One the objectives of this initiative is to support work towards ensuring that the Hawequas Nature Reserve becomes a pristine native ecosystem i.e. full Ecological Restoration, for which the removal all invasive alien vegetation is essential.
These " Islands of Ecosystem Excellence" can become the inspiration for other initiatives.
Clearing the iconic Dutoit's Peak, and surrounding massif, of its pine infestation seems a good place to begin..
Not only is it a highly visible landmark, the relatively low infestation of pines is now starting to accelerate. At current levels removal will be sufficient to allow passive restoration, but there are areas approaching canopy closure, where the density and growth has increased to such an extent that resources such as water and sunlight are no longer available to native vegetation and biodiversity loss accelerates (Ecological restoration of ecosystems degraded by invasive alien plants in South African Fynbos: Is spontaneous succession a viable strategy? P. Holmes, et al.)

Access is difficult and will a require a professional team, trained in rope work at high. altitudes.At writing we have not yet secured a MOU with Cape Nature to proceed with work on their property, so for now these pines remin a vector for seeds across the catchment.