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About Zane Erasmus

Zane is passionate about environmental issues, particularly those related to the Veldfire Sector. With a trained background in Forestry and Nature Conservation he brings almost 50 years of experience, creativity, and a commitment to every project he undertakes. His journey has equipped him with a diverse skill set and a keen eye for detail, ensuring that all work meets the highest standards.

 

He has filled Forester roles in the Mpumalanga Province and worked in the Kwa-Zulu Natal Drakensberg Mountain Catchment Areas. Here he obtained valuable insights into the management of veldfires in pine and eucalyptus plantations as well as grasslands. Moving to the Western Cape Province he was responsible for Management Plans in the Cederberg, Riviersonderend and Langeberg Mountain Catchment Areas. He also worked extensively in the Cape Peninsula Protected Natural Area before it was proclaimed as the Table Mountain National Park.

 

Planning has been a critical part of his career and the importance of this was illustrated when after the Apollo Sea Sinking Crises in 1994, he drafted a Contingency Plan to prevent the mass mortality of penguins should such an event occur again. When the MV Treasure sank 4 years later the Plan was activated and Penguin mortalities fell to below 10%.

 

Since retiring from CapeNature in 2012 Zane has worked on a range of projects on a contractual basis and has completed the following projects. 

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  • Review and Recommendations for the FireWise Communities in the Goedverwacht and Sir Lowry's Pass Villages, for Kishugu NPC.

  • Kou Gamma Wildfire Investigation for landowner.

  • The Impact of Wildfires and IAP's in the Greater Simonsberg Conservancy, for WWF on behalf of SANLAM.

  • The Effectiveness of Two FireWise Communities in the Southern Cape Wildfire Events in June 2017, for Kishugu NPC.

  • An Investigation into the George Peak Fire on the 30th of September 2016, for CapeNature.

  • A Model for Integrating Fire and Invasive Alien Vegetation Management in the Fynbos Biome, for FynbosFire Project.

  • The feasibility of integrating fire and alien vegetation management activities in the Western Cape, for FynbosFire Project.

  • An Investigation into the Ystervarkfontein Veldfire on the 6th of October 2014 - on the De Grootte Fontein farms, for Landowner.

  • The June 15th Fire - Matatiele. A Case Study, for Kishugu NPC.

  • Westford Bridge Private Nature Reserve Management and Fire Management Plan, for landowners.

  • An Emergency Response Plan for the Groenkloof Retirement Estates, George

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 Working in the VeldFire Sector is challenging and requires a great deal of integrity and forthrightness to navigate the legal processes that one normally encounters. For this reason VeldFirePlan liaises closely with experts in many other fields to ensure that projects are completed within the highest standards of professionalism and integrity.

 

Please contact us at veldfireplan@outlook.com, or phone 082 414 6344, to discuss your needs.

 

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