The City of Cape Town is assisting the Friends of the Liesbeek (FoL) in implementing a restoration pilot project along the Liesbeek River in Observatory.
The project will reintroduce locally indigenous and appropriate wetland fynbos species into the floodplain that connects to the Liesbeek River and lies within the Two Rivers Urban Park (TRUP), just north of the N2 and Liesbeek Parkway intersection.
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In addition to being an important project for the reintroduction of locally indigenous fynbos species, the project is expected to have other significant ecological benefits, with flood attenuation being one of the most important project goals.
‘In 2013, the Friends of the Liesbeek, in partnership with the City of Cape Town, excavated a channel that helped to connect the wetland in the southwest corner of TRUP with the Liesbeek River,’ said Sabelo Memani, FoL’s Liesbeek Maintenance Project (LMP) manager.
Memani continued, ‘This has proven to be a very successful initiative as the site absorbs floodwater from the Liesbeek during heavy rainfall events. Ever since the initiation of that project, we have had our eyes on potentially implementing a reintroduction project, as the site has tremendous potential.’
According to FoL, the project will begin with mechanical preparation of the site, followed by foliar spraying to control the spread of invasive Kikuyu grass, and then the site will be planted with indigenous species.
Regular and routine maintenance will then be carried out to ensure that the new plants have the best chance of establishing themselves before the Cape Peninsula’s hot, dry summer period.
‘The preparation of the site is critical to the success of this project, and we are very grateful to the City of Cape Town for coming on board and assisting us with mechanically preparing the site. While we have a brilliant team who work very hard on a range of tasks on the river, a project of this scale would take weeks or months longer using manpower alone,’ said Nicholas Fordyce, FoL chairman.
According to Fordyce, the City’s support demonstrates its commitment to the ‘Liveable Urban Waterways’ project and is an example of the community and local government working together to make Cape Town more resilient to the effects of climate change.
‘At the end of 2022, Cape Town was officially accredited as a Ramsar Wetland City, becoming the first South African city to earn that status,’ said Councillor Alex Lansdowne. ‘This accreditation acknowledges ‘cities that have recognised the importance of protecting urban or peri-urban wetlands. The City of Cape Town is working hard to clean up our waterways and wetlands, and we could not do this without our partners like the Friends of the Liesbeek. I am glad that the City could support an independent wetland project in the UN decade for ecosystem restoration.’
The project will involve the reintroduction of up to 26 different species, totalling over 500 plants. The Cape Bird Club, which is celebrating its 75th anniversary, and the Khula Cape Foundation provided funding for the project. The ABAX Foundation supports the important work of FoL’s LMP on an annual basis.
‘We’ve been quite deliberate in compiling a plant list that is locally appropriate and well suited to the specific site characteristics, including considerations of soil type, water availability and sun exposure. Many of the chosen species will also be beneficial to insects and birds in particular and to certain mammalian species, particularly rodents,’ said Fordyce.
‘In 2023, the Cape Bird Club celebrates its 75th anniversary. In this milestone year, we have chosen to support a number of ecological initiatives we feel will support the wonderful avian birdlife within the city,’ said Jane Doherty, Cape Bird Club committee member. ‘The Liesbeek River is a critical corridor for the movement of birds within our city, and seasonal wetlands provide essential habitats for both resident and migratory species. We are delighted to be able to support FoL with this strategic project.’
‘A project like this is hugely reliant on longer-term maintenance work, and that is where the LMP team comes to the fore. The LMP will continue to maintain the site in late winter, during spring, when plant growth should accelerate, and beyond. If the project is successful, our longer-term plans will be to expand it,’ said Memani.
Residents and members of the community will be kept informed and encouraged to follow the project’s progress on FoL’s website and its social media channels (Facebook and Instagram).
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