Residents unite to restore diverse biomes for the future

When it comes to clearing invasive plants in the city and creating space for indigenous fynbos-type vegetation to thrive, you need not only knowledgeable specialists but also, more importantly, people who love the beauty and sustainability of native flora – people willing to roll up their sleeves and do the hard work themselves.

Although the clearing of alien plants has been planned for some time, there has been renewed focus in recent years.

Fortunately for Nelson Mandela Bay, multidisciplinary teams are working hand in hand with communities, forming groups of committed individuals who come armed with garden gloves, loppers and saws, making a continuous effort to restore and maintain the balance of our biomes one plant at a time.

With the help of experts in conservation ecology, willing volunteers are guided on how to tackle invasive plants to ensure the restoration and long-term sustainability of the area’s biodiversity.

IPAN (Invasion Plant Action Network) is an information campaign, started simultaneously in Wards 3 and 6, providing residents with practical advice and support, as sustainability starts with awareness and community-driven action.

The Green Baakens Initiative focuses on revitalising and protecting the Baakens Valley for future generations, while encouraging learning opportunities about both indigenous and invasive fauna and flora.

The Baakens River Valley encompasses approximately 500 hectares of public open space, with the 23km Baakens River flowing through the city. Often described as our city’s “green lung” or “green corridor,” the valley highlights the importance of conserving our natural heritage and its significant location.

The Green Baakens Initiative and WESSA (Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa) currently run various small projects within the Klein Kabega tributary, which flows into the Baakens River. Reinier van der Kuip, the driving force behind this campaign, uses his expert mapping skills and, through tireless efforts, identifies and monitors biodiversity’s greatest threats.

Invasive plants suffocate indigenous flora, disrupt water flow and increase fire and erosion risks, transforming whole landscapes. Education is therefore crucial.

Clearing dense patches of Port Jackson Willow, for example, is hard work due to its aggressive growth and regrowth. It must be completely uprooted or treated with herbicide after cutting close to the ground. Because its long-lasting seedbank responds to fire, follow-ups and maintenance are essential – fires even offer a window of opportunity for effective control.

Invasive Eucalyptus Bluegum trees have massive root networks that send up shoots after being felled unless treated with herbicide. Growing as much as 2m per year, these once-small seedlings can become large, water-consuming giants that outcompete indigenous plants.

Biological control agents – a natural enemy of the invasive plant, such as fungi or bacteria – are sometimes introduced to curb invasive growth without harming native flora, helping with long-term, cost-effective control. However, these organisms cannot remove all invasives, so human help remains essential.

Gisela Bräuer, who has been wholeheartedly involved in alien plant clearing in Nelson Mandela Bay, comments: “For me personally, the most important part of the work is to educate and inform people about invasive plants, to understand the necessity of restoring indigenous environments and the fun and loving aspect at the heart of it. Everybody can work towards maintaining a smaller area, ensuring local vegetation has a chance to re-establish itself and support biodiversity sustainably. People also need to dispose of garden waste responsibly, as many exotic plants spread when garden waste is fly-tipped.”

Clear legislation and by-laws exist prohibiting the fly-tipping of garden waste.

Gisela’s involvement began in 2017, when she worked monthly for four years with WESSA to eradicate Rooikrans, a threat to the sensitive indigenous bush in the Sardinia Bay Conservancy.

In 2023, she held the Invasive Plant Clearing portfolio at WESSA together with Mervyn Brouard, whose experience and networks play a key role. Having started with no prior background, Gisela now feels that she has learnt and continues to gain valuable knowledge and skills.

Collaborative efforts throughout our bay aim to save our natural heritage by allowing native flora to grow unhindered in its natural environment, showcasing its indigenous beauty, enabling wildlife to flourish in its natural habitat and bringing communities together. Nevertheless, more help is always needed.

For more information on Wards 3 and 6’s campaign and to receive informative flyers containing information on invasive plants and how to eradicate them, contact Noreen Burton on 083 277 8269; contact Gisela Bräuer on 073 124 2045 to actively become involved; or visit the Instagram page @green_baakens_initiative, where Reinier Van der Kuip shares findings, information and strategies, encouraging people to learn and get involved.