by Nelisiwe Khusi
This week is National Invasive Species Week, from October 7 to October 14, 2024. This week serves as an important reminder of the ongoing threat posed by invasive species to our ecosystems and water sources.
We encourage everyone to learn more about the various alien plant species observed within the Gouritz Cluster Biosphere Reserve. You can explore this collection on iNaturalist through the following link: Gouritz Cluster Biosphere Reserve – Alien Plants.
Between 2018 and 2024, through the Gouritz Resilient Project, the GCBR has made significant progress in clearing invasive alien plants:
- 7783 hectares: The total area of invasive alien plants cleared during initial clearing
- 2209 hectares: The area cleared during follow-up operations to prevent these species from returning and to promote the recovery of indigenous vegetation.
All of this would not have been possible without our amazing clearing and restoration teams. We are incredibly grateful for their hard work in ensuring we save our water resource areas from invasive species! Together, we can protect our indigenous flora and ensure the health of our ecosystems.
