News

• Standing trees that have been burnt or damaged by the fire are extremely dangerous continue to come down without warning in the area.
• Unstable fire damage slopes result in rock falls
• Winds and rain exacerbate the danger with respect to falling trees, branches, rock falls and mudslides
• Hazardous clear-felling operations of the burnt plantation trees are still underway with intensive harvesting of a number of compartments simultaneously.
• Many of the trails are severely damaged and in some places would need to be rebuilt post clear-felling operations
• Disturbance to surviving animals
• Burnt areas are sensitive as windblown seeds can be damaged and the first emerging plants can be killed by accidental trampling
• Disturbance to sensitive erodible soils
• Rehabilitation of affected areas

In addition contractual obligations with MTO/Cape Pine are also reasons for closing the area whilst the remaining damaged burnt pine and gum trees are being extracted. In the interests of public safety and from a risk, liability and legal perspective SANParks had little choice but to keep the area closed for the harvesting period.

The closure of the burnt areas in Tokai has continually been assessed and reopening should only be considered once the area in question is safe and all environmental issues have been addressed. SANParks understands that recreational users are eager to access these areas and staff are working hard under difficult conditions to reopen the closed area. Park management and staff would like to assure the public that their focus is to secure the area for the public”s safety and to rehabilitate the affected sites for future use as quickly as possible.

The core mandate of SANParks is the conservation of Tokai”s biodiversity (the variety of life and its processes) and the integrity of its protected ecosystems. The requirements of biodiversity conservation may not be put at risk through the activities of other secondary objectives. The fundamental purpose of SANParks and Table Mountain National Park (TMNP) is to revive and conserve Tokai for future generations.

Since the devastating March fires SANParks have provided updates and media feedback with regards to opening dates and progress and have held dedicated meetings on this subject with a range of organised recreational stakeholders, users and residents affected by the fires. These include local residents associations, councillors, representatives from hiking, horse riding and mountain biking organisations and shop owners. In these meetings clear presentations were provided of the impacts of the fire, rehabilitation work required, progress of the removal of burnt and damaged pine and gum tress in the Tokai plantation and timelines for reopening the area to recreational users.

At recent meetings with some of the mountain biking organisations the reopening of Tokai was again addressed in light of the fact that the clearing schedule had been updated. Several clearing teams are working simultaneously on the upper and lower slopes in the Tokai plantation and due to the risk and danger posed by these tree felling operations, access is currently still not possible. SANParks can advise that the removal of the remaining pine and gum compartments are scheduled for completion by March and July 2016 respectively. As a result, the timelines on which reopening is based, have been updated.

A number of options with respect to reopening Tokai earlier were discussed at the meeting referred to above with the focus on engaging on whether there are safe routes that can be accessed without placing the visitor or recreational user in undue danger. As a result of these discussions a motivation, to facilitate the early reopening of certain jeep tracks in Tokai, will be sent to the SANParks risk advisors for consideration.

SANParks understands the repercussions caused by the fire for the visitor and recreational user and recognises their frustration at being unable to access the Tokai Plantation. SANParks is committed to the revival and rehabilitation of Tokai for the use and enjoyment of everyone. Simultaneously staff have been working on the rehabilitation of other areas burnt in the March fires for reopening. Silvermine East was prioritised and opened in September 2015 and Silvermine West is due to open by the end of December 2015. SANParks have been working tirelessly to get the areas affected by the March 2015 fires opened again for our visitors to enjoy as they always have done.

SANParks will continue to provide updates to stakeholders as well as media feedback on progress as new information becomes available.

Issued By

South African National Parks Cape Region Communications

Enquiries:
Tarcia Hendricks
Public Relations Officer
E-mail: [email protected]