Kariega Field Notes: Habitat Conservation

A big job for the volunteers at game reserves is habitat conservation, mostly clearing the reserve of invasives and planting native species. Specifically, while I was at Kariega we:




cleared alien invasive such as the black wattle

using machetes and clippers and handsaws ...

clearing alien pine trees too!

poisoning native rhus bushes. Although they are native, they are not eaten by any of the game on the reserve and are pushing out edible natives,

Additionally we did some bush clearing on the roads 


















and border patrols to check the boundary fences for holes, obstructions, electrical failures and other possible security breaches.
















We hiked about 3 miles uphill to reach this border, but it felt good to get out for some exercise.