A group of Stellenbosch University (SU) students and staff recently planted ten indigenous trees in an effort to rehabilitate an old quarry at the foot of Stellenbosch Mountain.
This is according Christine Groenewald, SU facilities management environmental sustainability engagement coordinator.
The planting was organised in celebration of World Nature Conservation Day on 28 July and forms part of an ongoing effort by the SU environmental sustainability team to rehabilitate the quarry area, said Taariq Fakier, SU environmental sustainability supervisor.
A group of 20 Stellenbosch University (SU) student and staff volunteers recently planted ten indigenous trees in an effort to rehabilitate an old quarry located close to Coetzenburg, according to Christine Groenewald, SU facilities management environmental sustainability engagement coordinator. The quarry had previously been used as a dumping site for SU construction projects, said Groenewald. PHOTO: Lienke Norval
Student and community engagement
The SU facilities management environmental sustainability team was joined by 20 SU staff and student volunteers who assisted in the planting, according to Groenewald.
SU community members were able to sign up to attend the planting via an Instagram post published by the environmental sustainability team on 18 July.
“We could get contractors to do all this work and never touch a tree ourselves, but we decided it is something [on which] we can collaborate with staff and students,” said Groenewald. “They can physically plant the trees themselves and feel that they have a connection with what’s happening on campus.”
A group of 20 Stellenbosch University (SU) student and staff volunteers joined the SU facilities management environmental sustainability team in planting ten indigenous trees in celebration of World Nature Conservation Day on 28 July, according to Christine Groenewald, SU facilities management environmental sustainability engagement coordinator. The team maintains the importance of collaborating with SU students and staff in their projects, said Groenewald. PHOTO: Lienke Norval
The old quarry is close to popular Coetzenburg hiking trails and could be used as a recreational area once rehabilitation has progressed, according to Fakier.
“The idea is for [the area] to act as a potential breakaway site for mountain users and hikers,” said Fakier. “Because it’s a nice site – big enough to put down some benches and some bins.”
Rehabilitation of locally indigenous vegetation
“It used to be an old quarry that was basically used as a building dumping site,” said Groenewald. “We are slowly but surely removing all the building rubble and replacing it with trees.”
“Eventually, the trees will create an ecosystem where other vegetation can flourish and obviously bring back birds and insects and other animals,” she said.
Rubble from previous construction projects was unearthed in the process of planting ten indigenous trees in an old quarry at the base of Stellenbosch Mountain on 28 July, according to Christine Groenewald, SU facilities management environmental sustainability engagement coordinator. PHOTO: Lienke Norval
Dr Brian du Preez, a local botanist, warned that planting species that are not locally indigenous could lead to future invasion, which will be to the detriment of local species.
“Tree planting does not equal restoration,” said Du Preez, in correspondence with SMF News. “For restoration, you have to plant species that would have occurred in that immediate area pre-disturbance.”
According to Groenewald, the species of trees planted include the White Stinkwood, Karee, Assegai, Forest Elder, and White Milkwood, which were chosen based on an approved plant list.
“Some species might not be endemic to this region, but still indigenous to the broader area, and shown to adapt well to the location,” said Groenewald, in correspondence with SMF News.