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June 2010
Essential Forests
June 2010
Essential Forests
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Copyright © 2010 TreeRoutes Partnership. All Rights Reserved. Design by Bellboy Media
Copyright © 2010 TreeRoutes Partnership. All Rights Reserved. Design by Bellboy Media
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Wildside spoke to Sappi to find out more about two projects namely the Karkloof Conservation Centre and the Marutswa Forest Boardwalk, both in KwaZulu-Natal, and both of which contribute significantly to the protection of forests and the promotion of biodiversity.
Safeguarding biodiversity of the land and her people
Of the 369,000ha of land owned by Sappi in South Africa, about 34% is unplanted and managed for biodiversity conservation.
Approximately 19,500ha of this unplanted land consists of roads, villages, offices and houses. Of the remaining land 54,400ha or 40% is grassland, 12,360ha is indigenous forest, 5,900ha is woodland, and 4,300ha is wetland all in good condition providing excellent habitat for plant and animal species.
This is borne out by the fact that 455 bird species - nearly half of all bird species that occur in South Africa - have been recorded on Sappi plantations along with 52 red data (rare, threatened or endangered) species and have some sites that conserve high profile species such as oribi, various crane species, the Karkloof Blue Butterfly and the very rare mistbelt moss frog (Arthroleptella ngongoniensis).
Community involvement
Established in 2000, the Sappi WWF Tree-Routes Partnership in South Africa introduced community-based eco-tourism business ventures as an alternative to the non-sustainable use of local forests and wetlands.Partnership projects include the Wakkerstroom Training Centre, Thonga Beach Lodge and Mabibi Campsite, Dlinza Aerial Boardwalk, Karkloof Conservation Centre, Marutswa Forest Trail and Boardwalk, Ongonye Birder’s Camp and the Southern KwaZulu-Natal Birding Route, in conjunction
with BirdLife South Africa. Involving communities through eco-tourism is giving them a vested interest in preserving biodiversity and provides an ideal way for people to generate wealth in areas where little other opportunities exist. Wildside visited two of these projects: Karkloof Conservation Centre and Marutswa Forest Trail and Boardwalk.
Karkloof Conservation Centre
Safeguarding biodiversity of the land and her people
Of the 369,000ha of land owned by Sappi in South Africa, about 34% is unplanted and managed for biodiversity conservation.
Approximately 19,500ha of this unplanted land consists of roads, villages, offices and houses. Of the remaining land 54,400ha or 40% is grassland, 12,360ha is indigenous forest, 5,900ha is woodland, and 4,300ha is wetland all in good condition providing excellent habitat for plant and animal species.
This is borne out by the fact that 455 bird species - nearly half of all bird species that occur in South Africa - have been recorded on Sappi plantations along with 52 red data (rare, threatened or endangered) species and have some sites that conserve high profile species such as oribi, various crane species, the Karkloof Blue Butterfly and the very rare mistbelt moss frog (Arthroleptella ngongoniensis).
Community involvement
Established in 2000, the Sappi WWF Tree-Routes Partnership in South Africa introduced community-based eco-tourism business ventures as an alternative to the non-sustainable use of local forests and wetlands.Partnership projects include the Wakkerstroom Training Centre, Thonga Beach Lodge and Mabibi Campsite, Dlinza Aerial Boardwalk, Karkloof Conservation Centre, Marutswa Forest Trail and Boardwalk, Ongonye Birder’s Camp and the Southern KwaZulu-Natal Birding Route, in conjunction
with BirdLife South Africa. Involving communities through eco-tourism is giving them a vested interest in preserving biodiversity and provides an ideal way for people to generate wealth in areas where little other opportunities exist. Wildside visited two of these projects: Karkloof Conservation Centre and Marutswa Forest Trail and Boardwalk.
Karkloof Conservation Centre
Forests are essential to a healthy environment, sustaining vital plants and wildlife, filtering water and air, and reducing greenhouse gases by removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
Forests are also an economic resource, providing a plentiful, renewable natural material used to produce products, many of them recyclable.
Forests are also an economic resource, providing a plentiful, renewable natural material used to produce products, many of them recyclable.
Above: One of Karkloof's indigenous mist belt forests habitat to a mass of biodiversity and in particular the indemic karkloof blue butterfly, emerald cuckoos, knysna loeries, crowned and martial eagles, and the fearless tree swinging samago monkeys.
(photo©wildside magazine)
(photo©wildside magazine)
Above: Marutswa Forest, Bulwer has been described as being amongst the most active birding mist-belt forests in KwaZulu-Natal. Home to the cape parrots, attracted by the seeds and nesting potential of the forests yellow wood trees,they are often found in flocks of up to 100 birds.
(photo© cape parrot: Stan Culley: and forest: Michael Cowell).
(photo© cape parrot: Stan Culley: and forest: Michael Cowell).
