Champion Trees in South Africa are individual trees or groves that have been identified as having special significance, and therefore protected under Section 12(1) of the National Forests Act of 1998 by the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment.
In 2003, the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries initiated the project to identify and grant special status to indigenous and non-indigenous trees in South Africa that meet certain set criteria. From May to July 2003, workshops were held in Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal and the Western Cape to gain consensus from experts to assist in the identification process of exceptional trees (Champion Trees) that are worthy of special protection throughout South Africa. [1]
The Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries initiated the Champion Trees Project with the purpose of identifying exceptional trees and regulating for their special protection using the National Forests Act of 1998 (NFA). Section 12 of the National Forests Act states that the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment can declare certain tree species and individual trees or groups of trees as protected. Under Section 15(1)(a) of the National Forests Act, such protected trees may not be "...cut, disturbed or damaged and their products may not be possessed, sold or transported without a licence...". In the case of individual trees, the protection is absolute, with no potential for permission for removal except if life or property is threatened (e.g. by dying or leaning trees). [1]
One of the outcomes of the Department's Champion Trees Project is to gazette a list of Champion trees as part of the National Forests Act.
Any person can nominate a tree for selection. [2] Individual trees or groups of trees proposed for Champion status should have the following attributes:
Additional criteria that define a tree's eligibility are biological attributes, the age of the tree, and heritage or historical significance. [1]
Champion trees can be designated on a range of singular biological attributes:
The Dendrological Society of South Africa, which maintains the National Register of Big Trees in South Africa, uses a formula of the combination of the three biological attributes to obtain the Size Index (SI): This formula has been implemented to determine a tree's Champion status.
The National Forests Act recommends that trees considered for Champion Tree status on the basis of age should be at least 120 years old.
This criterion should take into account the particular value associated with the tree, and graded on a scale of 1-10 (>6 is a potential candidate for Champion Tree status):
As of 2018, 93 trees have been designated Champion Trees. [3] [4] [5]
| Champion Tree (Register Number) | Tree Species | Common Name | Description | Tree Size | Size Index | Location | Image |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Adansonia digitata (Baobab) | Sagole Baobab | The largest indigenous tree of South Africa, and habitat for a rare colony of mottled spinetail swifts. | Height: 22 m Stem size: 33.72 m Crown size: 34.3 m & 41.7 m | 440 | Sagole, Limpopo |  |
| 2 | Adansonia digitata | Glencoe Baobab | Second-largest indigenous tree of South Africa. It's carbon dated to be from 181 CE (1842–1843 years old). Tree de-listed after it was damaged. | Height: 16 m Stem size: 46.6 m Crown size: 41.5 m & 34.2 m | 413 | Glencoe Farm Hoedspruit, Limpopo | |
| 3 | Ficus salicifolia | Wonderboom fig of Pretoria | Largest Wonderboom fig. It is about 1000 years old and historic. An ox wagon outspan area in earlier years. It also shares a legend that a local chief was buried under the tree. | Height: 22 m Stem size: many sub-trees – 2.56 m to 7.14 m Crown size: 61.2 m & 51.9 m | 380 | Wonderboom Nature Reserve, Pretoria |  |
| 4 | Breonadia salicina (Matumi) | Largest of a trio of trees called The Three Queens | Largest Matumi tree in South Africa | Height: 40 m Stem size: 8.3 m Crown size: 34.6 m | 363 | Amorentia Estate, Mooketsi valley, Limpopo | |
| 5 | Breonadia salicina (Matumi) | Second-largest of a trio of trees called The Three Queens | Second-largest Matumi tree in South Africa | Height: 38 m Stem size: 8.17 m Crown size: 25.4 m & 24.4 m | 306 | Amorentia Estate, Mooketsi Valley, Limpopo | |
