To owner and resident
Notice of Prescribed Ecological Burn
Where: False Bay Nature Reserve, Rondevlei Section, Erf 1834
Date: April 2015 (date weather dependent)
Please note:
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Application has been made to obtain the required burning permit from both City Health’s Air Pollution Control Section and City Fire and Rescue Services
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False Bay Nature Reserve staff will be conducting a prescribed ecological burn along the northern shoreline of Rondevlei, between the public footpath and the vlei.
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The vegetation to be burned on the site consists predominantly of reed beds and small tracts of Cape Flats dune strandveld. The reduction and removal of the biomass by burning will:
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Assist in controlling the excessive growth of reed beds in the wetland
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Reduce excess nutrients in the wetland ecosystem and promote healthy nutrient cycling
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Rejuvenate senescent (old and overgrown) vegetation and enhance biodiversity
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Reduce the available fuel load which poses a risk of uncontrolled wildfires
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Professional and competent fire fighters, as well as fire -fighting equipment and vehicles will be present during the burn.
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Precautionary measures will be taken to ensure the operation is executed safely.
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The burn will be executed during a northerly / north-westerly wind direction, therefore smoke and ash will be directed away from residential areas surrounding the reserve. However, we advise that windows are kept closed on the day of the burn so as to reduce smoke fumes potentially entering homes.
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Please note we will only carry out the prescribed burn if the weather conditions are ideal. Controlled ecological burning will NOT take place on Fridays, public holidays or weekends.
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Rondevlei will be closed to the public on the day of the burn operation for safety reasons.
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Residents have seven days after the issue of this notice to voice their concerns and/or objections to the proposed burn.
For any queries, comments or objections, please contact Tamaryn Khan at 021 396 4283 or email Tamaryn.Allan@capetown.gov.za
Date of issue: 7 April 2015
So I didn’t have the energy to get the letter on the CoCT letter head, but you get the idea…
Some of the reed beds that are scheduled to be burnt have not done so in 25 – 30 years. The last time we burnt a section of them in 1998 we had Red Bishop birds arrive to breed, something they have not done since due to the density of the reed beds.