MOSSEL BAY NEWS - In mid-July a census was done in the Diosma Reserve in Heiderand to try and find, with great difficulty, any Diosma aristata seedlings.
The plant, red-listed as critically endangered, does not resprout after fire and only grows in Mossel Bay, nowhere else on earth.
"After and hour and a half we found the first plants. A couple of centimetres and only some of the sprigs were branched. Needless to say, it resembles a plethora of other reseeding fynbos plants. Were we relieved," says Sandra Falanga of Custodians of Rare and Endangered Wildflowers (CREW). Crew is a Citizen Scientist programme of SA National Botanical Institute to assist with their Threatened Species Programme.
"The plants were mapped, just as in the case of the annual census. However, the invasive plants were having a field day and we were concerned that they would outcompete the fynbos.
"The invasive plants would have to be removed, but contractors would not be an option to do the clearing."
More recently members of CREW, Fransmanshoek Conservancy and CapeNature in a collaborative effort embarked on an alien clearing project.
"It is vitally important that whoever does the clearing knows what the little Diosma plants look like and works with great care.
"CapeNature, the rangers of Fransmanshoek Conservancy (FMH) and members of CREW will fit in a couple of clearing sessions towards the end of the year.
"The Garden Route Casino Community Trust assisted with funding to cover costs for the FMH rangers. CREW members are all volunteers - and those who helped hail from Ruitersbos and Leeukloof, George, Wilderness and of course, from Mossel Bay.
Great care had to be taken to preserve the red-listed, critically endangered Diosma aristata seedlings and plants while removing alien invasive plants.
"The Mossel Bay Municipality as the responsible custodian agreed to this collaboration," Sandra said.
"Our focus was on removing the Port Jackson (Acacia saligna), which has to be cut and treated immediately with a herbicide. Rooikrans/Rooipitjie (Acacia cyclops) seedling were pulled out by hand, cut below ground level. There are other problematic plants as well, such as gum trees and prickly pears which would need to be removed.
"Some of the alien vegetation was removed by hand-pulling only, yet another group made use of herbicide to cut-stump the Port Jackson/Rooikrans. The herbicide was supplied by CapeNature (George Regional Office) and supplied to the group as mixed and ready to be used. All health and safety aspects regarding the use of herbicide were discussed infield with the team by Charlene Rossouw (CapeNature quality control officer based at George regional office).
"I have seen Suikerbos (Protea repens) seedlings so far, but none of the other Protea family seedlings as yet," Sandra said.
Not only were aliens removed, great care was taken to document the precious plant life in the Diosma Reserve.
Refuse dumped
Of great concern is the vehicles passing through the reserve. Refuse continues to be dumped in the reserve and piles of rubbish will have to be removed on the east-west track.
Falanga espressed the hope that interested residents would create a Friends of the Diosma Reserve. Anyone interested in the work done by Custodians of Rare and Endangered Wildflowers (CREW) Programme may contact Sandra on sandrafalanga@gmail.com.
Kei Heyns, a ranger at Fransmanshoek Conservancy, proved to be a scary Alien Buster.
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