Cape Flats Sand Fynbos
” Conservation status: Critically Endangered, with a national conservation target of 30%, but with only 15% remaining. About 1% is statutorily conserved. Some 108 threatened and near-threatened Red List plant species occur on the remnants within Cape Town. ”
Given that there are natural, indigenous forests within extremely easy driving distance of Tokai (and let’s face it – most, if not all, of those campaigning against the pines being removed can drive and have vehicles), I would think that losing the pines in order to conserve a Critically Endangered natural heritage would be a fairly straightforward choice?
This is a pine plantation – the pines are due to be harvested and a Critically Endangered habitat is going to be restored in its rightful place. Why is there this uproar? Because it happened sooner, with less notice, than everyone (including TMNP, clearly) expected?
I am genuinely at a loss here. Would Parkscape members (those members who do NOT want the pines felled*) still have protested anyway had SANParks – Table Mountain National Park and MTO given slightly more advance warning of the felling operations? Is the protest purely about the loss of the trees and fears for personal safety? Surely it has been made abundantly clear that these trees will be removed?
We are losing time to allow the fynbos to recover. Spring is already here and every day’s delay reduces the amount of time the fynbos seedlings have to establish before the onset of summer drought. Please rethink your position. Support conservation in this area.
* .. I make this distinction because a number of people who are members of Parkscape community have thankfully (THANK YOU) seen the light and signed the petition supporting the removal of the Tokai Plantation in favour of restoring the Cape Flats Sand Fynbos.
One of the many aspects brought to light in the excellent suite of comments on the letter of support (link above) is that conservation issues are being neglected at the expense of personal aesthetics and personal taste. For example:
” I’m signing because I support the conservation and restoration of endemic flora (and fauna) over a self serving and small minded minority who only have their own recreational interests at heart.” Original comment
and
“It is time people drop their selfish attitudes and support important issues that will restore this area for posterity!!” Original comment
Local is lekker – but in this particular case – I believe that the local, regional and global need to restore the Critically Endangered Cape Flats Sand Fynbos far outweighs the personal desire for shade given by pines – or any other trees for that matter.
I love trees – don’t get me wrong. Who does not love trees? This is not about personal taste, this is about conservation and going a little way to meeting long term global conservation commitments in terms of South Africa’s response to the Convention on Biological Diversity.
Fynbos rambles 