NATURAL FOREST TYPES DECLARED
Title: Notice of declaration of a list of national forest types as natural forests in terms of section 7(2) of the National Forests Act 84 of 1998, as amended
Government Gazette Notice: GN 167 In GG 40660 of 3 March 2017
Commencing Date: 3 March 2017
Specific forest types have recently been declared as natural forest types in terms of the National Forest Act 84 of 1998 (NFA). The list is as follow:
- I: SOUTHERN AFROTEMPERATE FOREST GROUP (VEGMAP CODE FOz I)
• I1: Western Cape Talus Forests (VEGMAP CODE FOz I1)
• I2: Western Cape Afrotemperate Forests (VEGMAP CODE FOz I2)
• I3: Southern Cape Afrotemperate Forests (VEGMAP CODE FOz I3) - II: NORTHERN AFROTEMPERATE FOREST GROUP (VEGMAP CODE FOz II)
• II1: Marekele Afromontane Forests (VEGMAP CODE FOz
• II2: Northern Highveld Forests (VEGMAP CODE FOz II2)
• II3: Drakensberg Montane Forests (VEGMAP CODE FOz II3)
• II4: Low Escarpment Mistbelt Forests (VEGMAP CODE FOz II4) - III: SOUTHERN MISTBELT FOREST GROUP (VEGMAP CODE FOz III)
• III1: Eastern Mistbelt Forests (VEGMAP CODE FOz
• III2: Transkei Mistbelt Forests (VEGMAP CODE FOz III2)
• III3: Amatole Mistbelt Forests (VEGMAP CODE FOz III4) - IV: NORTHERN MISTBELT FOREST GROUP (VEGMAP CODE FOz IV)
• IV1: Northern Mistbelt Forests (VEGMAP CODE FOz IV1)
• IV2: Mpumalanga Mistbelt Forests (VEGMAP CODE FOz IV2) - V: SCARP FOREST GROUP (VEGMAP CODE FOz V)
• V1: Eastern Scarp Forests (VEGMAP CODE FOz V1)
• V2: Pondoland Scarp Forests (VEGMAP CODE FOz V2)
• V3: Transkei Coastal Scarp Forests (VEGMAP CODE FOz V3) (previously Transkei Coastal Forests) - VI: SOUTHERN COASTAL FOREST GROUP (VEGMAP CODE FOz VI)
• VI1: Eastern Cape Dune Forests (VEGMAP CODE FOz VI1)
• VI2: Albany Coastal Forests (VEGMAP CODE FOz VI2)
• VI3: Western Cape Milkwood Forests (VEGMAP CODE FOz VI3) - VII: NORTHERN COASTAL FOREST GROUP (VEGMAP CODE FOz VII)
• VII1: KwaZulu-Natal Coastal Forests (VEGMAP CODE FOz VII1)
• VII2: KwaZulu-Natal Dune Forests (VEGMAP CODE FOz VII2) - VIII: TROPICAL DRY FOREST GROUP (VEGMAP CODE FOz VIII)
• VIII1:Licuati Sand Forests (VEGMAP CODE FOz VIII1)
• VIII2: Nwambyia Sand Forests (VEGMAP CODE FOz VIII2) – New Forest Type
• VIII3: Ironwood Dry Forests (VEGMAP CODE FOz VIII3) – New forest type - A: AZONAL FOREST TYPES
• A1: Lowveld Riverine Forests (VEGMAP CODE FOa 1)
• A2: Swamp Forests (VEGMAP CODE FOa 2)
• A3: Mangrove Forests (VEGMAP CODE FOa 3)
So what for my operation?
The effect of this declaration is that, in terms of section 7(1) of the NFA, no person may:-
(a) cut, disturb, damage or destroy any indigenous tree in a natural forest, or
(b) possess, collect, remove, transport, export, purchase, sell, donate or in any other manner acquire or dispose of any tree, or any forest product derived from a tree contemplated in paragraph (a) except in terms of :-
(i) a licence issued under the NFA; or
(ii) an exemption from the provisions of this subsection published by the Minister in the Gazette on the advice of the Council.
Therefore, it is necessary for you to determine whether there are any of the above listed natural forests on your site. If such is found to be present, a licence therefore must be obtained. Also, prior to disturbing any of these trees on site, ensure that a licence is obtained.
What is Shangoni’s approach?
Shangoni has in-house ecological specialists that can assist you in identifying any protected biodiversity on site, together with relevant licensing requirements. Shangoni can also facilitate in the application process to be followed to obtain a licence in this regard. For more information, contact Jan Nel at jan@shangoni.co.za.
