1 MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR THE EXTENSION OF THE CORE CAPE FLATS FLORA CONSERVATION SITE IN THE LOWER TOKAI FOREST Dr Patricia M. Holmes Cape Ecological Services, 23 Dreyersdal Road, Bergvliet, 7945 November 15th 2004 2nd DRAFT Compiled for the Friends of Tokai Forest Management plan for extending the core Cape Flats flora conservation site in Tokai 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. INTRODUCTION………………………………………………………………………..……….3 2. TERMS OF REFERENCE……………………………………………………………………….4 3. GENERAL ECOLOGICAL CONDITION & CONSERVATION…………………………....4 4. METHODS.………………………………………………………………………………….…….5 5. MANAGEMENT……………………………………………………………………………..…...5 5.1 Alien Plant Control…………………………………………………………………….….….6 5.1.1 Clearance methods……………………………………………………………….….……………6 5.1.2 Clearance plan…………………………………………………………………….………………7 5.2 Fire Management………………………………………………………………………..……8 5.2.1 Management of initial slash fire………………………………………………….…….……….8 5.2.2 Future fire management…………………………………………………………….…….…….10 5.3 Restoration in Terrestrial Areas………………………………………………………....…10 5.3.1 Suitable species for re-introduction………………………………………………………..….11 5.3.2 Plant re-introduction………………………………………………………………………..…..12 5.4 Restoration in Wetland & Riparian Areas………………………………………….…..…12 5.4.1 Suitable species for re-introduction………………………………………………………..…13 5.4.2 Plant re-introduction……………………………………………………………………………13 5.5 Long-term Planning for a Restored Vegetation Network in Tokai………….……….….13 5.6 Recreational Use .…………………………………………………………………………...14 5.7 Monitoring…………………………………………………………………………………..15 6. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS……………………………………………………………….……16 7. REFERENCES……………………………………………………………………………….…16 Appendix 1. List of indigenous species recorded in the Tokai area……………….……………..18 Appendix 2. Procedure to obtain permits for burning …………………………..……………….34 Management plan for extending the core Cape Flats flora conservation site in Tokai 3 1. INTRODUCTION Friends of Tokai Forest (FOTF) were awarded a Critical Ecosystems Partnership Fund grant to promote public participation in caring for Tokai’s core Cape Flats flora conservation site (identified by Maze & Rebelo (1999) as a top conservation priority) in the Lower Tokai Plantation. The initial aim of the project was to identify suitable areas to expand the conservation site, and in so doing to try to link the conservation site to other open space ecosystems. An initial survey was conducted of remaining biodiversity in the various plantation compartments and the restoration potential was predicted from this, as well as historical plant collections and management actions that may impact on restoration potential (Holmes 2003). Although most compartments were found to have some conservation merit, it was recommended that compartments adjacent to the current flora conservation site (A17a & A18a) as well as A19b and A19c to the south, should be considered the highest priority in contributing to a viable Sandplain Fynbos conservation area (Holmes 2003). The partial harvesting of compartment A17b in October, as recommended by the Friends of Tokai Forest, has enabled a potentially continuous open corridor to be formed between the flora conservation area and the Soetvlei wetlands. The current situation is that forestry operations will be phased out over the next twenty years (James Forsyth & Braam du Preez, personal communications), with compartments potentially becoming available for restoration to natural vegetation following harvesting. Harvesting of sections of A17a and A18a is planned for January 2005 towards the short-term conservation goal of extending the flora conservation site (Braam du Preez, personal communication). Once these areas are adequately restored, the Sandplain Fynbos conservation area (excluding wetlands) will cover an area of 3.46 hectares (Map 1). In addition, a small area of wetland (2.66 ha) will be reclaimed through the clearing of A24 to form a natural vegetation link to the Soetvlei wetlands. Although in principle small natural fynbos remnants below 15 hectares in extent may be successfully conserved, usually such areas are embedded in a vegetation matrix that protects the key ecological processes (Cowling & Bond 1991). By contrast, if the surrounding matrix is hostile, for example urban development, intensive agriculture, forestry or dense stands of alien plants, key ecological processes (such as pollination and fire) may be disrupted. The large edge to area dimensions of the small remnant may further cause it to progressively degrade. Intensive ongoing management will be required to prevent this happening, and preferably, the long-term vision should be to expand the conservation area to a size larger than 15 hectares, with as small an edge to area dimension as possible, surrounded by a buffer of compatible land-use. Empirical research in mountain fynbos shows that as reserve area decreases, more species are lost, and that only reserves exceeding about 500 hectares in size retain their full species Management plan for extending the core Cape Flats flora conservation site in Tokai 4 complement (Bond et al. 1988). Thus in Tokai, the long-term aim should be to link the Sandplain Fynbos remnant to the Mountain Fynbos in the Table Mountain National Park via a corridor of natural fynbos and riparian vegetation. 