Stretch Posted October 31, 2014 Posted October 31, 2014 Pines have been in SA for ages and it "isn't" and indigenous specie. I get your point, but try to think how many animals are in the forest now? So humain planted it, and now that the wildlife grew and adapted to it, it is time to destroy it???? Come on! Grassland was there before commercial forestry - and the animals thrived (i'm talking KZN conditions now - same will be true for fynbos. The only advantage that commercial forestry gives is the ability for the animals to hide from poachers...but then it also gives the poachers ability to hide from us - so its a catch 22 situation. All that said - I think you guys are missing the point - the fact is that somewhere like tokai is a commercial forestry venture and therefore trees must be felled - its part of the business. we saw it recently in the Hilton trails - a lot of old established trails were destroyed - but new ones were created in alternative compartments
deanbean Posted October 31, 2014 Posted October 31, 2014 Grassland was there before commercial forestry - and the animals thrived (i'm talking KZN conditions now - same will be true for fynbos. The only advantage that commercial forestry gives is the ability for the animals to hide from poachers...but then it also gives the poachers ability to hide from us - so its a catch 22 situation. All that said - I think you guys are missing the point - the fact is that somewhere like tokai is a commercial forestry venture and therefore trees must be felled - its part of the business. we saw it recently in the Hilton trails - a lot of old established trails were destroyed - but new ones were created in alternative compartmentsI think what's going to happen in Tokai is that the pines are going to be taken out, and the land, which has been under pines for about 100 years, will be allowed to revert to natural fynbos. What is exciting about it is that the seed bank has been sitting there for 100 years and no-one is sure what plants will germinate, maybe some very rare or extinct plants.
SupaTiti Posted October 31, 2014 Author Posted October 31, 2014 Grassland was there before commercial forestry - and the animals thrived (i'm talking KZN conditions now - same will be true for fynbos. The only advantage that commercial forestry gives is the ability for the animals to hide from poachers...but then it also gives the poachers ability to hide from us - so its a catch 22 situation. All that said - I think you guys are missing the point - the fact is that somewhere like tokai is a commercial forestry venture and therefore trees must be felled - its part of the business. we saw it recently in the Hilton trails - a lot of old established trails were destroyed - but new ones were created in alternative compartments Fair enough, I must say that all your answers and points you are guys making is definitely valid and make me look at it from a different angle. I am not only being selfish about the mtb trails and not being about to ride. It 50% about riding and 50% about destroying nature and wildlife which is painful to see. And that is what motivated me to actually stand up and try to do something about it.
Mousea Posted October 31, 2014 Posted October 31, 2014 If you look at forestry over the years they are getting much better conservation wise than they used to be.In the old days planted rite into the wetlands and really buggered things up. In karkloof area the wetlands have been restored over the years and are once again great and full of wildlife
(Deon) Posted October 31, 2014 Posted October 31, 2014 Fair enough, I must say that all your answers and points you are guys making is definitely valid and make me look at it from a different angle. I am not only being selfish about the mtb trails and not being about to ride. It 50% about riding and 50% about destroying nature and wildlife which is painful to see. And that is what motivated me to actually stand up and try to do something about it.Love your compassion! But to let you down easy, it's not nature. Plantations are sterile by comparison to the natural environment it covers. As deanbean says, it's an exciting time ahead but a few years need to pass first, that's the hard part.
Cornerz Posted October 31, 2014 Posted October 31, 2014 Sounds like a lot of misinformation here... to clarify as I understand: Pine plantations are to be removed (these like Deon says are a very sterile environment). They are also extremely water hungry.The stand of gums around the arboretum and My/Your roots are to remain.There is supposed to a management plan around when the pines are removed, then when the burn occurs, and the subsequent maintenance of the land to allow the indigenous Fynbos to take hold.Do yourselves a favour and take a walk through what used to be plantation on the other side of Orpen road which has now had a few years to grow. The forest that remains is dark and dull in comparison with the paths that wind through the indigenous section. The single track running down between the Silvermine dam and the MTB parking lot is another good example of what healthy fynbos can look like. Regarding the wildlife - the more plantations that get removed, the more wildlife I see. Porcupines, mongooses, genets, eagles, owls... Fire up the chainsaws I say!
nonky Posted October 31, 2014 Posted October 31, 2014 Are they cutting down the whole forest? Who has the right to change natures course!!! People really love buggering up this planet.those are planted forests with alien trees, AFAIK
Surv0MTB Posted October 31, 2014 Posted October 31, 2014 Is something going to be done about the Wattle which now grows like wildfire since the Pine trees are gone? I think the Wattle is worse and would have preferred to keep the pines, unless there is still plans for a great burn to get the fynbos growing again? Makes Tokai a perfect place to ride at night now that theres buggerall shade.
(Deon) Posted October 31, 2014 Posted October 31, 2014 Fire up the chainsaws I say! I'm so glad I put my coffee down before I got to the end!
Stretch Posted October 31, 2014 Posted October 31, 2014 Fair enough, I must say that all your answers and points you are guys making is definitely valid and make me look at it from a different angle. I am not only being selfish about the mtb trails and not being about to ride. It 50% about riding and 50% about destroying nature and wildlife which is painful to see. And that is what motivated me to actually stand up and try to do something about it. I suppose the disadvantage is that you do lose mtb trails. For the fynbos to thrive you need to leave it a few seasons to establish. Once established though it will be beautiful riding - as long as sanparks monitors it and we as cyclists don't litter etc.
(Deon) Posted October 31, 2014 Posted October 31, 2014 Is something going to be done about the Wattle which now grows like wildfire since the Pine trees are gone? I think the Wattle is worse and would have preferred to keep the pines, unless there is still plans for a great burn to get the fynbos growing again? Makes Tokai a perfect place to ride at night now that theres buggerall shade.Working for Water has been moving from Fairie Garden right up to Cobra over the last few months. It's the first in many years worth of clearing.. From Cobra they move down to the vineyard fence line which takes care of the full pine cleared area + extra.
Surv0MTB Posted October 31, 2014 Posted October 31, 2014 Awesome - any spare firewood for collection?
(Deon) Posted October 31, 2014 Posted October 31, 2014 Awesome - any spare firewood for collection? I wonder if you are allowed to carry out aliens from a reserve? Ah heck, best not even go down that road..
VicanZA Posted October 31, 2014 Posted October 31, 2014 I'm sure the land your home is built on wasn't always a concrete slab, u didn't have a problem with it when it was working for u.
Ed-Zulu Posted October 31, 2014 Posted October 31, 2014 Forest - natural occurring habitat containing indigenous trees, plants and wild life Plantation - planted/mono-culture activity for commercial purposes <not so sterile as some might suggest, that argument for another thread> What Tokai used to be is a plantation and not a forest, they want to return said plantation land to natural indigenous plants. Don't confuse the two.
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