Hi all

Just in case you think that we are the first to take up the cause of the retention of pine forests read this....

Extracts from a book titled “Table Mountain, our national heritage after 300 years

“ by C.A. Luckoff published 1951 A.A. Balkema Count de Vasselot (Superindendent of Woods and Forests at the Cape 1889to 1899)

SOME PAGES EXTRACTS…..

Page 113 “ Count de Vasselot favoured the augumentation of national timber supplies by afforestation and in 1889, the afforested area in the cape Colony was 3000 acres. Tokai Plantation was started in in 1893”

“At the time of the Devils Peak planting ,in 1894, the mountain slopes were scarred with deep dongas and the chief objective of the afforestation programme , was the restoration of the ravaged slopes . Many of the old trees first planted remain today (1951) as shady glades which are now being thinned out into Park Like formation.”

While the primary objective in the Cape City Council Forest Policy (1937) was originally commercial ,that policy has gradually been modified ,and in the Peninsula areas , commercial interest has been almost entirely subjected to scenic and recreational objectives

“ In better perspective was the evidence given by the Cape Tree Soceity to the Table Mountain Preservation Committee. It advocates such a reasonable balance between the opposing views of total elimination of exotics ,from Table Mountain and the unrestricted planting thereof , that it is quoted hereunder .

“We feel that there is no reason whatsoever to place a total ban on the planting of exotic trees on or around Table Mountain . The Cape Peninsula would not be the gracious place we know it , if it were not for the Oaks and Stone Pines which were planted early in the Settlement’s history , as well as for the Planes , Poplars , Chestnuts , Cork oaks ,--------“

“ Since the world is marching steadily towards a shortage of accessible timber ,it cannot be responsibly recommended that any large plantation areas be withdrawn from production, except for the gravest of reasons “

“ We strongly suggest therefore that that no commercial plantations whatever ,be allowed above ,say the 500 ft. contour line ,on the whole of table Mountain

The general veiw seems to be that the upper part of Table Mountain , above the 1000 ft. contour ,should, with suitable exceptions , be treated as a nature reserve and species not endemic to the Cape, excluded . On the lower slopes the natural forest and scrub should be interspersed with groves of attractive shady trees from other parts of the world “