Planned firebreaks for Kloofendal Nature Reserve
Firebreaks can have many positive outcomes such as creating openness and visibility, and deterring criminal activity.
“Residents living alongside the Kloofendal Nature Reserve fought a fire on Sunday, 10 June, but thanks to Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo’s (JCPZ’s) proactive fire-burning campaign the week before, they and the fire-fighters were quickly able to prevent the flames from spreading and causing extensive damage to adjacent homes,” said the Member of the Mayoral Committee for Community Development, councillor Nonhlanhla Sifumba.
Planned firebreaks are being burnt at the Kloofendal Nature Reserve,the Ruimsig Nature Reserve, Little Falls Ridge, and Northcliff Ridge by the JCPZ.
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Sifumba said, “Ensuring that the JCPZ fireproofs high-risk open spaces such as the city’s nature reserves has far reaching benefits and is an essential biodiversity management tool, creating spatial diversity to ensure the uneven distribution of grasses in rainfall-driven systems”.
According to Sifumba, firebreaks have many positive outcomes, increasing forage production; improving the habitat in a nature reserve; creating openness and visibility to deter criminal activity; increasing the aesthetics and attracting visitors; contributing to soil nutrient-cycling to improve regrowth; controlling woody and thick vegetation for ease of movement for animal life, and eradicating invasive plant material.
“It is against this background that residents of City of Johannesburg are advised that some sections of the above reserves will be plagued by smoke that will impact on visibility,” she added.
Residents may contact the JCPZ on 083 981 0272 to discuss the JCPZ’s Burn Plan, and report fires to the City of Johannesburg’s emergency unit on 011 375 5555.
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