production guidelines
m Conservation of Farmland in KwaZulu-Natal
Co-ordinated Extension KwaZulu-Natal Farmland Conservation 1.4 1997
REGULATIONS CONTROLLING THE BURNING OF VELD AND CROP RESIDUE IN KWAZULU-NATAL
W B Russell and K G Camp
Department of Agriculture KwaZulu-Natal
General Prohibitions on the Lighting of Fires
Notification of the Clearing of Firebelts
Burning of Veld for Mangement Purposes
Burning Out Areas of High Risk
Burning in the Dry Bushveld Zone
Out-of-Season Burning by the Natal Parks Board
INTRODUCTION
The burning of veld for management purposes, and the burning of crop residue for simplifying both harvesting e.g. sugarcane) and land preparation (e.g. maize) is regulated by two different Acts of Parliament, viz:
- the Forest Act (No. 122 of 1984) in respect of the burning of firebelts and crop residue as a method of wild-fire control;
- the Conservation of Agricultural Resources Act (No. 43 of 1983) in respect of the burning out of whole grazing camps as part of a veld management strategy.
Predetermined dates for both types of burning practices have been set, and any user of agricultural land should be fully aware of his responsibilities before setting alight any combustible material on his farm. It must be pointed out that these regulations have been based on the findings of, and the experience gained by, grassland scientists over many years.
It should be noted that the veld burning regulations in terms the Conservation of Agricultural Resources Act No. 43/1983 are changed from time to time, and this makes it necessary for all farmers to acquaint themselves with the prevailing rules. Rules presently in force are set out in Table below.
GENERAL PROHIBITIONS ON THE LIGHTING OF FIRES
These are regulated by the Forest Act, and are summarized as follows :
- In the magisterial districts of Alfred, Bergville, Camperdown, Estcourt, Ixopo, Lions River, Lower Tugela, Mooi River, Mpendle, New Hanover, Pietermaritzburg, Polela, Richmond, Umvoti and Underberg, and during the period stretching from 1 May to 30 November no person shall, from 18:00 on Fridays to 06:00 on Mondays, make a fire in the open air or, if such a fire has been made, allow it to continue to burn or add fuel thereto, other than:-
- fires made within a demarcated picnic or camping area or holiday resort, but only at places within such a demarcated area as have been specifically prepared and maintained for that purpose;
- fires for the preparation of food on residential stands which have been adequately protected by fire breaks; and
- fires to facilitate the harvesting of sugar cane, which is to be allowed from 18:00 on Fridays to 08:00 on Saturdays and from 17:00 on Sundays to 06:00 on Mondays.
- In the areas mentioned and during the period stretching from 1 June to 31 October, no person shall destroy any ground cover, including any plantation slash or harvest residue, by burning, other than:-
- maize harvest residue, which may be destroyed by burning from 14:00 to 24:00 daily, except for the period from 18:00 on Fridays to 15:00 on Mondays.
This regulation is subject to Regulation 12, promulgated in terms of the Conservation of Agricultural Resources Act, (Act No. 43 of 1983).
In the areas mentioned and during the period stretching from 1 August to 30 September, the clearing or maintenance of fire belts by burning, is prohibited.
External fire belts, prepared before 1 August, are to be at least nine metres wide and are to be kept clear of combustible material during the dry season.
In the areas mentioned and during the period stretching from 1 July to 31 October, the execution of block burns, including the burning is defined as the burning of an area of grassland, which has been adequately protected by an external firebelt with a minimum width of nine metres.
All block burning practices are to be subject to Regulation 12, promulgated in terms of the Conservation of Agricultural Resources Act, (Act No. 43 of 1983).
It is extremely important to note that the dates mentioned may be altered from year to year, depending upon climatic conditions. The above-mentioned restrictions were in force as at 1 May 1997.
The Regional Director, Department of Water Affairs and Forestry, at Pietermaritzburg or Eshowe, will be able to advise on current prohibitions.
NOTIFICATION OF THE CLEARING OF FIREBELTS
In terms of the Forest Act:
- within a Fire Control Area, every land user must enter into a written agreement with each of his neighbours as to the width, method of clearing, sharing of cost, etc., of their mutual boundary firebelts;
- outside of a Fire Control Area, a land user must notify his neighbour in writing, and the local fire warden, of his intention to clear a firebelt by burning and when he intends burning his veld.
For further particulars regarding Fire Control Areas, see Appendix 1.
The notes given are based on a publication by the Directorate of Forestry of the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry.
BURNING OF VELD FOR MANAGEMENT PURPOSES
In terms of Regulation 12 of the Conservation of Agricultural Resources Act, no land user may:
- burn any veld on his farm unit,
- utilize as grazing any veld that has been burned, without a permit from the Executive Officer appointed in terms of Act 43/1983 to do so. This latter restriction applies equally whether the veld was burned on purpose or as a result of an accidental run-away fire.