| 6 | Breonadia salicina (Matumi) | Third-largest of a trio of trees called The Three Queens | Third-largest Matumi tree in South Africa | Height: 38 m Stem size: 2.41 m | 286 | Amorentia Estate, Mooketsi Valley, Limpopo | |
| 7 | Adansonia digitata (Baobab) | Platland Tree or Sunland Baobab | Very large baobab and well-known tourist attraction. Tree split in 2017. | Height: 19 m Stem size: 33.6 m Crown size: 33.7 m & 30.2 m | 340 | Sunland Estate, Platland, Duiwelskloof (Modjadjiskloof), Limpopo |  |
| 8 | Ficus sycomorus (Common cluster fig) | Cluster Fig Giant | The largest cluster fig in South Africa, after demise of the largest fig in KwaZulu-Natal | Height: 31 m Stem size: 10.7 m Crown size: 38.2 m & 38.10 m | 336 | The farm Excellence, Hoedspruit, Limpopo | |
| 9 | Afrocarpus falcatus (Outeniqua yellowwood) | King Edward VII Tree | Largest Outeniqua yellowwood accessible to tourists in South Africa | Height: 39 m Stem size: 6.92 m Crown size: 33.5 m | 316 | Diepwalle Forest Estate, Garden Route National Park, Western Cape | |
| 10 | Eucalyptus saligna (Sydney blue gum) | The O'Connor tree lane | Very tall tree lane. It was planted in the 1930s by forestry pioneer AJ O'Connor. The landmark visible from various viewpoints. Situated next to O'Connor's memorial. | Height: 73 m Stem size: 4.28 m Crown size: 32.1 m | 482 | Woodbush Plantation, Haenertsburg, Limpopo | |
| 11 | Eucalyptus saligna (Sydney blue gum) | Part of "The Magoebaskloof Triplets" | The tallest tree in South Africa and Africa. And the tallest plant tree in the world. Stand of trees planted in 1906 (117–118 years old) by forestry pioneer AK Eastwood. Previous tallest tree in this stand fell in 2006. | Height:
Stem size:
Crown size:
| 293 | Woodbush Plantation, Haenertsburg, Limpopo | |
| 12 | Sideroxylon inerme (Milkwood) | Grandfather of Still Bay | Largest milkwood in South Africa; estimated to be about 1000 years old | Height: 14 m Stem size: 10.01 m Crown size: 22.1 m & 17.9 m | 111 | Langebosch farm, Stillbaai, Western Cape | |
| 13 | Sideroxylon inerme (Milkwood) | Post Office Tree | Historic tree believed to have been the tree in which an old shoe was placed for exchange of messages by Portuguese seafarers in the 16th century | Height: 8.5 m Stem size: 2.3 m; 2.66 m (multi-stemmed) Crown size: 32.1 m & 33.7 m | 51 | Bartolomeu Dias Museum Complex, 1 Market Street, Mossel Bay, Western Cape |  |
| 14 | Cinnamomum camphora (Camphor tree) | The Vergelegen trees | Historic trees planted more than 3 centuries ago by Governor WA van der Stel. They are very large trees, with a large landscape impact | Height: 26.3 m Stem size: 12.62 m (at breast height – trunk forms a thickened foot). 7 m from 3 m height. Crown size: 33.51 m & 29.3 m | 295 | Vergelegen Wines, Somerset West, Western Cape |  |
| 15 | Eucalyptus species & a variety of other tree species | The Tokai Arboretum, situated in the Tokai State forest [lower-alpha 1] is of historic significance, with trees planted there since 1885 (138–139 years old). Laid out by Joseph Storr Lister at the beginning of the forestry industry. A major landmark and recreation area, and world famous among botanists, horticulturists and sylviculturists. | Height: 68 m ( saligna ) & 43 m ( P radiata ) Stem size: 5.4 m (E. saligna) & 4.64 m (P. radiata) Crown size: 22.4 m & 23.7 m (E. saligna) & 25.4 m & 25.1 m (P. radiata) | 368 | Tokai Arboretum, Tokai Road, Table Mountain National Park, Cape Town, Western Cape |  | |
| 16 | Platanus × hispanica (London plane) | Marriot's Lane | Tree avenue of exceptionally old plane trees of historic value; planted in 1908 (115–116 years old) by the curator, W. E. Marriot. Trees are a central landscape feature of the botanical gardens. | Height: | 287 (Tree 2) | KwaZulu-Natal National Botanical Gardens, Pietermaritzburg, Kwa-Zulu Natal |  |
| 17 | Eucalyptus camaldulensis (River red gum) | The Irene Champions | Estate land, parts of which were originally bought by General Jan Smuts, with a variety of trees planted since the late 19th century. | Height: 44 m Stem size: 2.57 m Crown size: 6.44 m | 296 | Irene Farm Estate, Pretoria, Gauteng | |
