KNYSNA NEWS - The Lions District E410 (eastern South African region and Eswatini) chief officer for the environment, Johan Els, recently awarded the Lions Club of Knysna a certificate of appreciation in recognition of its long-term environmental rehabilitation work at the Pledge Square Nature Reserve.
Club president Shelley Foster presented the certificate to Lions member Michelle John and her team for their sustained efforts to rehabilitate and protect the reserve, with work taking place between 14 February and 29 November 2025.
Pledge Square Nature Reserve, a ten-hectare protected area in the heart of Knysna, is home to indigenous forest and fynbos, streams and ponds, and offers panoramic views of the Knysna Heads.
However, following years of drought, the devastating fires of 2017 and the rapid spread of alien vegetation, the reserve has increasingly been regarded as a fire risk within the town.
Alien invasive plants, particularly dense bramble growth, had flourished faster than indigenous vegetation, creating what conservationists describe as a "tinderbox" that could fuel future fires.
The Lions Club's rehabilitation work focused on clearing these invasive plants to reduce fire risk and allow indigenous species to recover. Despite challenging conditions, including humidity, heat and periods of rain, Lions Club members have continued the physically demanding work of clearing thick, thorny brambles along the reserve's extensive pathway network.
The reserve contains about 5km of walking paths, with accessible lower routes and steeper sections leading to an upper viewpoint with picnic tables and benches.
According to the team, bramble removal is particularly arduous as the plants are prolific, aggressive and difficult to eradicate. In addition to posing a serious fire hazard, the brambles choke existing indigenous plants and prevent new growth from establishing.
After several months of sustained effort, the team reports that nearly three-quarters of the affected plantation area has now been cleared - a significant milestone in the rehabilitation project.
The work has already begun restoring safer access to the reserve and improving conditions for natural regeneration.
The Lions Club has confirmed that rehabilitation work at Pledge Square will continue later this month, as part of its ongoing commitment to environmental protection and community well-being in Knysna.
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