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may miss out on a lot of information and the gems that you would otherwise be able to enjoy there .”
Curtis-Scott continues : “ Despite the horrendous fragmented state , renosterveld has an incredible diversity of plants , insects , birds , mammals and reptiles still hanging in there .” With the agreement of farmers , the ORCT starts by undertaking field surveys , recording all the plants and animals found . Then , farmers are given a report with colourful photographs showing the rare and special species detected .
Figure 3 : Horsefly on Tritonia deusta © Odette Curtis-Scott
“ This is the first step in opening their eyes to what is actually in their veld and shows that it is not just a grey , drab shrubland , but there is actually more to it and an incredible amount of diversity ,” says Curtis-Scott .
Over time , the ORCT further builds relationships with farmers and , when the farmers seem open to it , they discuss the possibility of committing to a “ voluntary conservation servitude with titledeed restrictions in perpetuity , which makes sure that the veld is safe for future generations ”.
So far , nearly 3,000ha have been signed up — all on account of getting farmers to care about unique and special stretches of land .
Figure 4 : Aristea biflora © Odette Curtis-Scott
The ORCT assists landowners with alien vegetation clearing , ecological burning at the correct time , putting up fences to control livestock access , watercourse management and erosion control .
Curtis-Scott and five co-authors have recently published Field Guide to the Renosterveld of the Overberg , which she says “ is a wonderful tool to show that it is not just bossieveld , uitvalgrond or renosterbos veld , but there is actually a whole lot more to it ”. The book details more than 980 plant species , 140 creatures — from invertebrates to mammals , management guidelines , ecological information , conservation issues , red listing and the names of some of the farming champions .
Curtis-Scott quotes John Sawhill saying , “ A society is not only defined by what it creates but what it refuses to destroy .”
Figure 5 : Nemesia barbata © Odette Curtis-Scott
“ The incredible diversity of gems is mostly only apparent at burnt sites the first or second spring after fires , when
Figure 6 : Moraea atropunctata © Odette Curtis-Scott
renosterveld is in its full glory , and this doesn ’ t happen very often . And if you don ’ t get down on your hands and knees and see what ’ s going on in a system you
Dr Dian Spear is a freelance science editor and writer focusing on wild nature and sustainability . She has a PhD in zoology from Stellenbosch University and has published scientific papers in the fields of biodiversity conservation and adaptation to climate change .
Grassroots Vol 20 No 4 December 2020 28