Yes, to all of it. Many of the trails need to be inspected and rebuild because it crosses small ravines, or have ramps, or man-made banked walls. There are also some who has view-point, man-made platforms / resting points, overlooking the whole Jonkershoek valley. Aside from these, many of these burnt woods are actually still smouldering inside their cores and needs time to die out. Some areas also have slumbering fire underground (hollowed animal shelters) or tree roots still smouldering.
There have been wild fires in Jonkershoek before and there will be again. I have not seen any reports indicating this to be a result of arson. Hot weather and gale force winds are not a good combination.
It wasn't arson, that was confirmed. It originally started at a camping resort near Franschhoek which quickly spread towards Jonkershoek and Banhoek due to the strong south-eastern winds.
fire is actually good for nature, yes it takes 10 years+ for it to regrow but I heard its a good thing in the cycle 💁♂️... not sure why exactly will have to read up. Also trees absorb carbon in the atmosphere and when they die/rot or burn they release the same amount so it's a net zero added to the atmosphere.
@@harryh212 Sadly this is a bit of a myth. Human intervention and increased population density means fires take place far too frequently, and although some recovery takes place, with fires happening every two or three years (this one is way the worst this valley has ever experienced, and I've been here 30 years and know something of the history of the valley even previous to that, from the big trees etc that occur). Insects and small mammals, rodents etc are crucial for pollination, for example, and most of these do not stand a chance with such an intense and widespread burn. Some species of both plant and animal disappear permanently every time there is a massive burn like this. Ecosystems are a complex web, and although resilient, also sensitive.
A question to you: how do you fight against indigenous plantations and trees? Especially in high areas, inaccessible, even by foot. It is these that are the biggest cause of wildfire spreading fast and also destroying the original ecosystem. And no, this is not one of the worst fires you think it is. This fire never reached the houses at the bottom of the Brandwatch neighbourhood (which happened a few years back - that was considered the worst one we ever had, it was that close). I am also a resident of Stellenbosch and actually stays next to the Nooitgedacth nature reserve that forms part of the Jonkershoek reserve on the other side of the mountain.
Nope, all the natural areas as well, deep kloofs around the Panorama Trail and into Berg River Nek. The footage is mainly of the cycling trails which are in the pine forests, yes.
@@groenhoender Not at all. Hotpots continue to be managed for three days at least, and the possibility of licensed infra red camera drones to do this, or bambi bucket helis to dowse, is always there. Unauthorised drone operations are a real issue now.
@@hugovaughan Correct but Jonkershoek is already categorised as clear to explore by various mop-up and other teams. The fire teams are elsewhere, like Banhoek & Simonsrust (towards S/West), where they are observing smaller break-away fires. Some of us are working/assisting trail maintenance teams and we use drones to check routes ahead, which save us time to walk all the way.
@@groenhoender I thank you for the effort in fighting the fire. Looked nasty. I think the original commenter implied that aviation regulations should have been adhered to, if they were not.
@@springbok4015 Not really part of the firefighting stuff :-) Just helping out as volunteer with MTB trail maintenance/repairs. I do understand re the aviation regulations no argument on that.
@SpringBok401 I don't see anything wrong here? It seems to me that he was operating as a hobbyist, therefore there is no need to be flying under a ROC and to have an RPL. All he would have needed is landowner permission ( which I am sure he had ) otherwise he is following part 101 regulations for a hobbyist.
@@dimitrivaindirlis3866 That's a valid point. I'd say this is more to do with the principle. The video was uploaded by a business rather than an individual which may indicate (among other factors) that this was not a hobbyist. All in all, I'm not in a position to declare that this was in violation of local regulations. Rather just stating that those who operate RPAS need to be aware of regulations, risks, responsibilities (like licensing/ROC, clearance etc.). Even if the area has been razed by a natural disaster. The SACAA are very strict.
The pine forest haters must be jumping for joy, the want indigenous fynbos to cover everything. Countless pine forests have been lost or felled over the past decades, never to be restored: Constantia Nek, Tokai Forest, the slopes above Kirstenbosch, the slopes of Devil's Peak, Signal Hill, Table Mountain around the reservoirs to name but a few, all gone.
Unfortunately fire sometimes pines to come back even more dense and in an unpredictable manner... This will require invasive alien control. Fortunately the Jonkershoek manager Patrick Shone is clued up on these things.
What do you mean by 'let us rebuild' at the end? Are you talking about built infrastructure or natural veld or is it figurative?
Yes, to all of it.
Many of the trails need to be inspected and rebuild because it crosses small ravines, or have ramps, or man-made banked walls. There are also some who has view-point, man-made platforms / resting points, overlooking the whole Jonkershoek valley.