The Karkloof Conservancy covers approximately 40,000 ha and this area includes wetlands, grasslands and the last largest remaining tract of mistbelt forest. Many threatened species occur here – these being all three species of crane, Cape parrot, Southern ground hornbill, bald ibis, denham bustards, oribi, the Karkloof Blue Butterfly, black stinkwood trees, and samango monkeys. This area has been highlighted by conservationists as being a biodiversity hotspot.
Birders are attracted to the bird hides as many want to see the wattled cranes. There are only 240 wattled cranes left in South Africa, of which 220 occur in KwaZulu-Natal. This bird is now critically endangered. The Conservancy is also involved in the Wattled Crane Recovery Programme and is working with the Endangered Wildlife Trust by helping to identify all active wattled crane nesting sites in the area. Second eggs will be removed from the nests, hatched and then sent to the Johannesburg Zoo where the chick will be raised and later released back into the Natal Midlands. This project is set to expand to the KZN Crane Foundation which is situated within the Bill Barnes Crane and Oribi Nature Reserve which was recently proclaimed under the Biodiversity Stewardship Programme.
The Karkloof Conservation Centre, opened in 2007, comprises an information
and education centre, a tranquil picnic site and braai area, as well as two world class birdhides. The Conservancy is involved in the community through a variety of projects including conservation projects at schools, and undertakes an annual game count, arranges top speakers on conservation matters for the community, as well as plays host to the Karkloof Classic Bike Ride, the Karkloof Adventure Quest and more recently The 3 Cranes Challenge.
Read more about Karkloof Conservation Centre
Marutswa Forest Trail and Aerial Boardwalk
Birders are attracted to the bird hides as many want to see the wattled cranes. There are only 240 wattled cranes left in South Africa, of which 220 occur in KwaZulu-Natal. This bird is now critically endangered. The Conservancy is also involved in the Wattled Crane Recovery Programme and is working with the Endangered Wildlife Trust by helping to identify all active wattled crane nesting sites in the area. Second eggs will be removed from the nests, hatched and then sent to the Johannesburg Zoo where the chick will be raised and later released back into the Natal Midlands. This project is set to expand to the KZN Crane Foundation which is situated within the Bill Barnes Crane and Oribi Nature Reserve which was recently proclaimed under the Biodiversity Stewardship Programme.
The Karkloof Conservation Centre, opened in 2007, comprises an information
and education centre, a tranquil picnic site and braai area, as well as two world class birdhides. The Conservancy is involved in the community through a variety of projects including conservation projects at schools, and undertakes an annual game count, arranges top speakers on conservation matters for the community, as well as plays host to the Karkloof Classic Bike Ride, the Karkloof Adventure Quest and more recently The 3 Cranes Challenge.
Read more about Karkloof Conservation Centre
Marutswa Forest Trail and Aerial Boardwalk
Karkloof Conservation Centre: A Sappi funded sanctuary for many threatened bird species amongst which to be found are all three species of cranes. One of the two bird hides where the public can chance the opportunity to spot the wattled cranes (photos©Karkloof conservancy).
The Marutswa Forest Trail and Boardwalk is built on an old logging site used in the late 1800s and is named after a local Zulu man ‘Mahustjwa’ who harvested sneezewood trees to sell as railway sleepers. The lower walk of the contour trail is part of the old logging route which was used by oxen and mules to drag timber for sale in Durban and Pietermaritzburg.
The Marutswa Forest Trail and Boardwalk, located close to the quaint country village of Bulwer on the R617, profiles and promotes the conservation of Bulwer’s unique biodiversity by supporting eco-tourism and eco education initiatives that leads to the conservation of threatened forest habitats. The project has so far provided 3 full time jobs for local community members as custodians of the project, as well as a welcome platform for local crafters to sell their original and unusual handicrafts.
The site comprises a network of arterial trails leading into the indigenous forest, where there are a number of lookout jetties, boardwalk sections, picnic sites decks and view points, allowing visitors to view the various layers of the forest, including the canopy.
Birds, Mammals and Trees
The Marutswa Forest has been described by some of the South Africa’s top birding tour operators as one of the most active mist-belt forests in KwaZulu-Natal.
The forest is home to a vast number of rare and interesting birds. Cape parrots, sadly endangered and dwindling in numbers in South Africa are attracted by the seeds, and the nesting potential of the plentiful yellow wood trees and are often found in flocks of up to 100 birds in the forest. Specials to look out for are Cape parrot, orange ground-thrush, African crowned eagle, bush blackcap, white-starred robin, buff-spotted flufftail, narina trogon, grey cuckooshrike, yellow-throated woodland-warbler, crowned and Southern ground hornbill.
