Forests for Life is dedicated to restoring forest and woodland ecosystems, effectively manage critical catchment areas, and improving the lives of communities who rely on forest resources across Sub-Saharan Africa. In partnership with the Heartlands School of Self Sufficiency, the Greenpop Foundation is restoring a portion of land that was badly burned in recent fires and replacing the highly flammable and water-thirsty invasive species with beautiful indigenous trees.

Conservation Problem Statement:
Invasive alien plants pose a significant environmental risk in the Garden Route of South Africa. They predominate in disturbed landscapes and alter hydrological and fire cycles, as well as out-competing indigenous vegetation, causing a loss in the biodiversity of the region. The management and control of invasive plants is an expensive and time-consuming task which requires constant follow up and significant amounts of investment.

Heartland's School of Self-sufficiency was one of many properties in the region that was badly affected by the massive wildfires of 2017 that raged through the area. These wildfires were amplified by the presence of large populations of invasive species in the landscape. The trees at Heartlands that burned consisted of Pine, Eucalyptus and Australian Blackwood, as well as smaller populations of Bramble and Bugweed. Since these species are well adapted to fire, and since they burn much hotter and more intensely than indigenous vegetation, there was significant risk of regrowth of invasive vegetation post-fire that was more intense and dense than the initial infestation.

Greenpop partnered with Heartlands to plant up a portion of the property which had showed very poor indigenous recovery after the fires. This planting was done in order to give the indigenous system a chance to out-compete the invasive species on-site and to eventually act as a source of food for local wildlife populations, while at the same time stabilising the slopes, improving water infiltration and acting as a living fire break against future fires.

Project Outcomes:

1. To implement and manage an invasive plant control strategy to prevent future fires.
2. To restore fire-damaged land with indigenous species to stabilise the slopes, improve water filtration and act as a living firebreak.

No. of hectares of reforestation: 1.95 hectares
No. of trees planted: 6,300 trees

For more information visit:
www.greenpop.org