Summary of Forest Act
Fire forms an important part of management in the sourveld regions and should be done in accordance with legislation
While it is plain that the Forest Act provides adequate provision for the control of burning to create fire belts and the control of wildfire, there exists some practical problems concerning the implementation of treatment burns (as opposed to firebreaks) which on farmlands may be started after 1 August.
The Department of Forestry is publicising the legal obligation of landowners and others not to start fires over which they may lose control. There is no direct legal obligation on landowners to inform their neighbours that they intend to implement treatment burns, but persons who start fires are legally obliged to ensure that the fire does not escape into their neighbour’s property. It is in the interests of every landowner, therefore, to warn his neighbours well in advance that he intends to implement such practices.
It will be recalled from point (k) above in the previous Table, that in any action either under the Forest Act or at common law, concerning negligence in respect of veld or forest fires (vide Section 23 of the Forest Act as amended), negligence shall be presumed. The onus therefore rests on the accused to prove that it was not through his negligence that the fire spread or caused damage or injury.
Persons lighting fires must therefore take adequate precautions before so doing. The Department of Forestry feels that such precautions are not always observed by owners or persons in charge of land, and has therefore initiated a campaign to draw the attention of landowners and members of the public to the relevant provisions of the Forest Act.
DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY REQUESTS YOUR HELP TO CONTROL WILDFIRES.
Conclusion of Removing Excess Herbage
Fire is neither ‘good’ nor ‘bad’. It is a useful tool in increasing the production obtained from grazed or browsed vegetation and in improving the aesthetic value of landscapes. When misused it contributes significantly to the deterioration of natural resources. Fire should not be used unless it forms part of a planned operation in a system where the objectives and consequences of burning are known. Consideration must also be given to alternative methods of removing surplus herbage such as mowing and grazing.
Most of these methods are to be employed in the sourveld regions to remove the excess herbage from the veld. This is because this herbage becomes moribund as it matures and even though vegetation may look plentiful on the veld, it is unpalatable and livestock cannot consume it. Fire is therefore extremely important on a much more frequent basis than in the sweetveld regions.
In the sweetveld regions, vegetation is much more acceptable to livestock during the dry season and therefore removal of the vegetation means loss of valuable feed. It is important to manage the farm according to the general guidelines of the type of vegetation, climate and season in which you are.