The first 12'000 trees of the Trees for Tourism project have been planted out as compensation for carbon and biodiversity footprints of the travel industry in South Africa. This booklet describes the highlights of the reforestation project and site on farm 215 in the Overberg, South Africa.

1. 12000 trees
the making of a forest

2. The first 12’000 trees under the Trees for Tourism Project (TfT) have been planted out
during July 2011 in the reserve of farm 215 in the Overberg
under the auspices of Platbos Conservation Trust.
This booklet provides the highlights and key points of TfT’s first reforestation project.
For more information about the Trees for Tourism Project,
contact Helen Turnbull (see below for contact details).
www.treesfortourism.co.za +27 (0) 84 571 5900 plant@treesfortourism.co.za

3. The site
The lower part of one of te gorges in the reserve of farm 215
is the area where 12000 trees, indigenous to this area of
South Africa, have been planted out.
.
This wind sheltered area has been used by agriculture in the
past and has subsequently been overrun by alien invasive
vegetation. The area has been cleared from alien vegetation
and the streambanks have been rehabilitated.
“Hartebeeskloof” as this gorge is named, has gentle slopes,
deep soils and a lot of water.

4. The target
Higher up in the same gorge as the reforestation site, a
pristine indigenous forest remnant has maintained itself.
Reforestation will continue from the first reforestation site
upwards until the new forest has been re-connected with
this ancient forest remnant.
This forest-remnant is dominated by Cape beech, Hard pear,
White Pear and Wild olive and is protected against fire and
regular visits by men by a high cliff face on the one side and
a slippery scree covered slope on the other.

5. Pilot trees
Before planting out the 12000 trees, the reforestation site has
been extensively tested. During the past five years, pilot trees
of different species have been planted out in different spots all
over the reforestation site.
These pilot planting projects were successful and provided
valuable information for the reforestation of the first two
hectares of the site.

6. Nursery trees
The reforestation trees are sourced from the nursery of Platbos,
South Africa’s southernmost indigenous forest. Platbos is
located on the other side of the Uilkraal Valley.
Platbos Conservation Trust is one of the founding fathers of
the Trees for Tourism Program which, apart from the
reforestation on farm 215, will see further expansion of the
ancient forest of Platbos itself, new indigenous forests in the
nature reserve of the BWI* registered Lomond vineyards and
other suitable and approved site in and around the Uilkraal
Valley in the Western Cape’s Overberg Region.
* BWI = Biodiversity Wine Initiative.

7. Planting
The trees are planted close together in a density of 6000 trees
per hectare to mimmick the natural reforestation process and
to force the trees upwards to create a closed forest canopy as
soon as possible.
Once the forest canopy is closed, little light will reach the
forest floor which will inhibit ground covering vegetation and
provide a natural protection of the forest against fire.
Younger and smaller trees have been planted out in the
sheltered and moister areas and older, larger and hardier trees
on the more exposed slopes.

8. Tree planters
A team of 13 people of Platbos Conservation Trust and Krige
Tree services worked for a full month to complete the planting
of the 12’000 trees.
It was raining on several days during July, not pleasant
working conditions, but ideal for the young forest.
Picture on the left : Nkosinathi Mkhatshwa (left) and Mpumzeni
Nothimba (right)

9. Platbos Conservation Trust
Platbos Conservation Trust, the agent on the ground for
Trees for Tourism is managed by husband and wife team
Francois Krige and Melissa Saayman Krige.
Every day of planting, Francois and Melissa were present to
take care that the rights tree was planted in the right spot
under the right conditions.
On the left picture, Melissa is in discussion with Platbos
employee Mgadasi Mlondolozi and in the picture on the right,
the bearded Francois can be seen behind the bush while
Melissa talks to Zamile Ntembizo.

10. Changing features
In time the features of the reforestation site will be changed.
Roots will make their way to the stream, will slow down the
flow of the stream and hold the soil together. Erosion will
be halted and the land can benefit from more water.
In the picture on the left, juvenile trees can be seen sheltered
in the low winter shade of 4 year old pilot trees. Once the
canopy becomes closed and the sun cannot bake the stream
banks anymore, there will be less evaporation and moist
conditions will be constant.

11. Tree species
The reforestation trees exist mainly out of 15 species.
Above : Phindile Nogoga working with a milkwood (Sideroxylon
inerme). The milkwood is planted on the edge of the forest.
It can deal with drier conditions than typical riverine trees and
has a high fire-resistance.
To the left a Wild peach (Kigelaria africana), fast growing and
re-coppicing, it is ideal fire wood. In the middle : Red Alder
(Cunonia capensis) preferring moist conditions and having
stunning flowers which are very attractive to bees.

12. Above : Luyanda Goosha removing support from a Wild olive
(Olea africana), the ancestor of the domesticated olive tree.
Left : Assegai tree (Curtisia dentata). Middle :Cape Beech
(Rapanea melanophloeos). Both the Assegai and the Cape
Beech prefer moister conditions.

13. Above Nkosana Mphezuli (with tree in hand) and
Mthethelesi Mchithwa.
Left : White pear (Apodytes dimidiata). Middle: White stinkwood
(Celtis africana). The White pear and the White stinkwood
do not require the very moist conditions and will thrive in deep
sands slightly higher up the slopes.

14. A contemplative Zolani Khuso (above).
Left : Rock alder (Canthium mundianum).
Middle : Pock ironwood (Chionanthus foveolatus).
Both the Rock alder and the Pock ironwood are
understory trees.

15. Above: Nzuzo Dabula in the process of clearing bracken with
a bushcutter to create access for the trees to be planted.
The bracken will regrow quickly and provide protection for
the juvenile trees.
Left : A Cape Holy (Ilex mitis) still in its bag. Off all the trees
planted out, the Cape holly insists most on permanent water.
Middle : Yellowwood (Podacarpus Latifolius).
The Yellowwoods are the tallest trees in South Africa’s forests.

16. Above Mthetho Mondoleki.
Left : Bladdernut (Diospyros whyteana).

17. Above : Phumlani Tyhalisi.
Left : a clump of Cape beeches, ready to be planted out.

18. is an initiative of :
www.platbos.co.za www.serendipityafrica.co.za www.farm215.co.za