Aside from these, many of these burnt woods are actually still smouldering inside their cores and needs time to die out. Some areas also have slumbering fire underground (hollowed animal shelters) or tree roots still smouldering.
Damn! we have hot days way before this fire but not a single bush fire beforehand, I call this arson at the highest level.
There have been wild fires in Jonkershoek before and there will be again. I have not seen any reports indicating this to be a result of arson. Hot weather and gale force winds are not a good combination.
It wasn't arson, that was confirmed. It originally started at a camping resort near Franschhoek which quickly spread towards Jonkershoek and Banhoek due to the strong south-eastern winds.
How do you “rebuild” a severely damaged ecosystem?
fire is actually good for nature, yes it takes 10 years+ for it to regrow but I heard its a good thing in the cycle 💁♂️... not sure why exactly will have to read up. Also trees absorb carbon in the atmosphere and when they die/rot or burn they release the same amount so it's a net zero added to the atmosphere.
@@harryh212 Sadly this is a bit of a myth. Human intervention and increased population density means fires take place far too frequently, and although some recovery takes place, with fires happening every two or three years (this one is way the worst this valley has ever experienced, and I've been here 30 years and know something of the history of the valley even previous to that, from the big trees etc that occur). Insects and small mammals, rodents etc are crucial for pollination, for example, and most of these do not stand a chance with such an intense and widespread burn. Some species of both plant and animal disappear permanently every time there is a massive burn like this. Ecosystems are a complex web, and although resilient, also sensitive.
@@emmafj4159 oh this is very tragic!😢
A question to you: how do you fight against indigenous plantations and trees? Especially in high areas, inaccessible, even by foot.
It is these that are the biggest cause of wildfire spreading fast and also destroying the original ecosystem.
And no, this is not one of the worst fires you think it is. This fire never reached the houses at the bottom of the Brandwatch neighbourhood (which happened a few years back - that was considered the worst one we ever had, it was that close).
I am also a resident of Stellenbosch and actually stays next to the Nooitgedacth nature reserve that forms part of the Jonkershoek reserve on the other side of the mountain.
Looks like it was a lot of the timber harvesting forests that burnt?
Nope, all the natural areas as well, deep kloofs around the Panorama Trail and into Berg River Nek. The footage is mainly of the cycling trails which are in the pine forests, yes.
Devastating.
such devastation !!
I do hope your drone footage was done legally and did not pose a threat to any firefighting resources.
Huh? It was clearly taken after all firefighting activities.
@@groenhoender Not at all. Hotpots continue to be managed for three days at least, and the possibility of licensed infra red camera drones to do this, or bambi bucket helis to dowse, is always there. Unauthorised drone operations are a real issue now.
@@hugovaughan Correct but Jonkershoek is already categorised as clear to explore by various mop-up and other teams.
The fire teams are elsewhere, like Banhoek & Simonsrust (towards S/West), where they are observing smaller break-away fires.
Some of us are working/assisting trail maintenance teams and we use drones to check routes ahead, which save us time to walk all the way.
@@groenhoender I thank you for the effort in fighting the fire. Looked nasty. I think the original commenter implied that aviation regulations should have been adhered to, if they were not.
@@springbok4015 Not really part of the firefighting stuff :-) Just helping out as volunteer with MTB trail maintenance/repairs.
I do understand re the aviation regulations no argument on that.
I hope this flight was authorised and that you are certified by the SACAA to operate an RPAS.
@SpringBok401 I don't see anything wrong here? It seems to me that he was operating as a hobbyist, therefore there is no need to be flying under a ROC and to have an RPL. All he would have needed is landowner permission ( which I am sure he had ) otherwise he is following part 101 regulations for a hobbyist.
@@dimitrivaindirlis3866 That's a valid point. I'd say this is more to do with the principle. The video was uploaded by a business rather than an individual which may indicate (among other factors) that this was not a hobbyist.
All in all, I'm not in a position to declare that this was in violation of local regulations. Rather just stating that those who operate RPAS need to be aware of regulations, risks, responsibilities (like licensing/ROC, clearance etc.). Even if the area has been razed by a natural disaster. The SACAA are very strict.
The pine forest haters must be jumping for joy, the want indigenous fynbos to cover everything. Countless pine forests have been lost or felled over the past decades, never to be restored: Constantia Nek, Tokai Forest, the slopes above Kirstenbosch, the slopes of Devil's Peak, Signal Hill, Table Mountain around the reservoirs to name but a few, all gone.
Unfortunately fire sometimes pines to come back even more dense and in an unpredictable manner... This will require invasive alien control. Fortunately the Jonkershoek manager Patrick Shone is clued up on these things.