An article released by SANBI, one of CWBR’s partners

The National Biodiversity Assessment (NBA) was released on 3 October 2019 by the Minister of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries, Ms Barbara Creecy. The NBA is the primary tool for reporting on the state of biodiversity in South Africa. It is used to inform policies, strategies and activities for managing and conserving biodiversity more effectively.

The NBA showcases findings for the headline indicators of threat status and protection level for both ecosystems and species, and presents these findings across the terrestrial, inland aquatic, estuarine and marine realms, as well as for the coast and South Africa’s sub-Antarctic territory. New analyses in NBA 2018 include trend analyses for species threat status, an assessment of land cover change in the terrestrial environment, and an examination of potential ways to assess genetic diversity on a national scale.

The NBA is led by the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) as part of their mandate to monitor the status of South Africa’s biodiversity. The NBA was undertaken between 2015 and 2019. It involved extensive collaboration from over 470 individuals representing about 90 organisations. The full suite of NBA products, which include a synthesis report, seven technical reports, datasets, maps, supplementary materials and popular products, is accessible via http://nba.sanbi.org.za/

The Socio-Economic Benefits of investing in Ecological Infrastructure (SEBEI) project teamed up with the Cape Winelands Biosphere Reserve (CWBR) to map invasive alien trees in the upper Berg-Breede catchments in 2019. The CWBR provided the drone footage which was instrumental in the ground-truthing of the classification results. A map of invasive alien trees in this region is a critical need, to understand where these alien trees are and to estimate the costs of clearing, to assist in management and ultimately the control of these problematic species.

Various approaches have been applied to map alien invasive trees in the Cape Floristic Region, with most being informed by expert estimates or based on in-field experience. The accuracy of these datasets is difficult to assess, but have, in general, been shown to overestimate density estimates. In this research, Dr’s Holden and Rebelo combined Google Earth Engine’s processing power, expert knowledge and drone technology to classify Sentinel 2a imagery to provide an accurate and up-to-date understanding of the occurrence and density of alien invasive trees in the upper regions of the Berg and Breede catchments at a 10m spatial resolution.

They combined bands with the highest discriminatory power from the available 13 spectral bands along with a number of spectral indices for the classification, which resulted in a 93% accuracy with both the training and validation datasets. Although the resulting maps reflect early 2019 invasions for the study area, the methodology and data captured can be used to rerun the routines to continuously update our understanding of alien invasive tree coverages in the catchments.

The importance of using expert knowledge combined with drone technology is highlighted for training classifiers to distinguish effectively between alien invasive trees and indigenous vegetation. This work forms part of the larger SEBEI project which aims to encourage investment into ecological infrastructure by developing an evidence-base of the impacts of ecological infrastructure interventions.

An up-to-date layer of invasive alien trees is a critical step towards modelling the hydrological benefits of investing in the clearing of alien invasive trees in strategic water source areas, an additional focus of the SEBEI project. Dr’s Rebelo and Holden launched a first draft of this alien tree map in September 2019. If you would like to request a copy, you can e-mail them on petra.holden@uct.ac.za or arebelo@sun.ac.za.

Acknowledgements: This project is fully funded by the Danish International Development Agency.

Dr Petra Holden; Dr Alanna Rebelo

African Climate and Development Initiative, University of Cape Town

Conservation Ecology & Entomology, Stellenbosch University

PHOTO: The Mapping Workshop held in the Berg-Breede catchment to get stakeholder input into the alien tree maps produced. (PHOTO credit: SEBEI)

PHOTO: Ecological Infrastructure (the Riviersonderend palmiet wetland) invaded by alien vegetation (Black Wattle) (PHOTO credit: Alanna Rebelo)

PHOTO: Ecological Infrastructure (the Holsloot River) invaded by alien vegetation (here Black Wattle trees) (PHOTO credit: Alanna Rebelo)

Two volunteers from a University in the Netherlands joined the CWBR a couple of years ago, for an internship. Dirk and Elina studied Environmental Science for Sustainable Energy and Technology, and contributed to several projects at the CWBR.

They have now graduated, and we want to congratulate them both for their great success!

Elina: “Our course prepared us to find solutions for different sectors to become more sustainable. The aim of each project is to find financially feasible solutions, considering future developments, techniques, and local policies. The course qualified us as environmental engineers, who could for example work in an environmental consultancy, as an Environment, Health and Safety advisor, or as a government policy developer.

My project at CWBR was to design and analyse a circular wastewater purification system (Aquatron) that could be used under the effects of South African climate conditions. The installations were mainly focused on squatter camps and townships, where hygiene and safety are big issues. As awesome and innovative, as the team at CWBR is, we also built a house to mimic these squatter camp living conditions to give visitors a more concrete idea of the research.

I have now moved back to my origins, and I am currently looking for my first job in an environmental field. Issues like global warming and biodiversity loss interest me. I have focused my studies on solutions such as carbon neutrality for different entities and circular economy’s, which I would like to continue working with. 

As far as I am concerned, our planet is craving problem-solvers, and I am more motivated than ever to act upon it. I also hope that our cooperation with CWBR will continue, and together we can work towards our common goal.”

