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| Charles Reitz inspecting candlewood trees about to be removed from a plot - legally. |
Recently, Charles was consulted on the fate of seven candlewood trees on a plot in Nature’s Valley where the owner was about to build a holiday home in the modern style of using “maximum footprint” by building over the largest possible portion of the stand, presumably for maximum ease of indoor living and for minimum garden maintenance, especially while away most of the year.
“The idea, as usual in this part of the world, is to have maximum view, usually of the sea, to the detriment of the wildlife in one’s own garden, even if it means “topping trees” or simply eliminating them altogether.
“In my view, quality of life is not enhanced in this way. To me this is a cultural degradation, a simple and easy way to clear away the reality of wildlife around your home, the long term effect of which is the destruction of our natural habitat in which to live. It is part of what I call “urbanitis”, seeking freedom from the people closest to you and putting more value on ‘the view’ than sharing a beautiful natural environment. In the past vegetation played a vital role in sheltering our home and living space from ‘the elements’. Now, because we have modern building technology withstanding these elements, it is possible to do without vegetation.
“These candlewoods were among the best specimens I’d ever seen, so it was sad, but I managed to save two small ones.”
However, the removal of these trees was not illegal.
Although the National Forests Act (NFA) (Act No. 84 of 1998) has jurisdiction over all natural forests and the components that make up the forest, unless a tree is a protected species it is not individually protected as it stands on a private property. The only nationally listed protected trees in the Garden Route region are milkwood, black stinkwood, cheesewood and yellowwood trees.
In spite of this, nine forest ecosystems have been identified as threatened in South Africa, three of which have been categorised as endangered, including the Western Cape Milkwood Forest which occurs along the Garden Route. The dense human population of this coastal region has resulted in an ongoing negative impact on these coastal natural forests.
The reason for the protection of the total forest biome in South Africa under the NFA is because it is so small (totalling only around 500 000 ha) fragmented into 16 000 patches of which only 33 are more than 500 ha, unlike other biomes which are much more extensive
According to the NFA, “natural forests may not be destroyed save in exceptional circumstances where, in the opinion of the Minister, a proposed new land use is preferable in terms of economic, social or environmental benefits”.
About the candlewoodThe candlewood Pterocelastrus tricuspidatus is indigenous to the southern part of South Africa where it occurs naturally from Cape Town all the way along the south coast of South Africa as far as KwaZulu-Natal and found in most soil types, from coastal sand to rocky mountain slopes and clay.
In the wild it often grows as a stunted bush, especially in exposed positions, but in favourable conditions it can grow into a tree of up to 10 m in height. It grows particularly well in coastal conditions, although it can also be found inland.
The masses of sweetly-scented flowers are followed by large numbers of highly distinctive and attractive bright orange coloured lantern-shaped berries. The young leaves are red, but mature into a glossy green colour.
Charles explains: “In cultivation the candlewood can be pruned to form a proper shade tree. However, it can also be allowed to grow as a bushy screen if its lower branches are not removed. The candlewood’s primary reason for cultivation is as a coastal hedge, and for its ornamental lantern-shaped berries which attract birds - which of course should be a seriously sought-after phenomenon for cultured human beings.”
