PLAISIR DE MERLE AWARDED BWI STATUS

In 2005 Plaisir de Merle, the historic wine farm in Simondium, was one of the first farms to have been awarded membership of the Biodiversity and Wine Initiative (BWI), in recognition of its efforts to re-establish the natural habitat on large areas of the 985 ha farm of which almost 400 hectares are planted to vines.

The BWI is a pioneering partnership between the local wine industry and the conservation sector, aimed at minimising any further loss to the highly threatened Cape Floral Kingdom (CFK), the smallest but also the richest plant kingdom on earth. The wine industry can play a vital role in conservation efforts as some 90 percent of local wine production occurs within the CFK.

To become a member of the BWI, producers must start by implementing the BWI’s biodiversity guidelines, commit to not developing vineyards on a portion of natural vegetation on their farms and secure an IPW certificate for their farm and cellars.

Efforts to rehabilitate fynbos at Plaisir de Merle were begun 20 years ago through the ongoing removal of invasive alien vegetation, mainly hakea. Five years ago, this programme was extended to also include other aliens such as black wattle and pine trees. Much has already been spent on rehabilitating the land, funded from the income derived from a large commercial pine plantation on the farm.

Where the trees have been harvested, fynbos has been re-established with many wild olive trees also making their appearance. Other indigenous plants and trees are being planted, such as Cape Yellowwood, Henkel yellowwood, Acacia, Fever Trees, red and white alders, etc.

The final section of the former forest will then be rehabilitated to fynbos.
In other sections where the trees have been removed from a large area of the farm indigenous buchu, known for its natural oils and its medicinal uses, have been planted.

The person driving this project is farm manager and viticulturist, Freddie le Roux

The farm, stretching from the Simonsberg escarpment virtually to the Berg River down in the valley, supports a rich biodiversity of animal and plant life while the two rivers flowing through the land also harbour indigenous fish species.

The fynbos high up on the Simonsberg abounds in protea species while indigenous trees and thicket cover the ravines, providing a habitat for the extensive wildlife that ranges from various buck and porcupines to leopards and lynxes. Waterfowl are plentiful as are guinea fowl and pheasants with fish eagles and black eagles frequently visiting.

A large variety of fauna can be found moving freely on the farm, including leopard, lynx, jackal, mongoose, buck, birds such as fish eagles and falcons guinea fowl, pheasants as well as reptiles such as snakes and lizards that take advantage of the river, valley or mountainous terrain which form natural corridors.