–6 December 2024, the National Fire Services Indaba took place at the King George Hotel in George. Fire service delegates from across South Africa gathered under the theme, “Strengthening Fire Services and Building Resilient Communities Across South Africa.” This event brought together industry experts to discuss critical fire-related topics, share best practices, and foster collaboration, all aimed at enhancing fire services and community resilience nationwide.

On the first day of the event, the Garden Route District Municipality’s (GRDM) Executive Mayor, Andrew Stroebel, one of the guest speakers, launched and affirmed GRDM’s readiness for the 2024/2025 Summer Fire Season to the media, fire services, and dignitaries present.

The GRDM, in collaboration with its stakeholders, declared its readiness for the fire season, highlighting its commitment to protecting communities, property, and the environment from the threat of wildfires.

Elevated Risks During the Summer Season

The fire season, spanning the Summer months until March, brings heightened risks of veld and mountain fires due to rising temperatures, climatic conditions like lightning strikes, and human-related causes. Mayor Andrew Stroebel emphasized that while wildfires can occur year-round, this period demands increased vigilance and proactive measures.

Collaboration: Fire Is Everyone’s Fight

Acknowledging that effective fire management requires a collective effort, GRDM extends its gratitude to its Integrated Fire Management partners, including:

  • The Southern Cape Fire Protection Association
  • CapeNature
  • SANParks
  • The Department of Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment
  • PG Bison Forestry and Mountain-to-Ocean Forestry
  • Working on Fire
  • Local municipalities of Bitou, Knysna, George, Mossel Bay, Hessequa, Oudtshoorn, and Kannaland

“Their dedication to fire prevention and suppression is a testament to the power of collaboration,” Mayor Stroebel stated.

He also highlighted the critical role of farmers, landowners, and residents in fire prevention and early detection. “Together, we must remain vigilant and proactive, especially with the increased temperatures predicted this season,” he added.

Strengthened Resources and Capacity

To enhance its firefighting capabilities, GRDM has appointed 20 temporarily  seasonal firefighters to support its three fire stations across the district. The newly established regional fire station, strategically located along the N2, operates 24/7 with international standard facilities, ensuring rapid and effective responses to emergencies.

Aerial firefighting services, provided by Kishugu-WoF and Savannah Helicopters, will play a pivotal role in containing fires swiftly, supported by the Western Cape Government and the Department of Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment (DFFE).

Additionally, GRDM’s Disaster Management Centre remains fully operational, managing over 25,000 emergency calls per month through its Joint Operational Command and advanced communication systems.

Featured Image Caption: GRDM Executive Mayor Andrew Stroebel and Portfolio Chairperson of Community Services, Cllr Jobieth Hoogbaard, alongside GRDM firefighters proudly dressed in blue.

A Call for Vigilance

As the festive season approaches, GRDM urges residents, visitors, and all emergency authorities to prioritize safety and remain vigilant. “Protecting our communities, environment, and economy from wildfires requires collective responsibility,” Mayor Stroebel emphasized.

In closure Mayor Stroebel expressed gratitude to the residents of the Garden Route,  for their ongoing vigilance and cooperation. “Your role in safeguarding our district is invaluable, and together with our stakeholders, we are here to support you every step of the way,” he said.

To visitors, the Mayor extended a warm welcome: “The Garden Route is a place of unparalleled beauty and vibrant communities. We are committed to ensuring your safety as you enjoy our region.”

GRDM calls on everyone to celebrate responsibly, cherish the environment, and stay alert to potential hazards during the festive season. “Together, we can protect this treasure we call home, ensuring it remains safe and thriving for generations to come,” the Mayor Stroebel concluded.

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12 September 2024 Media Release: Basic Wildland Firefighting Training Facilitated by GRDM and Southern Cape Fire Protection Association

Media Release: Basic Wildland Firefighting Training Facilitated by GRDM and Southern Cape Fire Protection Association

12 September 2024

In collaboration with the Southern Cape Fire Protection Association (SCFPA), the Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) this week facilitated a Basic Wildland Firefighting training session for participants from the Fransmanshoek Conservancy. The training also included representatives from the ’Boggomsbaai, Vleesbaai, and Springerbaai’ conservancies, as well as Buffelsfontein and the EPC Farm.

The training initiative aimed to equip local communities and conservancy members with essential firefighting skills to enhance their preparedness and ability to respond effectively to wildland fires. By including representatives from various local communities and conservancies, the training promoted a collaborative approach to managing vegetation and veld fires.

