Publication: TygerburgerBrackenfell - Main, Page: 3 (9/30/2015 12:00:00 AM) AVE: R12616.60 Circ: 17056 Part: 1 of 1 Headline:Field to be rehabilitated Sub-Headline: TEXT: The Green Scorpions are investigating severe damage to renosterveld on the farm Clara Anna Fontein outside Dur- banville. The renosterveld, one of the world`s most endangered plant species, is part of the re- nosterveld conservancy in the Durbanville valley, as well as the biodiversity network of the City of Cape Town. The owner of the land may have to reha- bilitate the field after about 300 m2 of criti- cally endangered vegetation had been cleared with a bulldozer along the fence line of the site. The vegetation was bulldozed to clear the area for the establishment of a fire break and erect a new fence, said Rudolf van Ja- arsveldt, head of communication for the di- rectorate Strategic and Operational Sup- port of Western Cape Government Environ- mental Affairs and Development Planning. A complaint was lodged on 19 August and a site inspection was conducted on 28 Au- gust, he said. TygerBurger received information that the vegetation is rare renosterveld and in- cludes among others a Ghwarriebos (Eu- clea undulata). Van J aarsveldt said: `It appeared to be in- digenous vegetation, but confirmation from a botanist must still be obtained to confirm the vegetation type.` Environmental Management Inspectors (EMIs), commonly called Green Scorpions, are in the process of issuing a pre-compli- ance notice, which will provide the farm owner with an opportunity to make written representations to the department as to why a compliance notice should not be is- sued. `The owner will also be asked to cease the activity, and, if a compliance notice is is- sued, rehabilitate the site to its original con- dition,` Van Jaarsveldt said. The matter is still under investigation and no fines were issued. `However, the alleged offender may apply in terms of section 24G of the National Envi- ronmental Management Act (Nema) should he/she would like to continue the activity. This will mean that the alleged offender ad- mits guilt and an administrative fine will then be imposed by the department. `Such application, however, does not pre- vent the department from issuing a compli- ance notice should circumstances so re- quire,` he explained. `It is standard procedure to do follow-up inspections and to ensure that the alleged offender follows the department`s instruc- tions,` he said. When TygerBurger phoned a foreman on the farm, he said they are being guided about this. According to him they were not aware that the vegetation they were clear- ing was renosterveld. He did not want to be quoted. Justin Basson, local DA councillor and previous son-in-law of the farm owner, Boetie Louw, said to TygerBurger he report- ed the damage to the Green Scorpions. Bas- son was involved with the founding of the establishment of the renosterveld conserv- ancy. `It cannot be ignorance. The farmer knows very well about environmental im- pact assessments and the sensitivity of the vegetation. They should have been custodi- ans of this section of renosterveld. `There are laws against this, and people need to see that the Green Scorpions have teeth. I cannot close my eyes to it,` he said. `If they want to clear the area, why not take out the alien Port Jackson?` he asked.