2. TERMS OF REFERENCE The brief of the ecological consultant was to compile a management plan for restoring the compartments planned for clearance in order to extend the conservation area (A17a, A18a and part of A17b). In addition, the management plan should address the restoration of the heavily invaded compartment A24 that extends into the Soetvlei wetland and was never planted for forestry owing to its unsuitable conditions (Map 1). Compartment A24 is important in securing a natural vegetation link to the wetlands. The Soetvlei wetlands is to be cleared of alien invasive vegetation by the landowner (Western Province) in 2005, after which the area will be rehabilitated by a “Working for Wetlands” team (M Noffke personal communication). The management plan should include the following information: A list of indigenous plant species suitable for the extended conservation area, including fynbos, wetland and riparian areas. A list of inappropriate alien or indigenous plant species that should be removed from the area. A detailed methodology of how the various areas should be restored to sandplain fynbos and wetland/ riparian vegetation, for example considering both natural recovery and facilitation through plant re- introduction methods. Consideration of fencing and paths in and around the restoration areas, and labelling of plants. Preparations for burning the site to initiate recovery, including the handling of logs and slash. 3. GENERAL ECOLOGICAL CONDITIONS & CONSERVATION As outlined in the earlier report, the indigenous vegetation of the area is Sandplain Lowland Fynbos, now given the specific name of Cape Flats Sand Fynbos in the new vegetation map of South Africa, Swaziland and Lesotho (National Botanical Institute, 2004). This vegetation grades into seasonal and permanent wetlands towards the watercourses and in the deeper depressions. It is anticipated that following pine removal, soils will become wetter owing to a reduction in evapotranspiration, especially in lower-lying areas, and may be more suitable to species tolerant of seasonal waterlogging. Additional information on the site ecological conditions, including plantation history, is outlined in Holmes (2003). Management plan for extending the core Cape Flats flora conservation site in Tokai 5 Several surveys of the natural vegetation remnants on the Cape Flats have been done over the past fifteen years. The first comprehensive study by McDowell et al. (1991) indicated that 45% of Cape Flats Sand Fynbos had been built over by 1983 and six years later a further 11% had been destroyed by development. Today (in 2004), following accelerating developments, only 19% of this vegetation type remains as small remnants across the Cape Flats (Rebelo in press1). These remnants now are critical to the conservation of biodiversity in the Cape Floristic Kingdom and many, including Tokai Forest, have been incorporated into the City of Cape Town’s biodiversity network2. Conservation targets are 23% for Cape Flats Sand Fynbos and exceed the remaining available vegetation (19%), thus any actions to restore and appropriately manage vegetation remnants are of critical importance. A paltry 0.3% of the conservation target is formally protected (Rebelo in press1), thus restoring and linking Lower Tokai to natural vegetation in the Table Mountain National Park would make a major contribution to biodiversity conservation in the Cape Floristic Kingdom. 4. METHODS The areas planned for restoration following harvesting and alien clearing (portions of A17a,b A18a and A24, Map 1) were surveyed in the field to ascertain alien species composition and fuel loads. This information in combination with information from the earlier botanical survey (Holmes 2003), was used in drafting the management plan. Useful information on species from the area was obtained from a number of additional sources (Reinecke & King unpublished, Rourke et al. 1981, Watson unpublished) and information on fynbos restoration was extracted from various studies (Holmes 2001, Holmes et al. 2000, Holmes & Foden 2001, Holmes & Marais 2000). Discussions were held with colleagues having hands-on experience in alien clearing, restoration and rehabilitation work, to confirm the most appropriate management actions. 5. MANAGEMENT This