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Afrikaanse Inligting
Fencing away Leucadendron macowanii
On 1 July 2000, I visited the Leucadendron macowanii site at the entrance to the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve. (Please note that this is a different site to the one where the river flows down into Smitswinkel Bay. The site is right where African curios are sold. Reaching through the fence one could touch the plants).
A few years ago (1994) I noted that this site was fenced off to protect it from being bushcut – the bushcut portion being part of the firebreak to the reserve. Well, this fence didn't work and it was bush cut anyway - probably by the same person who erected the fence. Since 1994 the fence has fallen into disrepair and currently is non-existent, although the wire still lies there.
National Parks continue to bushcut along the inside of the fence, but they are leaving the
Ld maco intact. However, there is not enough margin for error! The bushcutter is getting to within 1 m of the eastern-most plant. This is just not good enough! All we need is a fire, regeneration of Ld maco, and the bush cutter to forget about the plants and clear the area - Ld maco will be gone from this site. Fortunately, Ld maco is a fast grower in my experience, as I have watched this site on and off since 1994. However, the potential for an irretrievable accident remains.Would it be possible to ask somebody at National Parks to take a look, take action and put up a proper fence or do something. The 10 or so plants are in grave danger. The fact that they are very near to the curio sellers does not help. One cigarette butt and that's that.
Nigel Forshaw
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