Attracted to the pristine forest habitat bush buck and reed buck are frequent visitors to the forest, as are a herd of bush pig that freely forage. Rock dassies have been seen and the call of the tree dassie has also been heard in the forest.
Very recently mongooses were also seen around the forest boardwalk. Natal dwarf chameleons and several species of butterfly such as the emperor swallowtail
can also be found.
Within the forest there are a number of very large and old yellowwoods of about the same age and size, surviving simultaneously because they were too small to harvest for logging during the late 1800s. On the upper contour of the walk you will also be enchanted by the very ancient vines that twine and spread through the tree canopies for miles on end. You will also encounter amongst many other tree species: Cabbage trees, white ironwood, knobwood, black stink wood, sneezewood, lemonwood, wild currant, wild quince, and tree fuchsia.
An indigenous nursery
The forest hosts a rich selection of wild plants and grasses, including a large variety of ferns, wild lilies including the ‘paint brush’, ground and tree orchids, wild dagga and wild iris. The forest has just opened an indigenous nursery where you can find well priced plants and tree saplings.
Owl spotting and picnics
The Marutswa craft shop offers items made by crafters from the surrounding communities, including baskets, pots, wire, and woven gifts as well as jewellery and carvings. Have a light snack at the forest café or join us for one of our delicious
and poetic candle lit suppers for an owl or chameleon spotting. Why not end your visit to the forest with a picnic or a braai curry or a potjie around the firepit. The Marutswa Forest is always happy to specially cater for groups when booked in advance .
Read more about Murutswa Forest Trail and Aerial Boardwalk.
Article: Wildside Magazine
The Marutswa Forest Trail and Boardwalk, located close to the quaint country village of Bulwer on the R617, profiles and promotes the conservation of Bulwer’s unique biodiversity by supporting eco-tourism and eco education initiatives that leads to the conservation of threatened forest habitats. The project has so far provided 3 full time jobs for local community members as custodians of the project, as well as a welcome platform for local crafters to sell their original and unusual handicrafts.
The site comprises a network of arterial trails leading into the indigenous forest, where there are a number of lookout jetties, boardwalk sections, picnic sites decks and view points, allowing visitors to view the various layers of the forest, including the canopy.
Birds, Mammals and Trees
The Marutswa Forest has been described by some of the South Africa’s top birding tour operators as one of the most active mist-belt forests in KwaZulu-Natal.
The forest is home to a vast number of rare and interesting birds. Cape parrots, sadly endangered and dwindling in numbers in South Africa are attracted by the seeds, and the nesting potential of the plentiful yellow wood trees and are often found in flocks of up to 100 birds in the forest. Specials to look out for are Cape parrot, orange ground-thrush, African crowned eagle, bush blackcap, white-starred robin, buff-spotted flufftail, narina trogon, grey cuckooshrike, yellow-throated woodland-warbler, crowned and Southern ground hornbill.
Attracted to the pristine forest habitat bush buck and reed buck are frequent visitors to the forest, as are a herd of bush pig that freely forage. Rock dassies have been seen and the call of the tree dassie has also been heard in the forest.
Very recently mongooses were also seen around the forest boardwalk. Natal dwarf chameleons and several species of butterfly such as the emperor swallowtail
can also be found.
Within the forest there are a number of very large and old yellowwoods of about the same age and size, surviving simultaneously because they were too small to harvest for logging during the late 1800s. On the upper contour of the walk you will also be enchanted by the very ancient vines that twine and spread through the tree canopies for miles on end. You will also encounter amongst many other tree species: Cabbage trees, white ironwood, knobwood, black stink wood, sneezewood, lemonwood, wild currant, wild quince, and tree fuchsia.
An indigenous nursery
The forest hosts a rich selection of wild plants and grasses, including a large variety of ferns, wild lilies including the ‘paint brush’, ground and tree orchids, wild dagga and wild iris. The forest has just opened an indigenous nursery where you can find well priced plants and tree saplings.
Owl spotting and picnics
The Marutswa craft shop offers items made by crafters from the surrounding communities, including baskets, pots, wire, and woven gifts as well as jewellery and carvings. Have a light snack at the forest café or join us for one of our delicious
and poetic candle lit suppers for an owl or chameleon spotting. Why not end your visit to the forest with a picnic or a braai curry or a potjie around the firepit. The Marutswa Forest is always happy to specially cater for groups when booked in advance .
Read more about Murutswa Forest Trail and Aerial Boardwalk.
Article: Wildside Magazine
Marutswa Forest Trail and Board Walk: A network of arterial trails leading into the indigenous forest and a number of lookout points, allow visitors
exceptional opportunities to view the forests tree and birdlife. (photos© Ria Fokkens, Michael Cowell and Keith Valentine).
exceptional opportunities to view the forests tree and birdlife. (photos© Ria Fokkens, Michael Cowell and Keith Valentine).
Eco-tourism = Community + Environment