NATIONAL COUNCIL OF PROVINCES
(For written reply)
QUESTION NO. 46 (CW50E)
INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO. 2
DATE OF PUBLICATION: 26 February 2010
Mr T D Harris (DA-WC) to ask the Minister of Water and Environmental
Affairs:
1) (a) What is the rationale for SANParks cutting down yellowwood trees
in the Tokai plantation, (b) when did this process begin and (c) how
many (i) trees have been cut down so far and (ii) are expected to be
cut down;
2) whether a consultation process with relevant stakeholders was followed
before the cutting down of the trees began; if not, why not; if so,
what are the relevant details;
3) (a) what entity has the contract to cut down the trees and (b) how was
this entity appointed;
4) whether, in light of the fact that yellowwood trees are indigenous to
South Africa and are still being cut down, these trees could be
considered to have heritage value that would allow them to be saved;
if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?
Mr T D Harris (DA-WC)
SECRETARY TO PARLIAMENT
HANSARD
PAPERS OFFICE
PRESS
46. THE MINISTER OF WATER AND ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS ANSWERS:
1) (a) The yellowwoods that were cleared (Podocarpus falcatus) are
not indigenous to the Cape Peninsula. They are extremely
invasive and pose a threat to the local fynbos and indigenous
forests by out competing indigenous species.
(b) The Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF)
issued a permit on 14 January 2010 for the removal of these trees
after a site inspection by a DAFF official. The process of
cutting down these trees started on 25 January 2010.
(c) (i)132 Trees were cut and (ii) no more are expected to be cut
down in Tokai.
2) SANParks undertook a comprehensive two year stakeholder and
public consultation process to prepare the Tokai and Cecelia
Management Framework which sets out the vision for the future
management, use and rehabilitation of the Tokai and Cecelia
plantations. Through this public process, the area concerned has
been identified in the Management Framework for rehabilitation
back to the endangered granite fynbos.
3) (a) MTO (Mountains to Oceans) has a 20 year lease (through a
public tender) with the then Department of Water Affairs and
Forestry for clear felling in Tokai.
(b) The management of this lease has been assigned to SANParks.
4) The yellowwoods in question are the Outeniqua Yellowwood (Podocarpus
falcatus) whose natural geographic distribution is the Southern Cape
and not the Cape Peninsula. These trees were planted in the 1970âs as
part of the plantation in a watercourse, and were not identified in
the Management Framework as having heritage value.
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