I’ve never really been much of a tree-hugger.
Don’t get me wrong, I do love trees, a lot, and think the world would be in a horrible place without them, but I’m not fanatical enough about them to attach myself to one to prevent its demise. Not so far, anyway.
I must look like one, though, since it has recently been brought to my attention that large swathes of trees on Cape Town’s mountainsides are being cut up and carted away en masse. And that there are a lot of real tree-huggers out there who are rather upset about it.
Having noticed, in a distracted after-work fashion, that some rather ugly patches were indeed appearing up above Cecilia and Constantia Nek, but having not (tut tut) paid them too much attention, I decided to look into it and see what everyone is so fussed about.
The ‘Urban Forest Protection Group‘ has a website where tree-lovers can see what’s going on in the dirty underbelly of SanParks deforestation.
Unfortunately, the website is a bit hysterical and difficult to navigate.
But, if you have patience and a little time on your hands, the site does contain quite a bit of information in the form of scanned-in newspaper clippings, links to controversial media releases from the Ministry of Water and Forestry and news about the future of dog-walking in the Table Mountain National Park.
The way I understand it is this:
The Urban Forest Protection Group believes that the forests are being stripped of trees purely to line the pockets of SANPARKS execs, without any thought for the citizens of Cape Town (and their dogs), and that the mountain will soon be laid bare.
The Dept of Water Affairs and Forestry, however, claims that its intention is not to remove plantation forests, and that SANPARKS has “indicated that they would retain the commercial forestry areas, as an integral part of their conservation efforts”.
Something’s not quite adding up.
I’m all for going back to indigenous roots, and I love fynbos, but I can’t quite imagine walking up those mountains without the benefit of a little shade (preferably a lot). Can you?
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Helen on 
It is a bit of a debate.
But I say bring back the fynbos!
Wear a hat, or bring an umbrella if you’re worried about the shade.
Give it a few years (10-20) and there should be some form of shade again
all the trees where planted at the same time..and as things work the way they do will all die at the same time. dead trees are not great
Plantations are crops. Maybe we should shed a tear each time maize gets havested.
I tend to agree with you… As long as they’re not planning to make the slopes into a park that’s inaccessible to the people of Cape Town (no dogs, high prices, etc), I reckon going the fynbos route is for the best.
Having trees in a city are truly a blessing in many ways. The forests in Cape Town covers only about 2% of the Table Mountain National Park. The way they are “harvesting” the trees can hardly be called a harvest. It is total destruction. Having trees in a city is truly a blessing in many ways. The forests in Cape Town cover only about 2% of the Table Mountain National Park. The way they are “harvesting” the trees can hardly be called a harvest. It is total destruction. The areas that have been harvested have been done in such a way that it resembles a battlefield. It would take forever for ANYTHING at all to grow there. A lot of the “harvest” is also damaged in such a way that the timber can’t even be used. The so called authorities should be ashamed as this does not display any skill but rather gross incompetence.
It is understandable that indigenous plants must also be protected. If these need more space sensible skilled harvesting or thinning of trees would be advisable. This can surely be done in a far more eco-friendly manner. If other countries are capable of doing this surely South Africa must be able to do the same?
It takes many many years for magificent forests like Cecelia & Tokai to get established. They are a true asset and landmark of Cape Town. Destruction of this valuable asset can’t be reversed and the consequences will be felt in far more ways than expected. These trees are also acting as invaluable air filters in Cape Town’s increasingly more polluted air.
This is not just about covering Cape Town in even more fynbos.
It’s pity that commercial interests destroy our heritage. i have a little daugher who will never see the beautiful forests on the slopes of table mountain because of corrupt academica and greedy business men who invent any reason to destroy the forest and poket money.