Essential topics covered, includes:

  1. Fire weather and danger index.
  2. Fire behavior and safety precautions.
  3. Detection and notification protocols.
  4. Personal protective clothing and equipment.
  5. Fire environment and risk assessment.
  6. Basic and incipient suppression techniques.
  7. Fuel load management and risk management practices.
  8. Fire prevention activities.
  9. Scope of practice for community first responders

This training will also empower participants with the knowledge and skills to safely manage incipient vegetation and veld fires, reducing the risk of larger fires that could damage properties, infrastructure, and the environment.

Benefits of this training include:

  • Enhanced firefighting knowledge and skills in the area.
  • Improved collaboration and coordination among local communities, conservancies, and authorities.
  • Increased awareness of wildland fire risks and prevention strategies.
  • Better equipped and trained personnel to handle vegetation fires.
  • Reduced risk of property damage and environmental impact.
  • More knowledgeable residents, especially regarding the notification of risks to authorities.

Assisting conservancies with basic firefighting training is important for enhancing quick detection and potential suppression while firefighting authorities are en-route to a fire notification.

To continue providing participants with thorough basic training and reinforcing safety measures for vegetation fires, a second phase of practical training will be added.

Featured Image caption: Fire Chief Deon Stoffels and Station Commander: Operations Heinrich Leslie facilitating the training session.

 

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20 June 2023 Media Release: 8 000 Hectares more veld and mountain fires burned over the past 12-months

Media Release: 8 000 Hectares more veld and mountain fires burned over the past 12-months

20 June 2023

Throughout the past municipal calendar year, spanning from July 2022 to June 2023, the Garden Route district, including Hessequa, Mossel Bay, George, Knysna, Bitou, Oudtshoorn, and Kannaland, has witnessed several wildfires. Deon Stoffels, the Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) Chief Fire Officer, says a staggering 82 fires, including several wildfires, have ravaged the region since July 2022, leaving 23,848 hectares of land burned. Comparatively, although the previous year saw three additional wildfires between July 2021 and June 2022, the extent of the damage was slightly lower, with approximately 14,500 hectares consumed.

“It remains a priority for us to continue to address this concerning trend and prioritise fire management and prevention strategies to safeguard communities,” said Stoffels.

The major areas most affected by the past year’s wildfires included the Rooiberg Mountains in Van Wyksdorp, the Swartberg Mountains in Oudtshoorn, and Molenrivier (N9 South) in the George area. The primary cause of these wildfires was due to lightning strikes, which are typically prevalent during the January and February months.

As a wildfire blazed through the Molen River in January 2023, a thick blanket of smoke enveloped the air.

Stoffels said: “On one particular day, we experienced seven (7) lightning-induced wildfires”. He says firefighters swiftly responded to this critical situation by deploying rapid aerial firefighting techniques, successfully suppressing three of these fires. “We were able to suppress the remaining wildfires through a combination of ground and aerial firefighting.”

Deon also pointed to November 2022, when a significant fire outbreak occurred in the Hessequa municipal area. “This incident was triggered by a permitted fire that escalated beyond control.”

“During this time of the year, late October and November, the Hessequa area is prone to experience gusty and rapidly changing winds, which proved to be a challenge GRDM firefighters have since learned from.”

PROACTIVE MEASURES, EDUCATION AND RISK REDUCTION MEASURES

The top priority of GRDM’s Fire and Rescue Services Unit remains to implement proactive and preventative fire management strategies. Public education initiatives are central to this, which forms part of their risk reduction measures.

According to Stoffels, the Fire Danger Index, provided by the South African Weather Services, plays a crucial role in assessing risks and guiding planning and preparation efforts.

“We urge all landowners to consult with the Local and District Fire Services, as well as the Fire Protection Association, to obtain expert advice on reducing fire risks,” said Stoffels. “Adequate measures such as maintaining fire breaks, clearing alien vegetation, and ensuring safe prescribed burning practices are essential components of fire prevention.”

Regarding the implementation of Fire Breaks, the District is actively seeking funding to establish and maintain them on its properties. However, all Local Municipal Areas already have Fire Management Systems, including Permitted Burning Systems, aimed at reducing risks and supporting ecological and agricultural objectives.

GRDM places significant emphasis on enhancing its rapid response capabilities, including the deployment of aerial firefighting resources. This method has proven highly effective in dealing with remote and inaccessible wildfires. The measures prevent such incidents from escalating into large-scale and destructive events.

An important number to save: The emergency call centre of GRDM is linked to all the emergency call centres of the region and operates 24/7, 365 days a year – dial 044 805 5071 to report any fire incident.

Feature image caption: In November 2022, a devastating wildfire swept through the Spuithoek area, leaving a trail of destruction across dozens of hectares.

