In a decisive step to heal one of Cape Town’s most iconic green spaces, South African National Parks (SANParks) has launched a large-scale planting of indigenous trees in Newlands Forest to restore damage caused by illegal bark stripping.
Over 50 indigenous trees, including Cape Beech, Cape Holly, Bladdernut, and Wild Almond, are being planted along the Woodcutters Trail as part of Table Mountain National Park’s (TMNP) broader ecological rehabilitation programme.
According to SANParks, the planting initiative marks the first phase of a long-term project, with a second phase scheduled for next year.
Spokesperson JP Louw said: “Rehabilitation has become essential due to the effects of illegal and unsustainable bark stripping.
“Bark stripping in the area, often linked to the harvesting of medicinal plant material, has severely impacted mature, seed-producing trees.”
In response, SANParks launched an integrated approach in 2023 to address the problem.
This includes law enforcement interventions, intelligence gathering, and the implementation of preventative measures such as painting high-risk trees with grey water-based PVA paint to deter stripping.
The park has also stepped up patrols and rolled out educational campaigns, including community workshops and dialogues with traditional healers to promote sustainable alternatives.
“The strategy includes intelligence gathering, law enforcement actions, and proactive solutions such as painting mature trees, seed collection, and planting of trees in affected areas, and working with traditional healers to create awareness and find sustainable solutions.
“Partners in these initiatives include the SANParks Honorary Rangers, the Newlands Forest Conservation Group, and the Sugarbird Project.”
These volunteer and research groups have worked alongside the TMNP team to collect seeds, monitor stripped areas, and raise public awareness.
“In July 2024, the SANParks conservation team, along with the Cape Research Centre (CRC) and the Biodiversity Special Project (BSP) team, initiated a seedling programme with funding from the French Government and the Agence Française de Développement (AFD). Seeds were carefully collected and grown to the seedling and sapling stage.
“The City of Cape Town Westlake Conservation Centre generously provided space and horticultural support at their facility for seed germination, resulting in positive outcomes.
“TMNP will be planting over 50 indigenous trees in Newlands Forest, in collaboration with its partners. The species to be planted include Cape Beech, Cape Holly, Bladdernut, and Wild Almond seedlings.
“SANParks would like to express gratitude to its partners for their successful collaboration in restoring this area of Newlands Forest in TMNP. Together, we can do more to conserve this site for both current and future generations.”
The trees now being planted are the product of this seedling programme, and are being carefully reintroduced to areas where bark stripping had stripped the natural canopy and undergrowth.
“We are grateful for the generous support of our partners in helping to restore this unique area of the forest,” Louw said.
“Together, we can conserve this site for current and future generations.”
The planting campaign is expected to continue into 2026 as part of SANParks’ broader efforts to preserve biodiversity and improve forest resilience in the face of environmental degradation and climate change.
