Table Mountain National Park

Research & Projects

Saving the Endangered African Penguin at Boulders

The Boulders Penguin Colony housing the beautiful African Penguin is located in the picturesque Simon's Town in the the Western Cape. Listed as vulnerable in terms of Cites, Appendix II, these penguins are currently found in various parts of the Western Cape coastline. There are 29 breeding colonies, however, currently breeding no longer occurs in 8 of these colonies. But, can you get involved in saving these amazing creatures? Yes, indeed YOU can help in saving the African Penguin population!

• Reasons for population decline
• Mitigating measures
• Penguin nests
• How can YOU help?
• TMNP's partner in African Penguin conservation

The Expanded Public Works Programme

In 2004 the TMNP received a R35 million Expanded Public Works grant from the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DEAT).

Through this grant the TMNP will engage over 400 people from the local communities around the Park in skills training and development over a three-year period. Read more.

Forest Rehabilitation Programme

The TMNP Forest Rehabilitation Programme aims to protect, restore and expand the Afromontane Forests of the Peninsula.

Project	Project Sponsor
Seed Collection	Table Mountain Fund and SAPPI
Gap Management	City/ DEAT
Weed Control	DEAT
Medicinal Herb Garden	National Lotto Company

 

The Seed Collection Project

Seven seed collectors, employed from disadvantaged communities, have been trained in seed collecting, germination and propagation.

Seeds are collected locally in order to preserve genetic integrity. Once collected they are germinated in the nursery at Newlands. Seedlings are planted out once they are around 15 cm tall because they are more likely to adapt to ecological challenges than established trees. Trees are planted in groups or nurse stands – in forester’s jargon this is referred to as “trees growing trees”.

The seedlings are planted in smallish holes and watered just once - the rest is up to the tree and climatic conditions - this ensures that forest rehabilitation is as close to the natural process as possible.

Country-wide this type of forestry is still very much in a research phase.

Within the first five-years (2000-2005) 35 000 seedlings were planted in degraded areas of Newlands and Orange Kloof. In time the project will be rolled out to other areas in the TMNP

Gap Management

The Gap Management Project started in 2004 and aims to manage the felling of big forest trees (mostly alien) in order to minimize damage to the forest canopy if a large tree with an expansive crown falls naturally. Specialist felling is followed by intensive site rehabilitation.

The six staff, originally from the Chrysalis Academy, have been trained in arboriculture, advanced chainsaw skills and business management. Once their training is complete they will be well qualified to market their skills on the open market.

Weed Control

There are around 360 alien plants in Newlands forest alone – most of them invasive. These aliens are garden escapees such as Chinese Privet and Eugenia and pose a real threat to the natural diversity of the forests. In order to stem this deadly tide of growth 10 individuals from the Hangberg Community in Hout Bay have been recruited and trained to specialize in alien clearing in forested areas. This includes the ability to distinguish between alien and indigenous seedlings.

The Medicinal Herb Garden

It is illegal to harm any indigenous flora in the TMNP but the Park is surrounded by a huge community of traditional users from Rastafarians and herbalists to healers and sangoma’s.

A creative solution to the tension that exists between conservation initiatives and traditional use of plant and tree species is obviously required.

So in a project run in consultation with leaders in the Traditional Healer’s Association of the Western Cape the TMNP has begun work on a medicinal herb garden on the terraces near Rhodes Memorial. Trainees are attending workshops and are involved in all aspects of preparing and attending the garden and doing practical infield training in topics such as soil stability, germination, propagation, germination and sustainable harvesting.

TMNP extends a heartfelt thanks to the South African Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) for donating plants and sharing their knowledge.

Klipspringer Reintroduction

In 1999 the TMNP started a klipspringer (oreotragus oreotragus) reintroduction programme. This tiny buck had been hunted to local extinction in the 1930’s.

The first introduction of 19 animals was into the enclosed Cape of Good Hope section of the Park in 1999. This herd has settled down well and has begun breeding.

The second release was the historic reintroduction of the klipspringer onto Table Mountain and Klawer Valley in October 2003.

CapeNature donated 25 klipspringer to TMNP and the Table Mountain Fund (TMF) funded VHF radio collars and a master’s study.

• 9 released onto the Back Table, 3 with VHF radio collars
• 13 released into Klawer Valley, 3 with VHF radio collars
• 3 released into Cape of Good Hope

Then in October 2005 CapeNature donated a further 10 klipspringer to the TMNP and the TMF came on board again and funded with more sophisticated GPS collars that are more suited to the mountainous terrain.

The klipspringer reintroduction programme is the subject of a master’s study.

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