In response to readers’ comments on a Tourism Update article, Vergelen has responded with more clarity on two of its projects.
When the project was initiated, maximum alien plant density was 80 000 to 100 000 stems per hectare. Three fires – 1997, 2009 and 2017 – necessitated re-clearing most of the areas that had already been rehabilitated. Alien vegetation continues to recur and, consequently, Vergelegen is now in a maintenance phase with an overall alien density of 2-5% over the entire extent of the property.
This is, however, young re-growth treated annually, and maintenance will continue to take place until such time that the seed bank accumulated over the years has been depleted.
Over the duration of the project Vergelegen generated at least 231 jobs for previously unemployed and untrained people, in areas ranging from bush cutting to hand-picking and spraying alien seedlings. Several of these contractors, who have now established their own small businesses,…