This includes the invasive Port Jackson and Blue Gum. These will be replaced with endemic indigenous species, ultimately improving water quality in the Berg River.
Situated in the picturesque Berg River Valley between Paarl and Franschhoek, Pearl Valley has commenced its largest land rehabilitation programme to date. The project includes the absorption of the impact of climate change and urbanisation, protection of aquatic environments from excessive sedimentation, an improvement in water quality, increased biodiversity, increases in leisure space for water sports, and increases in neighbouring property values.
"Unlike many other estates where the demand for water is high, Pearl Valley, which is home to many species of endangered flora, has an indigenous vegetation coverage of 80% in the residential and public gardens. The water-wise landscaped vegetation includes many succulents and grass species. To complement this, Pearl Valley will oversee the planting and nurturing of indigenous seeds and cuttings along its Berg River frontage," says Gawie Marx, general manager for the Estate.
As recently as early July this year, the Western Cape witnessed record rainfall and flooding across the province. Disaster management teams were deployed to manage the fallout amongst people living in low-lying areas, which are particularly vulnerable to flooding. Berg River Task manager, Jason Mingo, from the Western Cape Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning's Directorate for Pollution Management, believes that the rapid urbanisation not only impacts on the adequate provision of services to communities affected by high rainfall, but also decreases the ability to mitigate the effects of climate change.
"Landowners can help to alleviate the challenge by planting indigenous vegetation on riparian land in their areas. As the Western Cape Government, it's not only our constitutional obligation to protect our environment, but also to empower those who can assist. We can do this by providing assistance with planting on riparian land, implementing alien vegetation control measures in rehabilitated areas, preventing livestock from grazing on indigenous plants on riparian land, preventing vehicle access to rehabilitated areas, and watering rehabilitated areas when needed and where possible," says Mingo.
The rehabilitation programme at Pearl Valley will, over a 12-month period, see provincial government supply, plant and grow indigenous seeds and cuttings harvested from the Berg River area and grown at the Kluitjieskraal Nursery. Pearl Valley nursery will also act as a satellite nursery ensuring sustainable rehabilitation along the Berg River. This follows last year's planting of Water Oaks, Agapanthus and fynbos along the estate's entrance, after veld fires had destroyed the main irrigation pipeline and major sections of the foliage along the entrance road.
