Cape Town's Ecological Burns To Boost Biodiversity And Reduce Fire Risks

The City of Cape Towns Biodiversity Management Branch, in partnership with various stakeholders, will conduct a series of ecological burns at selected nature reserves across the city between February and April 2025, Cape town Etc reports.

These controlled burns, which will be scheduled based on weather conditions, are essential for maintaining the health of local ecosystems, enhancing biodiversity, and reducing the risk of uncontrolled wildfires.

Ecological burns are a natural management tool that promotes the growth and regeneration of vegetation. They help to maintain a healthy and diverse plant community, while also mitigating the threat of larger, more dangerous wildfires. By removing mature vegetation and its canopy, these burns allow sunlight to reach the ground, fostering seed germination and encouraging new growth.

Heat and smoke generated by fires also provide the critical stimulation which many of our unique fire-dependent plant species require to germinate, said Alderman Eddie Andrews, Deputy Mayor and Mayoral Committee Member for Spatial Planning and Environment. There are many short-lived species which complete their life cycles shortly after a fire event, these are known fire ephemerals. Many species, including most Erica species and the critically endangered Serruria aemula, store their seeds in the soil, which are stimulated to germinate by fire. Other species, such as Protea burchellii and Protea scolymocephala, store their seeds in cones on the plant. These seeds are released soon after the fire and can germinate in the open habitat with little competition.

The areas identified for this seasons ecological burns are spread across some of Cape Towns most ecologically significant nature reserves. These areas include: