New Tokai a huge disapointment no FYNBOS

[Wuzzie]

Has anybody noticed how no Fynbos or indigenous flora has replaced the magnificent forest that was harvested.The new track that was cut was such a great job and brilliant to ride, but it has degraded quickly. Not from lack of build quality more the quality of the environment around it.

 

I was under the impression that a major reason for the Forest harvest was to allow the natural habitat to grow back.

This is so not the case as the new single track that has been re-cut is Port Jackson and other exotics and weeds all the way.

The track has changed from hard pack to loose sand as there is no nice healthy indigenous fynbos growth or forest to hold it together,

The fynbos is happy lower down and around Noordhoek loop, but this newly re-cut 4 part section is shocking and clearly neglected, what a pity. If they don't control it soon it will become very expensive to cut down and then ignored and we will be robbed of the Fynbos paradise it could easily be with a bit of care.

[jimmy hardtail]

Its all gonna get burned and then hopefully the dormant fynbos seeds will spring into life. When exactly this will happen is anyones guess right now.

 

Just go ride laps of fairy garden so long cos that is the next area to get logged apparently

[Shebeen]

i'm guessing we might need a winter to assess this properly first, but it does need to be monitored.

[HowardSteele]

The whole process is a 30 year project...yep right ,If you look at the area around the reservoir in the Silvermine reserve the vynbos established itself quite quickly once the pines were removed, However on the slopes below the gate is a different story. There is a section as an example that was cleared more than 3 years ogo and still is bare..In my opinion burning is not going to help They will have to assist propagation. Once again there will be an issue of who's responsibility that will fall under and the funds required. In the meantime we will have hotter rides in summer and wetter rides in winter.

Edited March 17, 2014 by howardsteele

[Flowta]

Has anybody noticed how no Fynbos or indigenous flora has replaced the magnificent forest that was harvested.The new track that was cut was such a great job and brilliant to ride, but it has degraded quickly. Not from lack of build quality more the quality of the environment around it.

 

I was under the impression that a major reason for the Forest harvest was to allow the natural habitat to grow back.

This is so not the case as the new single track that has been re-cut is Port Jackson and other exotics and weeds all the way.

The track has changed from hard pack to loose sand as there is no nice healthy indigenous fynbos growth or forest to hold it together,

The fynbos is happy lower down and around Noordhoek loop, but this newly re-cut 4 part section is shocking and clearly neglected, what a pity. If they don't control it soon it will become very expensive to cut down and then ignored and we will be robbed of the Fynbos paradise it could easily be with a bit of care.

 

It requires a burn to happen in order for the Fynbos to really start germinating. This is supposed to happen within a year of the harvesting and can take a LONG time to really take hold. (growth cycle, assessment, more possible burns, etc.)

 

Despite what we have been told to date, the burn is NOT going to happen this year, confirmed by the Parks fire Manager.

 

What is happening in the meantime is that the Pork Jackson and Wattle is moving in and while start posing a stafety issue wrt wild fires, etc.

 

Also surprise, surprise, also grows better after a fire/burn.

[Kranky]

Can't wait for the whole of Tokai to get cut down. I find our local plants are far more interesting. Assuming the authorities do their job (which I feel they are seriously neglecting at present).

 

Anyone know if the climate on the upper slopes of Tokai could support some afromontane like above Kirstenbosch and Newlands? For those that complain about the lack of shade

Edited March 17, 2014 by Nick.

[Flowta]

Its all gonna get burned and then hopefully the dormant fynbos seeds will spring into life. When exactly this will happen is anyones guess right now.

 

Just go ride laps of fairy garden so long cos that is the next area to get logged apparently

 

It looks like it (or at least close to it), I have the compartment number that are being harvested this year but need to confirm the actual compartments on a map.

[Flowta]

Can't wait for the whole of Tokai to get cut down. I find our local plants are far more interesting. Assuming the authorities do their job (which I feel they are seriously neglecting at present).

 

Anyone know if the climate on the upper slopes of Tokai could support some afromontane like above Kirstenbosch and Newlands? For those that complain about the lack of shade

 

Maybe in the valleys, but not likely on the exposed areas.

 

Depends on what the seedbanks hold

[Pappa Bear]

Maybe in the valleys, but not likely on the exposed areas.

 

Depends on what the seedbanks hold

 

So depending on what is left in the seedbanks......... they may endup with NOTHING like what they expect..... would be so funny if a bunch of pines took over

[DJR]

..................

Anyone know if the climate on the upper slopes of Tokai could support some afromontane like above Kirstenbosch and Newlands? For those that complain about the lack of shade

 

If you look at the couple of strips of indigenous vegetation left in Tokai, you will see how it can grow back in the valleys and along the streams.

 

For the rest of the more exposed slopes, perhaps look at the parts that were cut +5 years ago? There are good examples on the higher slopes in Newlands. It will grow back low (3 -4 m) on the more exposed slopes and higher (10 m) in the valleys? I hope the pincushions and proteas will grow back but I suspect those really need the burn before they get going.

 

I know about all the ? I put in there, because we are all just guessing atm.

[Wuzzie]

I see there are a large number of pine saplings among the vast assortment of exotics

[DJR]

So depending on what is left in the seedbanks......... they may endup with NOTHING like what they expect..... would be so funny if a bunch of pines took over

 

Ha ha, that would indeed be a disaster, and the way the wattles are growing it sure looks bad, but this far all the older areas that were cleared grew back very well indeed.

