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READ THE FOLLOWING WRITTEN BY MARK OF COOLFORESTS:
Article front page Constantia bulletin attached into doc file with
usual
rebello type letters and other article on trails in mountain.,
1) Front page Article By journalist:- Karen Watkins. Constantia
bulletin.
You should all get it.
2) Another article by same journalist,- Karen Watkins on SANParks
paths in
the park (3 guesses whose side she's on ?)
3) Rebello article (didn’t include,- it’s the same kind of stuff about
EITHER /OR .....Fynbos or forest.)
But what stood out most is the disparaging HEADLINE,- Depicts the
situation
and all the misrepresentation,- spot on......in 4 words!
Headline reads..... "protest against harvesting of pine." ....Its not
about
harvesting of pine!
Its about the forestry exit strategy and the whole SANParks sneakiness
to
have kept it all underground for so long.
The forest issue is the tip of a much bigger iceberg...
PROTEST AGAINST HARVESTING OF PINE. How about:- more accurately,-
PROTEST
AGAINST SANPARKS CAGEY FUTURE PLANS FOR TMNP AND THE CLOSURE OF
FORESTRY.
Thars gone, Deer to go, Forestry nearly gone, dogs to follow,- paths to
shrink, more mountain access control points, and what and who is next ?
1. This is not a polarized issue of Fynbos & indigenous verse
continuation
of forestry.
Can they co-exist ?
Of course.
What this does is confuses people who know nothing of the issue.
Simplistic
and polarized to the extreme.
The opening sentence of the front page should have been:- It seems that
non-compliance with the national environmental act (NEMA) which
dictates
that SANPARKS, the new custodians of the mountain,- by law.... be
transparent with the public of cape town, has finally tipped the scales
and
angered people enough to start protesting on Constantia nek when they
would
prefer being at work trying to make a living to pay stratospheric
salaries
of government and especially SANParks officials.
Backup ammunition to the front page came in via smaller typical Rebello
articles in the body of the paper. Email me with subject heading
rebello and
I will send to you.
The real matter is what SANParks/ Dwaf/ MTO can and cant do ?
Could SANParks/Dwaf have designated some part of the old plantation
forests
as a public forest park ? Could they have even looked at the brilliant
DWAF
press release by Kasrils who acknowledged the immeasurable value that
the
forests give to the cape ? The press release is in this email for those
who
have not read it.
Further what SANPARKS DIDN’T DO,- Designated some parts of the
foreigner
tree forests for ongoing forestry practice and some pieces as part of
an
urban forest park AND planted indigenous trees amongst the pine and
rehabilitated the ravines for indigenous forests as so carefully
presented
by UFPG.
Most important is really, - Could SANParks have honored the public when
they
took control of the mountain and had an open discussion of their plans
instead of downplaying everything and keeping everything so cagey?
The forests, the Thars, the deer, dog walking e.t.c ?
Its about what SANParks should have done and didn’t do.............
And that is ......Abide by the law of NEMA which is open transparency
with
the public about the future vision of the mountain.
But..... its not just abiding by the LAW,- just because the law says
something in NEMA (National Environmental Act ....but its about
respecting
people, the taxpayer who pays their salaries and the locals in Cape
Town who
love the mountain and outdoors much more than they realize.
Its not just about botanists who love Fynbos but mountain bikers and
dog
walkers and horse riders who love the sport and recreation that they do
out
doors in the shade.
TMNP is far more part of our lives than SANPARKS could ever imagine.
I fear what they have in mind for the long term. World heritage or not.
National heritage or not. TMNP is the soul of cape town,- and certainly
not
just for the Fynbos and botanical side but for the lifestyle it gives
to
everyone from the richest to the poorest of the poor.
From picnics in the forests to mountain walks to horse riding to
mountain
biking.
And its not just IN the park. Foreigner trees line everywhere. And less
and
less is trees and forest and more and more are high density
developments.
Drive from Hout bay to Constantia,- you will see it all is foreigner
trees
and going fast. There are piles of cement and builders everywhere.
This is also abut respecting the people of cape town because they have
built
their lives around the mountain which they treasure not because of the
Fynbos and the idea of a world heritage site but because Table mountain
is
part of the very fabric of what cape town is. Forest indigenous and
not,
rock face, springs, Fynbos, free entry everywhere as well. (Notice that
you
need a SANParks "wild card" now for Silvermine to take your dogs
there,- or
its no-entry!).
Table Mountain is not the private property of SANPARKS to build elitist
trails and close off sections as they like and quietly remove massive
trees
that should by now be protected. The plantation forests and for that
matter
other foreigner species trees add an aspect to urban living cape town
that
is priceless. It’s a social issue not just botanical. We all know about
Fynbos and Biodiversity.
