Controlled burn at Cape Town wetlands

05 Mar, 2013

Vegetation at the Zoarvlei wetland section of Table Bay nature reserve in Cape Town is to be burnt by the city's environmental resource management department.

The 140-hectare reserve is located next to the Paarden Eiland suburb, close to the city centre, and the area being burnt lies between the Paarden Eiland industrial estate to the west and another suburb, Brooklyn, to the east.

The burn is designed to remove accumulated dry reeds and bulrushes to reduce the likelihood of future wildfires.

The operation is expected to take place in March, when weather conditions are at their most favourable.

Local residents and land-owners are to be notified in advance and the burn will be conducted on a week day between 10.00 and 14.00.

The reserve forms part of the larger Table Bay Nature Reserve, proclaimed last June, and is home to a wide variety of vegetation and bird life.