 

The Silvermine area is probably the best example. It grew back so beautifully that many people are amazed when you show them the pine stumps up there in between the fynbos, not even knowing that it was covered in pine plantations. Next time you go up there, look around at the Silvermine / Tokai gate area.

 

In Newlands they followed a different approach where they cut the plantations in vertical strips, leaving somewhat of a Zebra pattern. Here also, the clear cut strips have grown back very well, all the way from the bottom up to the top. The remaining plantations will be cut later and they will then also be left to re-grow fynbos.

[DJR]

@ Wuzzie

 

I predict that we'll see a lot more indigenous stuff after this coming winter. Our fynbos is unusual in that its growing season is in winter time, when we have our main rainfall. (Most plants, including the exotic pines and wattles, grow in summer and rest in winter). The harvesting of the pines were done just before winter and I think only the fast growing locals like geraniums have had a chance to start growing back. It is bound to look better come September October 2014. (Yes, I'm also worried about all the pine and wattle saplings and I wish SANParks would get funds and do something about them ASAP.)

[Guest Omega Man]

Hey guys.

 

Some notes from our meeting last night.

• Our 2nd meeting was held at the River Club last night.
  
• Dan Dobinson has been elected as the chairman of the committee.
  
• Though we've been quiet we have been constantly working and meeting behind the scenes. Specifically around the stuff mentioned below.
  
• Bennet Nel (Yes that's right!!) has been contracted on a monthly SLA basis. He will be spending 3 days a month up on the mountain buffing up the existing single tracks starting next month. He will be spending 6 days up there in April and from May onwards 3 days a month. Bennet is one of the most respected trail builders in SA and is the guy behind the fabulous trails in Jonkershoek. He has a team of 8 workers and those guys KNOW how to build trail.
  
• We are busy with a Trail Vision document that we expect to be the basis of the new trails we are looking to build in the very near future in Tokai. No you can't see it yet.
  
• We are not waiting for the EMP to be released before we work on the Trail Vision document. The timelines just don't allow for it.
  
• We plan to finalize and ratify the document withing the next few weeks. We will then present it to the Table Mountain Bikers forum.
  
• We then plan to present that document to you guys, the riders, in May. We need this to be a big meeting with loads and loads of riders cos we want Parks to know we are many. Please don't be apathetic about this. It's important.
  
• If it's ratified by you guys we'll present to Parks.
  
• Going forward any and all communication will be channeled through the TokaiMTB website. We will no longer communicate via social media as it can get messy very quickly as all of you know. If you have any comments/complaints about the trails or security threats there will be a mail address you can mail. The website should be fully functional within the next 2 weeks.
  
• We are having a build day on Saturday the 5th of April. Please join us for the build day. We are going to do the divert on Vasbyt where the XC trail and DH trail intersect. 9am at the parking lot. If you come later that's fine. please pull in. We wanted to have the build after Bennet's 6 days on the hill but the timing hasn't worked out like that.
  
• And last but by no means least. Please do NOT build illegal trails. This hurts our credibility with Parks as they can easily turn around and question our ability to control the group we purport to represent.
  

Edited March 20, 2014 by Omega Man

[Wuzzie]

Omega Man you are a legend please lambast the website details,contact email addresses and when you want bikers to support your cause everywhere. Thanks allot

[Flowta]

Hey guys.

 

Some notes from our meeting last night.

• Our 2nd meeting was held at the River Club last night.
  
• Dan Dobinson has been elected as the chairman of the committee.
  
• Though we've been quiet we have been constantly working and meeting behind the scenes. Specifically around the stuff mentions below.
  
• Bennet Nel (Yes that's right!!) has been contracted on a monthly SLA basis. He will be spending 3 days a month up on the mountain buffing up the existing single tracks starting next month. He will be spending 6 days up there in April and from May onwards 3 days a month. Bennet is one of the most respected trail builders in SA and is the guy behind the fabulous trails in Jonkershoek. He has a team of 8 workers and those guys KNOW how to build trail.
  
• We are busy with a Trail Vision document that we expect to be the basis of the new trails we are looking to build in the very near future in Tokai. No you can't see it yet.
  
• We are not waiting for the EMP to be released before we work on the Trail Vision document. The timelines just don't allow for it.
  
• We plan to finalize and ratify the document withing the next few weeks. We will then present it to the Table Mountain Bikers forum.
  
• We then plan to present that document to you guys, the riders, in May. We need this to be a big meeting with loads and loads of riders cos we want Parks to know we are many. Please don't be apathetic about this. It's important.
  
• If it's ratified by you guys we'll present to Parks.
  
• Going forward any and all communication will be channeled through the TokaiMTB website. We will no longer communicate via social media as it can get messy very quickly as all of you know. If you have any comments/complaints about the trails or security threats there will be a mail address you can mail. The website should be fully functional within the next 2 weeks.
  
• We are having a build day on Saturday the 5th of April. Please join us for the build day. We are going to do the divert on Vasbyt where the XC trail and DH trail intersect. 9am at the parking lot. If you come later that's fine. please pull in. We wanted to have the build after Bennet's 6 days on the hill but the timing hasn't worked out like that.
  
• And last but by no means least. Please do NOT build illegal trails. This hurts our credibility with Parks as they can easily turn around and question our ability to control the group we purport to represent.