The permit will only be granted
- if veld burning is an accepted management practice for the veld type concerned,
- if exceptional circumstances prevailing on the farm warrant the burn,
- subject to the provisions of the Forest Act.
Veld burning is recognized as a necessary veld management tool in most veld types in KwaZulu-Natal, and is to be practised with judicious care for the maintenance of a vigorous sward. Procedures have been put into operation in order to obviate regular requests from land users for permission to burn their camps.
- The Province of KwaZulu-Natal has been divided into six veld burning control zones, as indicated in Figure 1 to V and in Table 1.
- Set periods and conditions based on long-term research, have been determined for the burning of veld and for the grazing of burnt veld in all of the veld burning zones except for the Dry Bushveld, where prior permission must be obtained whenever veld needs to be burned.
- In terms of a proclamation in the Government Gazette No. 14058, land users are granted permission to carry out burning practices within the burning periods indicated in column 2 of Table 1, for the specific veld burning zone indicated in column 1 of Table 1. It is each land user's own responsibility to make sure of the veld burning zone in which the farm on which he plans to burn is situated, and to ensure that he adheres strictly to the periods in which veld may be burnt in that zone.
- Burning of veld and crop residue can be carried out in accordance with the provisions in Table 1 anywhere in the Province providing that
- the land owner intending to burn contacts the local Fire Control Committee or Fire Protection Association and his neighbours
- the landowner has firebelts, cleared of all inflammable material and at least 9 metres in width, round the area he intends burning and along all the boundaries of his property.
- Any land user who is forced to deviate from the officially recognised dates for burning, as well as land users in the Bushveld burning zone, must submit an application in writing at least 30 days prior to the intended date of burning to the local Extension Officer of the Department of Agriculture furnishing him with the reasons for the need to burn (in thecase of the Bushveld) or for the need to deviate from the specific dates (in the case of all the other veld burning zones). All farmers must comply with the provisions of the Forest Act (Act No. 122 of 1984), irrespective of whether special permission has been received to burn veld outside the periods stipulated in Table 2 or not. This implies that land users must still take the necessary precautionary measures before burning, and adhere to the burning prescriptions and procedures as stated in this Act. It also implies that the land user must inform the local fire control committee (where applicable) of the intended date of burning, and that he must comply with the prescriptions of such fire control committee.
Figure 1. Proposed Veld Burning Areas of KwaZulu-Natal
Figure 2. Proposed Veld Burning Areas of North East Region, KwaZulu-Natal
Figure 3. Proposed Veld Burning Areas of North West Region, KwaZulu-Natal
Figure 4. Proposed Veld Burning Areas of South East Region, KwaZulu-Natal
Figure 5. Proposed Veld Burning Areas of South West Region, KwaZulu-Natal
Table 1. Conditions, per veld burning zone, under which land users may burn veld
Veld burning zone
Burning period
Recommendations
Warm Moist Grassveld:
These are areas of high rainfall (712 mm plus), in warm areas (16.1o C to 21.9o C)of mixed and sourveld. They are Bioresource Groups: Moist and Dry Coast, Moist and Dry Ngongoni Veld and Moist Zululand Thornveld.1 July to 15 September
Veld should be burnt as early as possible within the specified period, but preferably after a rain.
Grazing of burnt veld should only commence once the grass leaves have attained a minimum length of 50 mm.
Intermediate Moist Grassveld:
These are areas of relatively high rainfall (738 mm plus), and temperatures of 15.4o C, on mixed and sourveld. It comprises Bioresource Groups: Moist and Dry Midlands Mistbelt, Northern Mistbelt and Moist Lowland Tall Grassveld.15 July to 30 September
Veld should be burnt as early as possible within the specific period, but preferably after a rain.
Grazing of burnt veld should only commence once the grass leaves have attained a minimum length of 50 mm.
Cool Moist Grassveld:
These areas have mean annual temperatures varying from 7.5o C to 18.9o C and rainfall from 712 mm to 1 390 mm and include the: Moist and Dry Highland Sourveld, Montane Veld, Moist Transitional Tall Grassveld and Moist Tall Grassveld.1 August to 30 September
(i) Veld should be burnt as early as possible within the specific period, but preferably after a rain.
(ii) Grazing of burnt veld should only commence once the grass leaves have attained a minimum length of 50 mm.
Intermediate Dry Grassveld:
The mean annual rainfall of this area varies from 706 mm to 838 mm with mean annual temperatures varying from 17.2o C to 20.8o C. Winter rains are more frequent than in the Dry Tall Grassveld and temperatures higher so early growth is possible. It includes Bioresource Groups Dry Lowland Tall Grassveld and Coast Hinterland Thornveld.15 July to 30 September
(i) Veld should be burnt as early as possible within the specific period, but it is strongly recommended to burn after rain.
(ii) Grazing of burnt veld should only commence once the grass leaves have attained a minimum length of 100 mm.
