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FEATURE

Long-Toed Tree Frog

Case Study: often undertaken in collaboration with Case Study: WWF Water Stewardship
Protecting the Long-Toed Tree Frog conservation organisations, have been partnership as a Blueprint for
Sappi’s Pinewood’s plantation in KZN is initiated to revive these ecosystems. Effective Environmental and Social
home to a diverse range of species, including Stewardship
the above-mentioned frog, classified as Case Study: With funding support from Sappi, WWF
endangered by the International Union for Reviving the Karkloof Catchment has spearheaded the development of the
Conservation of Nature (IUCN). The Karkloof Catchment is a network of uMkhomazi Catchment Working Group
The frog’s long toes and reduced rich wetlands that form part of the water in KZN – a collaborative forum that brings
webbing allows it to navigate grasslands catchment for the greater Durban and together diverse multi-sectoral stakeholders
and perch on blades of grass. This signals Pietermaritzburg areas. It is also highly to advance water stewardship and
that the wetlands and grasslands in this productive agricultural land, intensively coordinate projects within the catchment.
forestry area are healthy and support used to produce food and wood fibre. The partnership has supported the clearing
biodiversity. These factors demonstrate Approximately 170 ha of a larger of 130 ha of alien invasive vegetation and
that production landscapes and indigenous floodplain wetland at the confluence of the improved rangeland management across
areas can co-exist, highlighting the potential Karkloof, Kusane and Mnalweni Rivers are 2323 ha in the upper catchment. These
conservation value of these multi-functional owned and managed by Sappi. Since the efforts have created 40 jobs and have
land holdings. nineties, wetland floodplains have been upskilled 82 people.
In a forestry context, environmental actively restored by removing more than
stewardship is a commitment that integrates 70 ha of planted trees. In 1998, an active Continuous Improvement for
sustainable management practices with management plan was put in place for Conservation
collaborative efforts to restore and reconnect controlled burning, grazing and weeds. Research assists with understanding the
natural habitats and the ecological services Wetland assessments in 2023 indicated interaction between forestry practices and
they provide. Such stewardship cannot be that the Shafton/Kusane wetlands are in wetland health, and drives solutions that
done in isolation, as ecological services good health, but also highlighted some enhance conservation efforts. By linking
and natural habitats extend beyond the opportunities for further improvement, with academic and research partners,
boundaries of the forestry landscape. It particularly continued weed control government departments and environmental
demands collaboration between public and along the wetland margins. Sappi remains organisations, the forestry sector constantly
private stakeholders, both individuals and committed to this positive trajectory, once develops and refines best practices that
organisations. again giving due recognition to wetlands balance conservation with sustainable timber
as a species-rich habitat for aquatic and production.
terrestrial life. Ecosystems play a critical role in ensuring
Restoring balance: water security, biodiversity conservation
Repairing historical impacts Stewardship and climate resilience. Wetlands support
Over the past three decades, the forestry Environmental stewardship and conserva- all human and animal life, and create
industry has undergone a significant tion initiatives must be viewed at a opportunities for sustainable development in
transformation, driven by advancements landscape level, with the buy-in of a wide rural communities.
in technology, research and innovation. range of stakeholders. This unlocks far The forestry sector is committed to
This has resulted in a strong focus on greater potential for delivering sustained making a lasting difference. By investing in
sustainable practices that emphasise positive impact. restoration, adopting sustainable practices
environmental social stewardship. As part Water stewardship exemplifies this and collaborating with stakeholders, wetlands
of this shift, hundreds of hectares of trees approach, shifting the focus to catchment can be safeguarded for future generations.
planted near wetlands before 1972 have level and requiring the forestry sector to
been removed. In areas where wetlands engage and collaborate with interested and Information and photos supplied by Frog
have been damaged or lost due to historical affected stakeholders to achieve tangible Communications on behalf of Forestry South
forestry practices, restoration projects, outcomes. Africa. n

26 Landscape SA • Issue 147 2025 Check us out www.salandscape.co.za