Page 18 - Landscape-Issue144

FEATURE

BARK STRIPPING IN THE

NEWLANDS FOREST, CAPE TOWN

Sustainable bark harvesting by removing thin strips of bark from trees for medicinal
and spiritual uses is a tradition that has been practiced in southern Africa for
hundreds of years. However, bark stripping is the illegal harvesting of tree bark for

private use by individuals or groups, mainly for commercial or medicinal purposes.
This has a huge impact on forest diversity as trees die a slow death due to the
interruption of the nutritional transport system.

Information signage board Bark stripping signage map

arket demand in Cape Town has means of deterring bark stripping. Alongside street trees being targeted. In addition to
caused a rise in bark stripping this intervention, TMNP will continuously those species mentioned above, Fever trees,
Mincidents, not only in the Newlands implement law enforcement patrols, facilitate Camphor trees and Norfolk Island Pine trees
Forest on Table Mountain but also from educational awareness campaigns through have also been targeted. When the bark is
greenbelts within the city and on private workshops with traditional healers, and set up stripped, it restricts food going to the leaves
property. Trees commonly targeted are the a nursery to grow forest species for replanting and branches, resulting in the death of trees
Cape Beech, Cape Chestnut, Wild Peach, lost or damaged trees. after a few years.
Assegai and Black Stinkwood. SANParks has held consultation Burgess says that the estimated number of
Measures in place to treat damaged trees engagements with key stakeholders such trees that have been stripped of their bark is
include the application of an earth and as the South African National Biodiversity in the thousands. “Not all the targeted species
manure-based tree sealant or paste which can Institute (SANBI), independent arborists, in the Newlands Forest can be painted, and
be smeared on stripped trees to regenerate SANParks Honorary Rangers and the this intervention is not a complete solution.
or stimulate bark regrowth. SANParks has Newlands Forest Conservation Group to It needs to be combined with education,
recorded regrowth on trees where the sealant agree on a viable solution to curb illegal bark patrols and other preventative measures,” she
has been applied and urges members of stripping activities in their natural forest. explains.
the public to report bark stripping activities. The painting of trees with PVA has been
Awareness signs have been installed in conducted as a joint venture between TMNP Arderne Gardens
various areas of the forest, aiming to educate and the Newlands Forest Conservation The Arderne Gardens in Claremont is a public
and make the public aware of the problem, Group. The public should be aware of groups space that is particularly vulnerable to bark
and where they can report such incidents. of contractors who may be seen in the forest stripping. Arborist Paul Barker, who is in
painting the trees. charge of the gardens, has been successful
Sustainable solutions and In 2023, organisations such as Treekeepers, in protecting the trees here by painting them
community involvement the Newlands Forest Conservation Group with PVA.
In an effort to combat illegal bark stripping and Friends of Arderne Gardens, requested In the case of one badly stripped Camphor
activities, Table Mountain National Park permission from SANParks to paint the tree in Newlands, it was treated and wrapped
(TMNP) has confirmed that an integrated bottom 2-3 metres of selected, mature trees in plastic, with a PVA paint applied above
strategy is in place, comprising intelligence in the forest, including Cape Beech, Assegai, the plastic to prevent further damage. The
gathering, law enforcement actions and Cape Holly and Black Stinkwood. This process bark strippers returned but instead of taking
proactive preventative solutions. One of went ahead and has proved to be a successful the bark that was painted, they removed
these solutions, launched with the assistance deterrent to bark stripping. the plastic and took the unpainted bark
of SANPark’s partners, is the painting of Landscape architect Clare Burgess, the underneath it. This is a clear demonstration of
specific trees to make the bark unattractive chairperson of Treekeepers Cape Town, says how PVA paint devalues the bark.
or unsuitable for harvesting. Mature and that the commercial demand for bark and Camphor trees are highly sought after by
seed-producing trees have been painted other plant parts, especially bulbs, has led bark strippers as they have been used for
with grey or white water-based PVA paint as a to both indigenous forest trees and exotic centuries to treat upper respiratory ailments.

16 Landscape SA • Issue 144 2024 Check us out www.salandscape.co.za