LIST OF PROTECTED TREE SPECIES PUBLISHED
Title: A List of all Protected Tree Species under section 12 of the National Forests Act, 1998 (Act No. 84 of 1998)
Government Gazette Notice: GN 635 in GG 42887 of 6 December 2019
Commencing date: 6 December 2019
The Minister of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries published a list of all protected tree species under section 15(3) of the National Forests Act 84 of 1998. For a copy of the Government Gazette Notice click here.
How to ensure compliance at my operation:
No person may cut, disturb, damage or destroy any protected tree or possess, collect, remove, transport, export, purchase, sell, donate or in any other manner acquire or dispose of any protected tree or any product derived from a protected tree, except under a licence or exemption granted by the Minister to an applicant and subject to such period and conditions as may be stipulated.
Non-compliance of the aforementioned requirement is regarded as a first category offence that may result in a person who is found guilty being sentenced to a fine or imprisonment for a period up to three years, or to both a fine and imprisonment.
How can we assist?
Protected trees should be identified at operations to ensure compliance with this notice and the provisions of the National Forests Act, 1998. Shangoni has ecological specialists that can conduct biodiversity surveys at your operation and compile Biodiversity Action Plans. Our Environmental Assessment Practitioners can also assist in the application of biodiversity permits.
For more information or assistance please contact Lee-Anne Fellowes at leeanne@shangoni.co.za
