Invasive pines fueled 2017 fires in Knysna, South Africa
Thursday, September 6, 2018 - 18:50
in Biology & Nature
The replacement of natural fynbos vegetation with pine plantations in the southern Cape in South Africa, and the subsequent invasion of surrounding land by invasive pine trees, significantly increased the severity of the 2017 Knysna wildfires. Over four days in June 2017, the Knysna fires burnt 15000 hectares, claiming the lives of seven people and destroying more than 5000 hectares of commercial pine plantations and over 800 buildings.