A well-coordinated and carefully planned project to restore fynbos and improve water security for Cape Town, surrounding municipalities and agriculture is underway in the mountains above Villiersdorp.
This effort, which includes a controlled burn, brings together major partners in fire management and ecological restoration, including CapeNature, the provincial conservation authority and custodian of the Hottentots-Holland Nature Reserve where the burn will occur. Supporting partners include the Overberg District Municipality, Greater Overberg Fire Protection Association (goFPA), The Fynbos Trust, Working on Fire, local municipalities, and the Greater Cape Town Water Fund (GCTWF), which prepared the site for the burn.
Securing water for the future
The Amandel Rivier catchment feeds directly into the Theewaterskloof Dam, the biggest dam in the regional water supply system. The greater Cape Town region’s catchments are invaded by alien trees, mainly pines. Pine trees consume significant amounts of water, reducing availability in an already water-stressed region. By removing these invasive trees through fire and follow-up efforts, the project aims to reclaim water previously lost to these alien species, significantly boosting water availability especially during the hot summer months.
Restoring fynbos and reducing fire risk
The controlled burn serves multiple purposes. Beyond improving water security, it reduces the risk of uncontrolled wildfires to local towns, infrastructure and agricultural lands. The intervention also promotes the recovery of fire-adapted fynbos vegetation, which thrives in these conditions and supports the region’s biodiversity. Follow-up clearing of invasive plants will be critical to prevent the regrowth of alien species, which outcompete fynbos and exacerbate fire risks.
Since 2019, the GCTWF has led efforts to clear alien plants from priority catchments, achieving 30,360 initial hectares cleared of their 54,300-hectare goal and 21,950 follow-up hectares. The use of controlled fire is a vital tool to accelerate progress, and GCTWF teams will oversee the follow-up restoration of these sites.
A collaborative effort
Chris Martens from The Fynbos Trust highlights the significance of this initiative:
“The Amandel Rivier area demonstrates the integrated use of prescribed burning as a restoration tool. It’s about enhancing water security, building resilience to climate change, and doing so through strong collaboration with landowners, local towns and other key stakeholders.”
This project reflects over a year of meticulous planning, with partners contributing expertise in firebreak construction, burn logistics, emergency preparedness and long-term site management. This collaborative action initiative brought multiple stakeholders such as CapeNature, the Overberg District Municipality, GCTWF, and Kisugu/Working on Fire together.
Monitoring the impact
Pre-burn vegetation surveys have already been conducted, and experts from BirdLife South Africa, botanists and ecologists will monitor the recovery of vegetation and wildlife post-burn. These findings will provide valuable insights for future restoration projects.
Martens adds, “To make the Overberg and Winelands safer from wildfires in a changing climate, controlled burns are essential. However, success depends on careful planning and inclusive partnerships. The Amandel Rivier burn will serve as a critical case study for future interventions.”
Images supplied by Roshni Lodhia
