Research
At the onset of the Flower Valley initiative in 1999, very little information existed on species vulnerability to harvesting or the long term impacts of harvesting at different levels on different groups of fynbos. Information on the sustainability of wild harvesting in the Cape Floristic Region was restricted to biological studies of a handful of species. Furthermore one of the most difficult aspects of measuring the sustainability of harvests from fynbos vegetation was the lack of baseline data regarding standing stocks.
As a result, research into sustainability was essential. The basis of the trusts research programme was developed by Sean Privett while drawing up the sustainable harvesting component of the Agulhas Biodiversity Initiative. The research programme targeted research into the following key areas:
Vulnerability index
The high number of species harvested on the Agulhas Plain made it impossible to undertake species-specific studies on the impacts of harvesting on all species. Instead, a method was developed for determining the vulnerability of a species to harvesting on the basis of their distribution (abundance and range) and biological characteristics. This vulnerability index, the first of its kind in the fynbos, was developed by a team of leading fynbos ecologists and managers and completed in 2005 (Privett et al. 2005).
Resource base assessment
Information on the available resource on a property or landscape is important when planning or evaluating levels that can be sustainably harvested. A team of ecologists led by Doug Euston Brown developed a cost-effective methodology for calculating the available fynbos resource on a property (Bailey et al. 2007). This methodology was subsequently tested and fine tuned and has thus far been utilised to calculate available fynbos stocks at various of the supply farms (Waterford, Hangnes, Witvoetskloof and Flower Valley).
Impact of harvesting on different fynbos groups
The baseline scientific data for developing guidelines for harvesting levels as part of the Code of Practice (COP) for different plant guilds in the fynbos was inadequate. It was decided at the onset to base the COP guidelines on the limited data available from existing scientific papers and for research to be initiated to fill in the gaps. Three to five year studies on the impacts of harvesting on myrmecochorous (species with ant-dispersed seeds), serotinous (species with canopy-stored seeds), obligate resprouters, and species with soil-stored seed banks were initiated in 2005.
Impacts of harvesting on co-occurring species
The effects of lowering the recruitment potential of desired species by harvesting are poorly understood. The aim of this study is to investigate the impact of sustainable harvesting on different groups of fynbos species including myrmecochorous Proteaceae, post-fire ephemerals, serotinous species and resprouters. Specifically the study will explore the effects of differential flower harvesting intensities on seed output, inter-species competition and recruitment potential. This research, which is to be undertaken by a PhD student from the University of Stellenbosch during 2009 and 2011 will explore whether thresholds exist below which harvested species may lose their competitive edge and other impacts of competition between harvested and non-harvested species (Singh et al. 2009).
Fynbos restoration
Large areas of fynbos have been lost in the past to ploughing and invasion by alien vegetation. Much of this area now has little commercial value and this study aimed to explore cost-effective and replicable methods for restoring these sites to productive fynbos habitats with a focus on increasing biodiversity and commercial value. Dr Mirijam Gaertner of the Centre for Invasive Biology at the University of Stellenbosch undertook this work as a post-doctoral study. Her preliminary results have been written up for publication and will be converted into a landowners' handbook for restoration. This study is unique in that it does not focus only on restoration from a purely ecological perspective but also looks at introducing appropriate commercially sought after fynbos plants in the restoration process. This will increase the commercial value of these impacted areas and reduce the impact on wild stocks.
Impacts of broadcast sowing of commercially valuable species into natural fynbos habitats
Subsequent to the development of the original ABI sustainable harvesting proposals, it became clear that a major issue for inclusion in the COP was that of semi-natural fynbos areas into which landowners had introduced commercial species. While the COP is clear on the issue of not allowing the ploughing of new lands for cultivation, this ‘grey’ area around species introductions into natural veld needed more attention.
As a result, the trust in partnership with the Department of Conservation Ecology, Stellenbosch University offered an honours bursary for a student to explore the impacts of broadcast sowing of commercial species on the ecology of natural vegetation in the wild flower harvesting industry. This one-year honours study was completed in 2007 and submitted for publication (Joubert et al. in press).
As a follow up to this study, Martina Treurnicht, an MSc student from Stellenbosch University is undertaking a more detailed study exploring the scale and methods implemented for veld augmentation on the Agulhas Plain. She will primarily use a questionnaire survey aimed at gathering information related to farming practices common on the Agulhas Plain and re-examine their impacts on biodiversity at more sites, and at different successional stages.
Carbon stocks study
A carbon stocks study funded through a grant from the Shell Foundation on the Agulhas Plain was undertaken during 2008. The project is being carried out under the auspices of the Trust as part of ABI. Dr Anthony Mills was the lead researcher, assisted in the field by Roger Bailey and FVCT research assistant Grant Forbes. The study explored the case for sequestering CO2 or halting the release of CO2 through the restoration of degraded land (i.e. agricultural land or land invaded by alien vegetation), and developing a carbon case for the preservation/restoration of natural fynbos. Preliminary results of the study need to be verified through a follow-up study planned for 2009. The results to date show that soil and above-ground carbon do vary across fynbos types. Importantly, intact fynbos tends to have higher above-ground and root carbon than vineyards and pastures (Mills et al. 2008). The second phase of the study will assess the effects on soil carbon stocks when fynbos is converted to vineyards or pasture.
Measuring value of natural capital
Helanya Vlok, a MSc student from the Department of Economics at Stellenbosch University, is undertaking a natural capital study based on Flower Valley. Her project is focusing on whether the socio-economic value of fynbos restoration for the flower and related industries outweighs its costs. The study will focus on Flower Valley farm and aims to develop a methodology that could be scaled up for the wider industry. It will be using Cost Benefit Analysis to evaluate the overall economic impact of the restoration of natural capital (cost benefits of alien clearing, restoration, flower industry, water supply, carbon sequestration, market value of land etc).