Dry Tall Grassveld:
This area has a mean annual rainfall varying from 645 mm to 788 mm and temperatures from 14.7o C to 21,6o C. It includes the: Dry tall Grassveld, Sour Sandveld, Mixed Thornveld and Dry Zululand Thornveld.15 August to 31 October
(i) From 15 August to 31 October veld should only be burnt within a period of 5 days after at least 15 mm of rain has fallen within 24 hours.
(ii) Grazing of burnt veld should only commence once the grass leaves have attained a minimum length of 100 mm.
Bushveld:
This area has a mean annual rainfall varying from 587 mm to 830 mm and temperatures of 17.1o C to 22.2o C and includes: Valley Bushveld, Lowveld and Sandy Bushveld.An application must be lodged in the prescribed manner every time the land user wishes to burn a grazing camp. Grazing should only commence once the grass leaves have attained a minimum length of 100 mm. Note:
To cater for adverse weather conditions, a relatively late date after which veld may not be burnt has been stipulated for each zone. Land users are, however, urged to complete burning operations as early as possible within the periods laid down, since serious damage is done to Themeda triandra (red grass) and other climax grasses if burnt in an advanced stage of growth. It is recommended that no grazing land should be burned more frequently than once in three years. It is also recommended that no veld should be burned before at least 15 mm of rain has fallen within 24 hours, and that the burning, if at all possible, should be done within five days of that rainfall event. As will be evident from Table 1, however, this is no longer a prerequisite except in the case of the Dry Tall Grassveld.
BURNING OUT AREAS OF HIGH RISK
With the extensive afforestation which has taken place in KwaZulu-Natal, the risk of wild fires causing large-scale damage to timber plantations has raised the spectre of crippling claims against grassland farmers who operate adjacent to large timber plantations. The Executive Officer appointed to administer Act 43/1983, and who is the issuing authority for permits, has indicated that he will treat sympathetically applications for early burns of whole camps when the objective is the creation of strategic, community-type firebelts for the protection of large areas of plantations, or to eliminate the fire hazard from pockets of veld within, or adjacent to, timber areas. All of the applications comprising a proposed strategic burn must be lodged simultaneously, together with a map showing the extent of the proposed firebelt, and the high-risk area to be burned. Permission granted in these cases will be subject to the area concerned being withdrawn from grazing until a date which will be specified in the permit.
As the burning of strategic firebreaks will be a community effort, it is suggested that the Farmers' Association or the Fire Control Committee concerned should plan such a submission in consultation with the local Extension Office and the Conservation Committee.
BURNING IN THE DRY BUSHVELD ZONE
Under normal circumstances, the only valid reason for burning veld in the Bushveld Zone should be for the control of either alien plant invaders or encroaching bush. It follows that in this Zone, the only condition under which permission will normally be granted for burning on private farmland is when there is a need to control plant invasion and a reasonable fuel load is present. If there is insufficient grass to cause a fire hot enough to do the job, permission in all probability will not be granted.
OUT-OF-SEASON BURNING BY THE NATAL PARKS BOARD
There are often queries from the farming community regarding out-of-season burning of large tracts of veld by the Natal Parks Board, and this matter is discussed here in order that the public at large may be better informed.
The Natal Parks Board is not in the business of farming, but rather in maintaining a wide diversity of different habitats for conservation and scientific investigative purposes, and for aesthetic and recreational purposes. It burns at different times of the year in order to maintain grassland in good health, to control bush encroachment, or to create or extend important plant communities. For example, proteas in the Drakensberg area need a cool fire in order to stimulate their growth and reproduction. The Natal Parks Board therefore purposely burns such areas when the vegetation is still fairly green, in order to ensure the continued existence of the protea communities.
The burning practices carried out by the Natal Parks Board are not necessarily the best management practices for agricultural production, and could in fact even be detrimental, not only in the farming context where stocking rates are much higher, but also in game reserves where animals are not easily controlled. Staff of the Natal Parks Board are aware of this, and burn outside the legal periods only when it is deemed really necessary. They are required to apply for permission to burn, just like any other user of agricultural land, and are granted a permit only after in situ inspections with grassland management scientists from the Department of Agriculture have indicated that no serious damage to the environment will be caused by the burn.
The Veld Burning Areas were compiled from field work by K G T Camp.
Digitizing and map preparation by R G Bennett, Department of Agriculture, KwaZulu-Natal.
REFERENCES
Veld Burning Control Measures in Natal Region, 1985. Department of Agriculture and Water Supply.
Notice No. 883, Government Gazette No. 8673, 27th April 1983: Conservation of Agricultural Resources Act No. 43/1983.
Notice No. R1048, Government Gazette No. 9238, 25th May 1984: Conservation of Agricultural Resources Act No.43/1983.: Regulations.
Notice No. 1783, Government Gazette No. 9380, 29th August 1984: Forest Act No. 122/1984.
Tainton, N.M. 1981. Veld and Pasture Management in South Africa. Shuter and Shooter (Pty) Ltd.
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