Ecosystem Guidelines for Environmental Assessment

A NOTE ON FIRE
All fynbos types require periodic fires to stimulate recruitment and to retain maximum species richness.
The different fynbos types do, however, differ vastly in terms of appropriate fire frequency.
Non-sprouting Proteas are the best indicators of an appropriate fire frequency, which should allow at
least 50% of these Protea plants to have flowered three times before they are burned again. The maximum
interval between fires should not exceed the active reproductive period of these plants.
Fire season is also vital to retain species richness, with late summer and autumn fires (December-
April) giving the best recruitment results. Fire intensity is also important, with only 'clean' burns
acceptable, where no fine material or unburned leaves remain after a fire.
The last important aspect is the size of the fire, where block burns should preferably not be smaller
than 100 ha (ideally 200-500 ha) in size. To ensure successful recruitment after a fire, grazing by domestic
stock (or large numbers of game) should not be allowed within the first two years after a fire.
Block burns in areas where two or more different vegetation types co-occur, e.g. Limestone Fynbos,
Sand Fynbos or Dune Thicket, will need special planning. The fire frequency of the fastest growing
vegetation unit (e.g. Sand Fynbos) is usually the most appropriate, but then only part of the slower
growing vegetation types (e.g. Limestone Fynbos) should burn. Such 'patchy' burns will retain the
natural fire frequency of the other units present. Fire season and size would, however, not differ from
those noted above.
Block burns in areas that are heavily infested by woody alien plants (e.g. Acacia cyclops) will also need
special planning. Where high fuel loads are present the sites may have to be burned under cool, moist
conditions.
It is best to obtain specialist advice from CapeNature or a fynbos ecologist before implementing
managed burns.
COLIN PATERSON-JONES
22 : A NOTE ON FIRE