Forests of KwaZulu-Natal

The extra moisture on the south slopes is not only favoured by forest trees, but also helps to prevent or subdue wildfires.

Characteristic tree species include yellowwoods (Afrocarpus falcatus and Podocarpus latifolius), mountain hard pear (Olinia emarginata) and Cape beech (Rapanea melanophloeos).

Trees include: white stinkwood (Celtis africana), forest bushwillow (Combretum krausii) and umzimbeet (Millettia grandis).

Characteristic trees are: coastal red milkwood (Mimusops afra), coast silver oak (Brachylaena discolor), dune soap-berry (Deinbollia oblongifolia) and Natal wild banana (Strelitzia nicolai).

The water fig (Ficus verruculosa) and Kosi palm (Raphia australis) are characteristic species in Maputaland.

Birds: Narina trogon (Apaloderma narina), purple-crested turaco (Tauraco porphyreolophus), forest weaver (Ploceus bicolor), crowned eagle (Stephanoaetus coronatus), spotted ground-thrush (Zoothera guttata), orange thrush (Zoothera gurneyi) and Delegorgue's pigeon (Columba delegorguei).

Climbers: Black-eyed susan (Thunbergia alata), wild cucumber (Coccinia palmata), climbing bamboo (Flagellaria guineensis) and flame lily (Gloriosa superba).

[1] Most of the larger forests are now protected, but some small scale timber extraction by local communities still takes place.

Attempts to grow indigenous trees as timber plantations have so far proven economically unviable compared to exotics, but more research is needed.

It is estimated that more than 2100 tonnes of medicinal plants are extracted from forest areas in KwaZulu-Natal each year, which is projected to be unsustainable.

[4] Eco-tourism is the most viable and sustainable option for the forests of Kwazulu-Natal, and several government, private and non-government projects to ensure this are underway or in the planning stages.