Dirk: -“I am still deciding what career path to take. During my graduation project the hands-on experience I gained in SA helped me quite a bit. For my final University project, I designed, built, and tested a physical model where the effects of ecosystems on a dyke breach can be tested. I very much enjoy field work.

During my time in South Africa, I spent a lot of time in the workshop, building an evaporation, solar power fridge. This sparked something in me and made me realize I enjoy working with my hands. “

A few moments looking back at Elina’s project, the centrifugal toilet, and her time with CWBR

A few moments looking back at Dirk’s time with CWBR and his project: a coal fridge which became a weather station at Jan Marais Park Eco Centre

To celebrate Heritage Day this year, CWBR facilitated the first hike to launch the Franschhoek Youth Hiking Club (called The Real Club). They were joined by five ladies from the Fitness Club in Groendal and a number of young people from different areas of Franschhoek.

Climbing the Uitkyk trail, the group explored the fauna and flora along the way. They stopped to enjoy spring water, and asked questions about the flowers and the biodiversity of the mountain. The trail overlooks the Wemmershoek, Theewaters and Berg dams and the area known as the Overberg. At Breakfast Rock, the hikers took in the breath-taking views of Franschhoek and the surrounding towns, and were even able to spot where they lived.

Back at the CWBR Hub, a CWBR member took the party on a tour of the Hub’s food gardens and demonstrated CWBR’s centrifugal toilet project. The group was treated to a ‘hands on’ demonstration of drone flying and how to use a drone for taking still and video photos. Finally, the group enjoyed a braai together - a common way of celebrating Heritage Day.

The Hiking Club is an initiative by one of the elders in the community. It recognises the need to provide activities for young people. In fact, this was the first time any of the youngsters, fitness ladies, and the elders had hiked in the reserve. The Club’s goal is to run on its own. Meanwhile, CWBR has provided logistical support and facilitation service to assist the group in establishing itself. 

A natural source of water

Breakfast rock at the reserve

A shared memory for the group

A lesson on food gardens

Tour of the green house

How to use a drone

Last weekend marked the one-year anniversary of the local unveiling of La Source, the 20-meter long painting by advocate and artist Charles Frank, done in collaboration with CWBR, to create awareness of biosphere reserves (locally and internationally). The work biosphere’s and their partners do.

The painting has now received recognition by Guinness World Records, officially breaking the record in September 2018 as ‘World’s largest oil painting by a single artist’!

The painting was unveiled at the local winery Haut Espoir in Franschhoek during the Uncorked Festival 14th – 16th September, in 2018. After which it travelled to Europe and featured at the Annual Dutch Art Fair in Amsterdam, and later on displayed in Luxembourg at Athénéé School. The painting was reported on in local and international newspapers reaching audiences locally and worldwide. 

The painting is currently in Europe with very exciting plans for the next part of its journey in 2020!

The Inspiration for the Painting

In all the projects, people, water conservation, and environmental awareness are integral, therefore awareness of the Berg river became a natural choice. It is a link between all the projects within Cape Winelands Biosphere Reserve. The Berg river catchment area is also the life blood to all communities, businesses, and agriculture within the area.

The Partners

For the duration of sketching and painting the canvas, Haut Espoir kindly offered the site of the painting to be in their tasting room, giving an opportunity for the public to see the progress as the painting evolved and to engage in the whole project.

Haut Espoir, meaning ‘High Hope’, belonging to the Armstrong family, produce wine in harmony with nature, focused on biodynamic farming practices and water conservation. The majority of the farm dedicated to fynbos restoration and a riverine ecosystem, hosts a beautiful abundance of indigenous plant, animal life, and farming. Haut Espoir is part of the Franschhoek Conservancy.

Dala sponsored the paint. As a company they are constantly improving their formulas to stay on top of science and technology, with nature and conservation in mind. Dala regularly reach out to communities through competitions, award ceremonies, and have an active interest in finding and supporting the talent of young South African artists. Through an ongoing relationship, they provide continued encouragement and sponsor material to these artists. 

Dala, meaning ‘to bring into existence’ in Xhosa and a South Africa slang for ‘doing it your way’.

News24 has published an interview with Kevin Winter on the alarming pollution in the rivers of Cape Town. The interview features the Black River, where waterweeds trapped many varieties of waste and clogged a section of the river, creating a cesspit.

Each year, an annual survey of Cape Town’s rivers is done through Peninsula Paddle, an initiative started in 2010 to highlight the state of the rivers between Muizenberg and Woodstock. This year is the worst amount of plastic waste they have ever seen, Winter states.

Water samples, taken by scientists, were also found to contain E.coli bacteria exceeding 1 million colony-forming units (cfu) per 100 ml.

"The health of the city is seen in its waterways and what I mean by that is when you look at rivers like this you can see that our city is really unhealthy…[Winter said he hoped highlighting the deterioration would be a wake-up call, not only to the city, but to residents who discard pollutants into the rivers]" - Kevin Winter, News24

Kevin Winter is an environmental scientist from UCT and water expert at the University’s Future Water Institute.

To watch the video and read further, follow the link:

https://m.news24.com/Video/SouthAfrica/News/watch-paddlers-discover-sea-of-plastic-in-cape-town-river-20190910