END

25 August 2021 Impact Based Warning: Veld Fire Conditions

Impact Based Warning – Veld Fire Conditions

The Cape Town Weather Office has issued a Veld Fire Impact Based Warning for the Western Cape and Namaqua Region of the Northern Cape valid for 26 August 2021, as follows:

Report any weather related incidents to the Garden Route Disaster Management Centre at 044 805 5071.

END

Legal notice:
“This warning from SA Weather Service must be communicated as received and may not be altered under any circumstance.
It must be forwarded or communicated in its entirety and no portion hereof may be replicated or copied and distributed.”

30 April 2021 Media Release: Adaptive Capacity Facility Climate Resilient Human Settlements Pilot Programme to be project managed by the GRDM

Media Release: Adaptive Capacity Facility Climate Resilient Human Settlements Pilot Programme to be project managed by the GRDM

For immediate release
30 April 2021

Adaptive Capacity Facility Climate Resilient Human Settlements Pilot Programme to be project managed by the GRDM

The Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) is one of three (3) district municipalities that were selected to be the beneficiaries of the Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries (DEFF) Adaptive Capacity Facility (ACF): Climate Resilient Human Settlements Pilot Programme. The Government of Flanders will fund this programme through its Country Strategy Paper (CSPIII) over five years. The funds will mainly be used to implement climate change adaptation projects that build human adaptive capacity.

The programme intends to select projects across three (3) typologies. These include urban settlements, peri-urban settlements, and rural settlements. These settlement typologies fall under the banner of “testing climate-resilient human settlements”.

After an extensive two-day site visit investigation by DEFF from 22 – 26 March 2021, the high fire risks within the GRDM and the threat of these fire risks to vulnerable communities were identified as a focus area for a project that will be funded as part of the programme.

The first co-creation workshop (one of three planned workshops) was arranged in Knysna to workshop possible fire resilient projects and challenges. The workshop included all the key stakeholders within the project area and the participation of some vulnerable community leaders/members.

The day before the workshop, on 23 March 2021, DEFF’s videographer visited some key fire risk areas in the Garden Route to document the conditions and challenges on the ground.

At the workshop, various presenters provided information on the project focus areas, fire risks and impacts within the GRDM, as well as current and future climatic changes and predictions on what this will mean for the fire risks to vulnerable communities going forward.

The workshop also included conveying the traumatic experiences of stakeholders such as the authorities and vulnerable community members during the 2017/18 Knysna/Plettenberg Bay fires.

Second Workshop – 23 April 2021

From 21 to 23 April 2021, the GRDM, DEFF/ACF and critical stakeholders had a fruitful second workshop to have more detailed discussions on priority interventions to be unpacked into projects. The workshop outcomes included the following priority intervention categories:

  • Ecosystem-based fuel load management: To include block burning, fire breaks, alien clearing as well as an initial follow-up; fire-scaping; access /escape route management;
  • Early fire detection and monitoring: cameras and towers;
  • Training: Development of a training academy, train the trainer, “training – to be wildfire ready”, basic land management principles; workshops on legislative requirements.

During the two workshop engagements, all the stakeholders agreed upon the following project criteria. The GRDM will lead the project, and although the initial idea was that the interventions would be geographically focused in the Knysna area, particular emphasis will be on the areas identified as high-risk areas in the recently completed macro fire risk assessment by the GRDM.

The project will address fire risk from a climate change adaptation perspective. The project interventions must have a robust interface with human settlements (meaning that we need to consider the project interventions’ impacts on the selected human settlements, and we need to take into consideration the needs of that human settlement/s);

The project interventions will be located within an urban setting. This does not mean that the settlements need to be formal dwellings and “high-income” communities; on the contrary, grassroots communities vulnerable urban settlements will be the primary target audience. This means that informal settlements and forest communities with strong links to urban areas will be targeted.

 

ENDS

Garden Route Environmental Forum Logo

Garden Route Environmental Forum launches extensive landowner assistance programme

Landowners in the Garden Route District, as well as the environment they live in, has over the past three years suffered tremendously, as a result of a series of severe wildfire disasters which basically burnt over 200 000 hectares to a tinder.

In a joint effort to assist landowners, the Garden Route Environmental Forum (GREF), a collaborative forum established by the Garden Route District Municipality, launched an extensive landowner assistance programme, aimed at assisting landowners in gathering spatial data on the extent of re-growth of invasive alien plants (IAPs) on their land, and provide technical and herbicide assistance to landowners indicating a willingness to eradicate and control invasive alien plants on their land. The programme is spearheaded by the Southern Cape Landowners Initiative (SCLI) which is the implementing agent for the programme.

According to Cobus Meiring, manager of the GREF Secretariat, and chairperson of SCLI, further objectives of the programme include generating opportunities for regional invasive alien plant control and clearing contractor teams, and empowering landowners in complying with Department of Environmental Affairs’ (DEA) regulations pertaining to the management of IAPs on private land.