We are talking about trees that, yes are of foreign origin, but
beautify
cape town immeasurably. From oaks to pine to poplar being quietly ring
barked and killed EVERYWHERE.
Its not just decisions made to eject forestry from the cape,- its
decisions
made that will see the end of many beautiful roads, and walks and rides
of
poplars to pine to Oak.
Translated,- Fundamentalism.
They harp on and on and on about Fynbos and indigenous forest and
biodiversity.
We all know about this. We all feel like Foi Gras geese,- force fed
Fynbos!
Its enough. We all know!
We don’t want everything to be Fynbos.
Take a drive up to Silvermine and see the future if the fundamentalists
get
their way!
The idea of returning table mountain to a former pristine glory and
regrowing indigenous as EITHER OR WITH PLANTATION FORESTS. Twists the
issue.
Indigenous will grow between plantation forests in the ravines and WILL
NEVER cover the same areas as pine forest does today.
Already the [pine forests were very congested.
They are now half the size and more congested.
Why because people love the forests and they are beautiful and a
HABITAT
that fits with a growing and big city.
A massive volume of people use the forests of foreigner trees. The
ravine
indigenous forests...we all want back. Obviously. The article makes it
look
like people want pine to grown in the ravines.
Its misrepresenting the issue
This issue is more about a culture of a city deepening in concrete and
still
today gifted with massive flat open trail tree walkways amongst giant
trees
competing with the best urban big tree walks in the world.
Pine forests offer flat walk ways for people.
Indigenous forests will be restricted to wet ravines. To steep for most
of
the public.
Obviously indigenous forests are way more beautiful than pine in many
regards....BUT IT MEETS A VERY DIFFERENT NEED TO PINE.
Pine is about open space walkways now.
Indigenous is about tangled vines and smaller little paths.
Very beautiful and very rich and if that’s all there is in 100 years
time,-
guaranteed you wont be allowed in it! Because it will be trampled to
mud by
a population in cape town that is double what it is now.
And forests compared with a Mielie fields ...I have never heard of
mountain
biking, horse riding or walks or ;picnics amongst the Mielies. Maybe I
am
not in touch with current trends.
And the big picture of SANParks taking control of the Table mountain,-
its
much more sinister than that.
sleepy anaesthetized Capetonians who trust authority like children do
teachers,- should catch a mega wake-up.
There is no smoke without a fire.....
Dog walking, Deer, Thars, Forests, mountain trails ?
What else must reach front page before people wonder who owns the park
and
what is to become of it ?
The forests is one part of it !!!
Here is a tiny little piece of straight walk talk from some-one in the
park
that appeared on the official SANParks forum.
This is the truth and this is the policy that should be very carefully
balanced with the idea of an URBAN PARK FOR ALL,- NOT JUST AN URBAN
PARK FOR
BOTANISTS!
See attachment.
what I question was the original plans and mandate when the mountain
was
given to SANParks...did they say ....
These are our terms if we manage it ...XYZ ??? ( our way or the hi-
way)
.....
or were there .......certain conditions strictly laid out (Kasrils
letter
possibly amongst others) ?
Mark
KASRILS DWAF PRESS RELEASE FOR THOSE THAT HAVEN'T SEEN IT.
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
MEDIA RELEASE BY MR RONNIE KASRILS MP,
MINISTER OF WATER AFFAIRS AND FORESTRY
ON THE TRANSFER OF MANAGEMENT CONTROL OVER TOKAI
AND CECILIA PLANTATIONS FROM THE SOUTH AFRICAN FORESTRY COMPANY LIMITED
(SAFCOL) TO SANPARKS
(CAPE PENINSULA NATIONAL PARK)
The Department of Water Affairs and Forestry has agreed to transfer
management control over the Tokai and Cecilia State Forests situated
within
the area identified for the establishment of the Cape Peninsula
National
Park. The forestry operations will be managed by a special purpose
vehicle
company of SAFCOL, which is known as Mountains to Oceans (MTO) and
SANPARKS
will manage the recreation and conservation functions.
In terms of the transfer, SANPARKS will continue to accommodate MTO’s
commercial forestry activities, but will manage the plantations on a
multiple use and sustainable basis within a broader conservation
framework.
They have committed to preparing a publicly accepted plan, which will
strive
to find a balance between conservation, timber production outdoor
recreation
and the cultural landscape values. "We have made it very clear that a
balance must be achieved between the interests of the Cape Town
community
and the important conservation objectives which SANPARKS is expected to
achieve" said Director-General Mike Muller.
