The fynbos region is one of the most spectacularly diverse places on Earth. This is not an idle statement. When one considers the diversity of insects, freshwater and marine species also associated with the Cape, this hotspot is arguably the hottest of all.
It is also confusingly heterogeneous, with a diversity of fine-scale habitats, from wetlands in the lowlands to seeps in the mountains, unique soil, nutrient, aspect and rainfall conditions, all of which combine to sustain and drive this diversity. Fynbos is a fire-adapted vegetation and needs fire to sustain itself: without fire the vegetation would thicken and senesce, permit trees to enter and dominate the system, and eventually exclude the precious nutrients liberated by fire and which the system depends upon for rejuvenation.
Fynbos: Ecology and Management is a guide that will help people who visit, live, manage or own land in the Fynbos Biome to appreciate and manage its extraordinary natural richness.
Introduction 1
Fynbos in context 4
Defining fynbos shrublands 4
Major vegetation types in the fynbos biome 11
The driving forces 24
Wetlands and why they are so important 28
What other vegetation exists in the fynbos region? 34
Fynbos plant biodiversity 37
In conclusion 44
Fire management 45
How do fynbos and renosterveld plants survive fires? 46
Can animals survive fires in the fynbos and renosterveld? 50
Questions and answers on fire management 51
Useful checklist when you intend burning a section of your land 67
Some golden rules to maintain your fynbos in a healthy state 68
Aliens and their management 69
Control – general principles 77
Control logistics 81
Control treatment methods 83
Threats from outside the property boundaries 91
Alien invertebrates in the fynbos biome 91
Alien vertebrates in the fynbos biome 94
In conclusion 97
Managing natural vegetation fragments in agricultural and urban environments 98
What is habitat fragmentation? 98
How to conserve biodiversity in a fragmented landscape 102
You and your fragment 106
Animal management 111
Managing land sustainably 112
Game management 112
Livestock management 124
Restoration: Fixing the damage 130
Alien-plant dominated veld 135
Overgrazed veld 143
Cultivated fields 146
Restoring after mining 149
Managing fynbos wetlands 156
Natural systems in an unnatural landscape 158
Understanding changes in wetland condition 159
Changing a changed landscape 175
Buffering wetlands: how much protection does your wetland need? 178
Managing the future of our fynbos wetlands 179
In conclusion 180
Sustainable livelihoods from fynbos 181
Where to start 181
Plant products from the fynbos 182
Cultivation of fynbos species 189
Other fynbos products 190
Nature-based tourism 204
In conclusion 206
Planning what is best for you and the land 207
Steps towards sound planning 207
The law and development in fynbos 215
Biodiversity and the EIA (Environmental Impact Assessment) procedure 224
How to ensure that biodiversity is addressed in EIA 229
In conclusion 230
Appendices 231
Appendix A: Management units 231
Appendix B: Useful web pages and contacts 232
Appendix C: Large (LSU) and Small Stock Unit (SSU) equivalents 236
Appendix D: Guidelines for monitoring 238
Appendix E: List of alien plants 247
Index 254
Alphabetical List of Terms 254
Karen J. Esler is a professor in the Department of Conservation Ecology & Entomology, Stellenbosch University, South Africa. She co-edited the related book: Karoo Veld: Ecology and Management (Briza, 2006).
Shirley M. Pierce PhD is a plant ecologist and science communication consultant. She has researched and published across a wide range of fields, from estuarine to fynbos systems. Currently she directs communication for invasive alien plant removal and spekboom thicket restoration.
Charl de Villiers is an environmental consultant with a keen interest in biodiversity mainstreaming and ecosystem-based management. Charl lectures on biodiversity and integrated environmental management at the three Western Cape universities.