In economic terms, fynbos cannot be compared to intensively cultivated agricultural land. Fynbos areas provide water in the form of rivers and dams, such as the Theewaterskloof Dam, the Wemmershoek Dam and Paul Sauer Dam, to name but a few.
The dams play an import role in the economic development of these regions. Fynbos areas provide products, such as tea, flowers for export and buchu. Above all, fynbos areas provide outdoor recreational opportunities and enormous amounts of research reserves.
Fynbos flowers stay fresh for a long time and make excellent export products, especially the protea. Dried flowers and restios for arrangements of dried flowers are also marketed and exported extensively. Both Rooibos tea and honey tea are fynbos products. Today Rooibos tea is cultivated and processed mainly in the Cedarberg area and exported. Buchu, rich in oil, is used on a large scale in medicines and as an oil base for perfume.
CONSERVATION
There are at present 12 nature reserves (51 099 ha) and four wilderness area (123 115 ha) that have been set aside in the fynbos areas. No development, such as powerlines, roads, etc., may be undertaken in these areas without the necessary approval. The largest reserve at present is the 24 569 ha Hottentots-Holland Reserve (in the Strand area).
Humans have been the greatest invaders of the fynbos landscape since they have been responsible for bringing in the plant invaders and for changing the landscape by starting towns, cities and road networks.
The human invasion began mainly after the arrival of the Dutch East India Company in the seventeenth century. The Europeans satisfied their needs for food and shelter by using alien plants and animals to replace indigenous species that had less value to them.
They introduced agriculture and grew foreign plants, such as vines, oaks and pine (for building), imported from Europe. This type of "Europeanised" landscape is now regarded as part of the Cape's cultural legacy.
The following are the most important plant invaders that were brought into the country Rooikrans (Acacia Cyclops), Long-leafed and Golden Wattle used in driftsand reclamation, Black Wattle the bark was used in the leather industry, Australian Blackwood used for furniture, and Port Jackson, to serve as sandbinder when a road was built.
All were imported from Australia. Today the Kleinmond/Betty's Bay area is badly infested by the Australian myrtle, which was imported as a hedge plant. The Cluster pine was brought in by the French Huguenots and has invaded all areas. Some species grew more rapidly here than they had done in their natural ranges and are extremely resilient to fire.
There is no doubt that the Cape fynbos although small and fragile, is a very valuable natural heritage. One would have to go far to find more beautiful landscapes. This legacy must be retained at all costs.
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