SAFCOL is in the process of withdrawing from forestry in the Southern
and
Western Cape including recreational and eco-tourism areas such as the
Tokai
and Cecilia plantations on the slopes of Table Mountain as well as
within
the Cape Peninsula Protected Natural Environment.
SANPARKS has expressed keen interest in incorporating the Tokai and
Cecilia
plantations as a going concern, into the Cape Peninsula National Park.
Their intention is in line with a 1997 decision, to pass the management
of
all public land within the proposed Cape Peninsula National Park to
SANPARKS.
The Department has emphasised that the intention is not to remove
plantation
forests. SANPARKS for its part has indicated that they would retain the
commercial forestry areas, as an integral part of their conservation
efforts. The plantation areas provide for high impact tourism
activities,
diverting significant volumes of visitor traffic and thus helping to
conserve very sensitive ecosystems.
As with the lease agreements for other State forests in the Cape, MTO
would
retain access to the timber producing sections of the two plantations
for
the next 70 years. Conservation and commercial timber production would
therefore co-exist on the same area, managed in an integrated and
mutually
beneficial manner by a single management authority. Timber production
plans
would be co-ordinated with conservation management plans in a manner,
which
should benefit the greater Cape Town community.
Due to their location, Tokai and Cecilia plantations are an outdoor
refuge
for thousands of nearby city dwellers, particularly for previously
disadvantaged communities living in the nearby Cape Flats area.
Exceptionally huge pine and eucalyptus trees that were planted at the
inception of the plantation in the 1880s create a unique environment of
scenic beauty and tranquillity within the city boundaries of Cape Town.
The
plantation areas are used for various sporting and recreational
activities,
such as jogging, mountain biking, and horse riding as well as hiking.
The
formalised picnic areas are exceptionally popular with people from
areas
around Cape Town with more than 100 000 visitors annually. These
activities
should remain part of the plantations' management plan allowing public
access and enjoyment of the area as well as commercial forest
activities.
The public’s interest in the two plantations has been formalised with
the
establishment of a community interest group, Friends of Tokai, which
regularly meet with both SAFCOL and SANPARKS on developments affecting
the
plantations.
Tokai and Cecilia plantations also represent a significant part of
South
Africa’s forestry heritage. The first forestry training college in
South
Africa was established at Tokai, although the buildings have since been
demolished. The arboretum has been declared as a National Monument and
contains some of the original species samples brought to South Africa
during
the nineteenth century, from which many of the commercial timber
species
found today in plantations across the country were developed. Some of
the
trees in the arboretum are also unique from an international
perspective, as
they have remained separate from their original, but evolving habitat
and
subsequently changed gene pool, for instance the Australian Eucalyptus
trees.
Enquiries: A M Muller
Director-General: Water Affairs and Forestry
Tel: (021) 464-1501
Or
Ms L Mossop
Chief Director: Forestry
Department of Water Affairs and Forestry
Tel: (012) 336-7212
Cell: 0828012310
E-mail: lindam@dwaf.gov.za
Books
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Anyone willing to step out of apathy and stand behind what they believe in.
About me: SPEAK OUT SA is a movement begun by Tamsin Mac Carthy and Samantha Eaton in the interest of preservation of life and prevention of misinformation.
Tamsin has recently created the organization Mobile Veterinarian Care Units of SA. This is an initiative for mobile clinics for all the four legged beings that cannot ask for help themselves and who suffer inconceivable neglect and abuse every day in our country.
Her idea is to create a fund for mobile clinics that will operate in all the major city centres of SA and eventually in other territories. These ambulance type of clinics will be manned by qualified vets and care givers and will provide much needed veterinanian and humane aid to animals in areas where these facilities are not readily accessible.
With intention, anything is possible.
Our past causes have been to set out to raise awareness and fight against the radical environmental stance on alien vegetation in the Cape and the terrible felling that is currently taking place in Cecelia, Newlands, Deer Park and Tokai.
We believe that public opinion should be heard and a compromise should be reached, where forest sanctuaries can be preserved while still encouraging the indigenous vegetation to continue prospering.
SANPARK seem to be moving at a frightening speed in creating a devastating scar on the mountain, while the battle continues. There can be no time wasted!
Please speak out and join our stand against the unjust killing of the trees we need so dearly in the face of global warming.
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Who I'd like to meet: All who want to make a stand! Write to us and let us know who you are...
I think we should all work hard at lifting our conciousness. This will lift the consciousness of the planet and apply pressure on our governments to do the right thing. As far as trees are concerned, I am unsure as to the scientific reasoning behind the mass destruction of "aliens" but I cannot believe that the way they are being destroyed can be doing the enviroment any good. Sean