In many areas of the western and northern parts of the Garden Route, the crippling drought compounded the effects of the wildfire disasters. In places south of Riversdale, which burnt back in early 2017, the environment only now starts showing signs of vegetation cover.

“As if that is not enough, the vegetation type that makes its appearance first is of the wrong kind, and more often than not consists of dense stands of invasive alien plants, including (and there are many more) Rooikrans, Black Wattle, Blackwood, Long-leaved Wattle, pines of all shape and sizes, Stink Bean, Sesbania, Bluegum and a host of less known varieties such as Pampas Grass and Madeira Vine,” said Meiring.

Government is taking a tough stand on land management, especially invasive alien plant control and eradication.

Following the out-of-control wildfires, authorities are clamping down on landowners allowing their land to become overrun by invasive alien trees and biomass which, if not better managed and controlled, will set the scene for a repeat of the intense 2017 fires.

“However, landowners are in a difficult situation as combating invasive alien plants can be a costly exercise, with relentless and fast re-growth patterns, requiring never-ending commitment and resources from landowners. More often than not, land affected by IAPs are on parcels of land that are not viable from a farming perspective, clustered in areas that are difficult to access on either steep slopes or nestled in deep ravines,” explains Meiring.

“As a first step to better land management and compliance with environmental legislation, governmental officials insist that landowners develop Invasive Alien Plant Control Plans. Complicating matters even further, is that all landowners and estate agents have to make mention of the extent of IAPs on a saleable land as an addendum to a sales agreement.”

GREF will assist participating and qualifying landowners with the compilation of standardised Invasive Alien Plant (IAP) Control Plans, and where applicable, issue herbicide volumes in accordance.

Use of herbicide not ideal, but a crucial tool in managing IAPs on a landscape scale.

Landowners in the Garden Route are serious about living in an environment that is as uncontaminated as possible, and many are against the use of herbicides.

Meiring says the safe use and application of herbicide is imperative to the roll-out of the landowner assistance programme, and participating landowners will be expected to abide by health and safety regulations, and apply herbicide strictly as prescribed by the labels, depending on which type is best suited for the plants they have to treat.

Landowners interested in participating in and registering for the landowner assistance programme can write to: cobus@naturalbridge.co.za or p.buchholz@outlook.com.

** The Garden Route Environmental Forum (GREF) is a regional forum for collaboration in conservation, environmental adaptation and community interaction. The forum aims to coordinate regional conservation efforts, serve as a catalyst to drive climate adaption practices in the Southern Cape and strive to establish a better-coordinated approach to environmental management.

MEDIA ENQUIRIES

Cobus Meiring: Manager of the GREF Secretariat and Chairperson of SCLI

Cell: 083 626 7619

Email: cobus@naturalbridge.co.za

Urgent Notification: Visitors travelling to the Garden Route and Klein Karoo region

GARDEN ROUTE WILDFIRES

Due to the recent wildfires in and around the Garden Route region, it is recommended that all visitors that are planning to travel to region delay their trip to the next week.  Severe weather conditions have been predicted for Mossel Bay, George, Knysna and Plettenberg Bay today and tomorrow.

Smoke due to wildfires affects the visibility and air quality which adversely affect the tourism industry. Not all the fires in the Garden Route have been contained.

Please note the following:

  • Outeniqua pass has been reopened;
  • Montagu Pass remains closed until further notice; and
  • Robinson Pass has reopened following a felled tree near Ruiterbos.

Outeniqua pass currently have teams clearing debris from wildfires and wind. Motorists are advised to proceed with caution and be aware of possible falling of rocks and trees.

We would like to assure all tourists that are planning to travel to the Garden Route and Klein Karoo that once safety is guaranteed that updated communication will be shared.

Please follow all relating news feeds on our social media pages:

www.facebook.com/gardenroutedm

www.facebook.com/grandkk

For any assistance with the above matter, please contact:

Garden Route District Emergency Call centre at tel: 044 805 5071

or/

Garden Route and Klein Karoo Tourism office  at tel: 044 803 1427

Fly-by in Memory of WOF Firefighting Pilot – Nico Heyns

The family of late firebombing pilot Nico Heyns have announced that a fly-by will hosted in Sunday, 28 November, to celebrate his life.

At approximately 16:00 aircraft and helicopters will fly over his farm in Gouna, and proceed South and fly through the Knysna Heads and over town.

Members of the community are also welcome to place flowers outside the Fire Station in Knysna Town in Sunday in memory of Heyns, and those wishing to attend the celebration of Heyn’s life can attend the ceremony at the farm as from 14:30 also on Sunday.

Issued by:  Knysna-Plett Herald