SANParks says this strengthens invasive alien plant management
Table Mountain National Park has renewed volunteer permits to 29 volunteer groups that are helping the park in clearing invasive alien plants. The permits are going to help the groups to do the operation for the next three years. In its statement SANParks appreciated the role played by volunteer groups in the park. “The volunteer groups play a role in Table Mountain National Park’s conservation programme, contributing significantly to efforts to control evasive alien vegetation that threatens indigenous biodiversity, ecosystem functioning , and water resources,@said SANParks. It added that desne stands of evasive vegetation also increase wildfire risks by contributing substantial fuel loads. This can lead to hotter and more intese fires, threatening both Park’s sensitive ecosystem and neighbouring communities.
The park said it has also welcomed three new groups to the programme, namely FynForce from Kommetjie, Project Nordhoeked from Noordhoek and an additional Sugarbird Trust team from Silvermine Valley.
