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South African National Parks (SANParks) is ramping up its conservation efforts in Newlands Forest by planting more than 300 indigenous trees as part of the latest phase of its ongoing rehabilitation programme.
Building on momentum from earlier phases in June and July 2025, over 150 trees were planted with key partners; the third phase kicked off on 3 June 2026.
This round saw a focused effort by the Cape Research Centre team, backed by SANParks rangers and volunteer students from the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT), who planted 300 Cape Beech seeds (Rapanea melanophloes), also known as Boekenhout.
Restoring ecological balance
The project forms part of a broader push to restore the forest’s ecological balance while tackling persistent challenges like bark stripping. SANParks launched an initiative last year to curb the illegal practice. Officials started painting trees with grey water-based PVA paint.
Encouragingly, earlier efforts are already paying off. Around 150 seedlings planted last year along the Woodcutters Trail are showing strong growth and survival rates.
Spokesperson JP Louw previously said: “Bark stripping in the area, often linked to the harvesting of medicinal plant material, has severely impacted mature, seed-producing trees.”
Kenilworth-based non-profit The TreeKeepers is also doing its part. The organisation is doing its part to help repair damaged trees. Members use tree paste to protect and promote the cambium layer, responsible for developing and replacing damaged tree bark.
SANParks is in this for the long haul. Ongoing monitoring, paired with environmental education and awareness programmes, aims to strengthen conservation efforts and promote responsible use of Newlands Forest.
The goal is simple but critical: protect and preserve this vital natural space for generations to come.
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