This project embodies our commitment to revitalising areas where forests once thrived in the Uilenkraal Valley, and it marks a continued collaboration with one of our long-standing partners, Francois Krige at Platbos Forest Reserve.

Initially, our efforts in the valley were concentrated on fortifying the forest edges and healing burn scars within the southernmost forest in Africa. This valuable ecosystem had faced challenges due to encroaching alien vegetation on surrounding properties and the repercussions of more intense wildfires that had encroached upon the forest's boundaries. Over the span of a decade, our dedicated implementation partners tirelessly removed alien vegetation and planted indigenous trees. This project has now expanded to encompass three adjacent properties, with the goal of magnifying the impact of our restoration work in this valley. This expansion includes active management of alien vegetation adjacent to Platbos forest and extending the restoration to areas where remnants of the historic forest are evident.

This year, our exceptional team undertook the task of monitoring sites not only within Platbos but also on the neighbouring Blomerus and Bodhi Khaya properties. They also established a monitoring plot on the recently acquired and newly planted Kleinbos farm.

During the initial part of the week, the team visited some of the older sites dating back to 2013-2016, where the forest canopy was now towering, making measurements a challenging task. Despite their impressive stature, the areas still exhibited some patchiness with grassy spaces between planted tree clusters and the occasional molehill. Moles, though a minor nuisance, are vital natural ecosystem engineers, and our densely planted trees are expected to withstand their presence.

As the team ascended the 2017 festival site slope, they observed Wild Olives (Olea Europaea africana) and Milkwoods (Sideroxylon inerme) dominating the surviving planted trees. This exposed and sandy slope, though less than ideal for forest seedlings, showcased the adaptability and resilience of the trees. Once the olive trees mature, they will provide essential shade and shelter for the other young trees to thrive.

The team then proceeded to the firebreak on the southern forest edge, which revealed the visible scars left by years of intense fires. Our reforestation efforts have been primarily focused on healing these "wounds" to restore the forest's natural edge, ultimately reducing the risk of future fires. Despite their relative youth (planted between 2020-2022), these areas exhibited dense patches of young, healthy trees, even though there were signs of mammal and insect browsing. These natural processes are not expected to hinder tree growth.

Remarkably, the team noticed a significant number of small, healthy-looking seedlings that had naturally regenerated, demonstrating the process of passive reforestation.

During the latter part of the week, the team attended to fixed plots at the newer planting sites. The Reforest Fest festival site at Blomerus farm presented challenges, with a waterlogged lower half affecting the young seedlings. The team will closely monitor these seedlings to assess the impact of the mild flooding, and future planting will consider better drainage. Further up the slope, the planted trees appeared robust, despite some evidence of baboon interference.

The Bodhi Khaya 2021 sites proved to be the most complex. Exposed to the elements, many tags had faded or gone missing, likely due to baboon activity. Despite the challenges, the team managed to identify and tag trees, drawing on historical data and visible tags to map out the plots.

The other Bodhi Khaya site was a different story, with mature trees providing ample shade for the planted trees, including Red Alder, White Pear, and Bladdernuts. The team marvelled at the diverse growth and health of these trees.

Notably, the Kleinbos site, exposed to direct sunlight, showed signs of sunburn on the shade-adapted milkwoods. This experience offers valuable lessons for future planting on more exposed sites, with sunlight-adapted seedlings considered in the new nursery Francois is establishing.

It was truly inspiring to witness the active involvement of property owners in this reforestation movement. Their commitment is crucial in tackling the vast forests of alien invasive trees. Despite the minor challenges posed by long grass, mammal browsing, and occasional baboon antics, our sites are thriving.