Progress with controlling of alien invasive plants and bush encroachment

GreenThorn has made good progress with mechanical control of Bankrupt bush (Seriphium plumosum) on the farm Daskop where about 81ha has been completed successfully. This was reported by Piet Theron at a Land Care meeting.

Two of these teams located in Vredefort have moved now to the farm Kommandonek where they would control Cat bush (Wild asparagus) and also Ink berry (Cestrum laevigatum), White and Grey Popular (Populus alba and canescens),
Honey locust (Gleditsia triacanthos) and Blue gums (Mainly Eucalyptus camaldulensis). There might be other weeds and invader which would also be controlled.

Two teams from Parys also moved from Daskop to work on the Parys Golf and Country Estate to control Bankrupt bush (Seriphium plumosum) also mechanically and to cut Blue Gums and apply herbicide on the cut stumps. The objective of the project is to control all
Bankrupt bush re-growth with herbicide treatment.

As for controlling aquatic weeds, the team from Barrage completed their first site on the
farm Seekoeifontein. Three other teams from Parys are still busy on the following sites;
Parys Golf and Country Estates on the river and a dam on the golf course, at Mimosa and
downstream of the Potch Bridge. Working in the river is actually very difficult as walking on
slippery rocks is not easy.

The two mains species are Water hyacinth (Eichhomia grassipes) and Watercress (Nasturtium officinale). As the water temperature is still too low for applying herbicide, the plants are removed mechanically. As it is not possible to removed 100% of the plants on a specific site, there are always plants re-infesting the sites coming from upstream infestations. Therefore, one should look at the heaps of plants removed by the teams to determine progress.

It is also important to keep in mind every Water hyacinth plant been removed from the river helps to reduce the potential for spreading once the water temperature increases as to allow for significant multiplication. Therefore, GreenThorn and the Department of Environmental Affairs would appreciate if land users next to the river could assist by also removing plants from the
river.

Although there are also tree teams located in Vredefort to work on aquatic weeds, two of
these teams are still looking for transport. One of these teams started last week at
Stonehenge. We really hope these two teams would manage to get transport quite soon
as to put them also to work on sites where land users already indicated that we could work
on their properties. We also thank all land users already indicated that the teams could
obtain access through their land to work on the river.

GreenThorn are also aware of some people and groups not been adequately inform about the project. Therefore, GreenThorn would like to apologise for not consulting all relevant groups. People who need more information on both aquatic or terrestrial or would like to use the teams to assist them with controlling alien invasive species or bush encroachment, should contact the local offices of Agricultural and or Environment (DREAD) or to contact Piet Theron (083 460 9190).