The Swellendam Municipality is undertaking Alien Invasive Species Management on Municipal Property in Swellendam and Barrydale. The Management Unit refers to a delineated area that is cleared systematically and is managed individually as a portion of land within the framework of a plan with the goal of creating a firebreak around residential homes.
The municipality encourages woodcutters to approach the municipality for a permit to collect wood free of charge.
Why Alien Invasive Species Management?
National Environment Management: Biodiversity Act Section 76. Legal compliance with National legislation.
The goal is to achieve three objectives:
– Protection and conservation of natural resources ( waters courses such as rivers & wetlands, ecosystems)
– Reducing the fire risk index.
– Fulfils the municipality’s legal obligation to clear adjacent protected areas (Bontebok National Park, Marloth Nature Reserve, Zuurberg Nature Reserve & Boosmansbos Wilderness Area)
Clearing of invasive species will commence Monday, 30 January 2023 with the duration of the project running for a few weeks. The areas in red are where there will be active cutting with brush cutters and or chainsaws as well as herbicide being used. The areas in green will be the movement of already cut material to a safer location. Both activities are to assist with fire fighting and fire prevention.
Please see images below for demarcated areas.