Four tree species have been added to the list of Protected Trees in South Africa

The updated annual list of all tree species which are protected in terms of the National Forests Act was published by the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Ms Barbara Creecy, in Government Gazette 46094 (Notice No. 1935) on 25 March 2022.

The four species added to the list are the Red and Pink Ivory (Berchemia zeyheri), the Jackal Berry (Diospyros mespiliformis), Manketti (Schinziophyton rautanenii) and the Umtiza (Umtiza listeriana).

The consequence of declaring a tree, species of trees or a particular group of trees, or a particular woodland as protected in terms of the National Forests Act, means that 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 forest product derived from a protected tree,

Except –

Under a licence granted by the Minister, or

In terms of an exemption from the provisions if approved by the Minister on the advice of the Council

A person who contravenes the prohibitions is considered to have committed a first category offence, and may be convicted and sentenced to three years imprisonment, or imprisonment and a fine to be determined by the court.

Source: Government of South Africa