Fuel reduction burn secures heritage site

The City of Cape Town’s Biodiversity Management Unit, along with Fire and Rescue Services staff, conducted a controlled fuel reduction burn on Robben Island during October 2022, as part of ongoing environmental and fire management training.

The fuel reduction burn and training intervention took place on Robben Island between 9 and 14 October 2022, and served as in-field training for Biodiversity Management and Fire and Rescue Services staff. The burn was conducted in cooperation with the Robben Island Museum, which provided accommodation for attendees for the duration of the training.

A fuel reduction burn is conducted to reduce the plant biomass that poses a fire risk in the event of a wildfire. Given Robben Island’s heritage status, an uncontrolled wildfire would devastate the historical buildings and this controlled burn greatly reduces this risk.

Vegetation transformation The original vegetation type on Robben Island is Cape Flats Dune Strandveld, which is now classified as endangered. Transformation of the natural vegetation on the island has occurred over the past 350 years.

The large woody plants of the original Strandveld vegetation were completely removed and there was a loss of diversity of the smaller, herbaceous plants. The introduction of livestock and non-indigenous animals such as fallow deer and European rabbits has contributed to the transformation of the vegetation. Alien species such as rooikrans (Acacia cyclops), manatoka (Myoporum serratum) and eucalyptus like the spider gum (E. lehmannii) were intentionally introduced, which not only invade built heritage structures, but also increase the risk of fires, especially veld fires.

In addition to this, the African penguin population continues to dwindle and there was an urgent need to ensure the safety of the breeding habitats on the island. The aim of the fuel reduction burn was not only to minimise the risk of wildfires to wildlife, people and the built environment, but also to rehabilitate the vegetation to a self-sustaining condition that needs minimal management inputs.

Valuable training The growth of rooikrans on the island was targeted for removal in the controlled burns, giving participants valuable training in conducting the burns, and working in conditions that simulate wildfire firefighting. Working in coordination with Robben Island Museum staff, a number of vehicles used in the burn were transported via barge for the duration of the exercise.

“The City is committed to protecting, restoring and managing its natural areas to ensure their long-term sustainability. The opportunity afforded by this fuel reduction burn gives our Biodiversity Management and Fire and Rescue Services teams essential training in dealing with environmental challenges that will serve them well in the field and will ensure a safer and more ecologically healthy environment,” said Alderman Eddie Andrews, deputy mayor and MMC for Spatial Planning and Environment.

City of Cape Town Biodiversity Management Branch staff, along with Fire and Rescue Services staff, conducted a controlled fuel reduction burn on Robben Island, in cooperation with the Robben Island Museum