Multiple benefits from Pietermaritzburg's tree plantations
Extensive tree plantations form a backdrop to the city of Pietermaritzburg. Many residents are unaware of the primary role of these plantations. The trees, which grow mainly on the south and east-facing slopes in the high rainfall areas of the municipality, cover 1 514 hectares. Gum trees are the most extensive species grown while wattle and pine trees cover smaller areas.
Readers may be interested to know that the city's plantations also host gum clonal trials in the World�s View area. These trials include the production of four different hybrid clones, a pure cloning of one species, and the production of seed of three pure species.
What happens to the timber produced from our plantations?
Approximately 25 000 tons of timber is harvested and sold annually and there are many outlets for the products which include gum and wattle chips for export, timber for telephone and transmission poles, pine saw-timber and pine pulp. In addition, tannin is derived from wattle bark and particle board is manufactured from the wood.
Who manages our plantations?
NCT Farming (Pty) Ltd, a subsidiary company of NCT Forestry Co-operative Ltd manages the plantations on behalf of the Msunduzi Municipal Forestry Board. Jeremy Dixon is the estate manager. The plantation business has to fund its own operations which include conservation work and infrastructural development. Substantial profits have been made over the years and this has benefited the municipality as the land owner.
The management of timber plantations in a municipal area is not a simple matter. Operations always have to take the residents into consideration with regard to noise levels, burning and smoke impacts, road usage and crop spraying. One of the greatest problems management faces is the dumping of household rubbish, garden refuse and building rubble in the plantations. On one of the many dumping sites nine animal carcases were found. In addition many of the plantations on the outskirts of the municipality are damaged by the theft of trees for building poles and fire wood.
Not only are the plantations of great financial benefit to the public of Pietermaritzburg, but they can also play an important recreational role. Hiking, bird watching, horse riding and mountain biking are encouraged and in fact the rugged slopes on which the plantations are situated provide one of the best venues in the country for mountain bike competitions. Unfortunately joy riding by 4x4s, motorbikes and quadbikes cause serious damage to the roads within the plantations, and this form of activity is not permitted.
Another of the major challenges facing NCT management is the control of invasive alien weeds. The Pietermaritzburg area unfortunately has an environment that encourages a host of different alien weeds. These include Mauritius thorn, bugweed, American bramble, lantana, long-leaved wattle, cat's claw creeper, ink berry and many more, all of which thrive under the local climatic conditions. Weed control in the plantations accounts for a substantial proportion of the annual budget.
What most of the public is unaware of is the conservation programme run by Jeremy Dixon and his team. Recently members of the Ferncliffe Catchment Conservancy went on a tour of the plantations and they were most impressed to see an extensive valley and other areas set aside for conservation purposes. At present over 60 hectares has been cleared of timber and weeds and indigenous trees have already been planted. The programme is ongoing. This not only contributes to the conservation of water, but together with the plantations, acts as a carbon sink and helps to ameliorate the air pollution problem that the city suffers from.
" This article is part of a series highlighting the work of the Ferncliffe Conservancy. For further details on the Ferncliffe Catchment Conservancy phone Kelson Camp at 033 394 2948.