Tag: Tokai Cecilia Management Framework

As the public participation process on the future of Tokai-Cecilia moves into its third year, things remain no clearer than they were two years ago.  The fundamental issue of shaded landscapes vs fynbos biodiversity restoration remains the primary contest, as it has done since 2006.

Without this contest being addressed, the discord between those who want to see a holistic outcome of shaded and cultural landscapes alongside recreational areas and fynbos restoration, and those intent on fynbos restoration only, will continue.

After two years of intense input by stakeholders – involving hundreds of hours of work – we are still no closer to a final decision on the future of Tokai and Cecilia.

The commenting period on the Revised Draft, which was released on 19 May this year, closes tonight at midnight (19 June) and a number of people have approached us for guidance.

While the 109 page Revised Draft is dense, we have endeavoured to lift outs some of the elements about which Tokai and Cecilia Forest users have expressed concern. The responses may also give you some additional insight into some of the issues.

Attached is a template for your use.  You will need to print out the PDF and complete by hand, scan and save, and send off to TCMF@sanparks.org
Please ensure you complete your details and sign and date the document.  You may wish to delete or add to the document by way of expressing your own concerns.

Many have requested support in commenting on the Draft Tokai Cecilia Management Plan – the outcome of the public participation process on the Tokai Cecilia Management Framework. The PDF file below provides you with a template from which to work. You are encouraged to choose the elements that ring true for you and to use your own words in crafting your response.

All comments are to be sent to tcmf@sanparks.org by 31 May
Please cc your comments to secretary@parkscape.org.za

Overview:

Although the Draft Plan itself is a relatively easy document to work with, the devil is in the detail of the Annexure where we find that the majority of proposals for shade spaces within the Tokai and Cecilia areas of Table Mountain National Park have been rejected as being “not feasible and/or suitable for implementation“.

The rejected proposals include :
* retaining stands of pines as shade canopy between which tall-canopied local species and non-invasive exotics can be grown on a phased transition basis in Tokai,
* retaining existing plantation and allow thinning to allow Afrotemperate forest to expand naturally into these ‘nursery’ areas” in Cecilia,
* formal planting between Tokai Arboretum and old gum stand and along boundary of wine farms,
* replanting the old gum grove area (Fairie Glen) with mixed species (non invasive introduced and Afrotemperate)
* extending the Arboretum to create permanent shade,
* replant hardwood grove at the Thatch/Orpen Road Cottage.

As regards retaining shade spaces all the Draft TCIP allows for is the retention of the Arboretum and “broken shade” on the perimeter path of Lower Tokai. For all other shade, it is suggested that users make use of greenbelts – however, the Constantia greenbelts are seeing an increased removal of many old trees (deemed to be “aliens”) and an increased focus on fynbos gardens.

It is worth noting that the Draft Plan is skewed towards fynbos biodiversity conservation and provides for not only little to no shade space, it also indicates the reduction/closure of trails for all users in all parts of Tokai and Cecilia.

28 proposals in the Annexure ended with the phrase “after plantation felling” making felling of the plantations a given and of these, 21 were deemed well-suited for implementation. None were deemed not feasible or impractical for implementation.