| 18 | Eucalyptus paniculata (Grey ironbark), maculata (Spotted gum), E. microcorys (Tallow gum) | Commonwealth plantation | Arboretum or sample plot of large Eucalyptus trees planted in the 1930s and protected to commemorate the Commonwealth Forestry Conference of 1935. | Height: 70 m (E. paniculata) & 72 m (E. microrys) & 71 m (E. maculata) Stem size: 4.07 m (E. paniculata) & 3.78 m (E. microrys) & 3.29 m (E. maculata) Crown size: 21.4 m & 17.4 m (E. paniculata) & 24.2 m & 23.5 m (E. microrys) & 22.7 m (E. maculata) | 350 | Middelkop Plantation, Haenertsburg, Limpopo | |
| 19 | Eucalyptus saligna | "Westfalia Showblock" | Stand of tall trees Eucalyptus saligna trees planted in 1933 (90–91 years old) by Hans Merensky. | Height: 1) 72 m 2) 72 m 3) 71 m Stem size: 1) 3.93 m 2) 3.91 m 3) 4.4 m (tree3) Crown size: 1) 19.3 m 14.6 m 2) 14.3 m & 12.7 m 3) 21.8 m & 16.5 m (tree3) | 322 | Westfalia Estate, Tzaneen, Limpopo | |
| 20 | Araucaria heterophylla (Norfolk Island pine) | "Kweekskoolboom" | Tallest Norfolk Island pine planted in 1826 (197–198 years old) by wife of the last landdrost of Stellenbosch. | Height: 46 m Stem size: 5.98 m Crown size: 22.4 m & 20.02 m | 292 | Faculty of Theology, Stellenbosch University, Dorp Street, Stellenbosch, Western Cape | |
| 21 | Eucalyptus camaldulensis (River red gum) | Bergzicht Market Trees | Planted in 1880 (143–144 years old). Prominent trees providing shade for an entire informal market. | Height: 34.5 m Stem size: 7.3 m Crown size: 34.1 m & 35.9 m | 311 | Cnr of Bird and Merriman Streets, Stellenbosch, Western Cape | |
| 22 | Quercus robur (English oak) | The Ryneveld Oak | Planted in 1812 (211–212 years old). One of only 5 oak trees remaining from the previous generation of planted oak trees. | Height: 29 m Stem size: 4.67 m Crown size: 16.25 m & 19 m | 148 | 6 Ryneveld Street Stellenbosch, Western Cape | |
| 23 | Quercus robur (English oak) | Zandvliet Oak | One of the biggest oaks in the district, located at a historic farmhouse of an old wine estate. | Height: 22 m Stem size: 4.86 m Crown size: 25.08 m | 137 | Zandvliet Delta Estate, Groot Drakenstein | |
| 24 | Populus nigra (Lombardy poplar) | Ruth Fischer Tree | The tree stands at the site where Ruth Fischer, daughter of Bram Fischer, ran a safe house for fugitives from the Apartheid security forces. The tree served as landmark for those seeking this safe house. | Height: 22 m Stem size: 3.52 m Crown size: 5.89 m | 56 | Corner of Fawley and Lothbury Avenue, Johannesburg, Gauteng | |
| 25 | Podocarpus falacatus (Outeniqua yellowwood) | "Tsitsikamma Big Tree" | One of the most accessible and famous big trees in the Tsitsikamma Forest. Visited by more than 80 000 tourists each year. | Height: 36 m Stem size: 9.15 m Crown size: 34 m | 379 | Near Storms River, Plaatbos Nature Reserve, Garden Route National Park, Eastern Cape |  |
| 26 | Afrocarpus falcatus (Outeniqua yellowwood) | "Woodville Big Tree" | One of the largest yellowwoods in the Knysna forests, receiving substantial numbers of visitors. | Height: 33.5 m Stem size: 8.9 m Crown size: 29.8 m & 29.5 m | 314 | Collin's Hoek, Bergplaas Forest Estate, Garden Route National Park, Western Cape |  |
| 27 | Afrocarpus falcatus (Outeniqua yellowwood) | Eastern Monarch | One of the largest trees in Eastern Cape, and located next to Tyume hiking trail. | Height: 39.4 m Stem size: 8.5 m Crown size: 29.69 m | 355 | Auckland Nature Reserve, Keiskamma Forest Estate, Eastern Cape | |
| 28 | Afrocarpus falcatus (Outeniqua yellowwood) | The Dalene Matthee Big Tree | Landmark tree towering above the forest, and the site of a memorial to writer Dalene Matthee. | Height: 35.4 m Stem size: 5.4 m Crown size: 28.35 m | 247 | Goudveld, Garden Route National Park, Western Cape |  |
| 29 | Quercus robur (English oak) | Slave tree | Very large oak tree planted in 1811 (212–213 years ago) - one of the biggest in the southern hemisphere. De-listed after tree was damaged. | Height: 24 m Stem size: 5.7 m Crown size: 29 m & 25.8 m | 81 | George Tourism Bureau, 124 York Street, Western Cape |  |
| 30 | Cedrus deodara and Cypressus sempervirens | President Brand trees | Historic collection of trees of different species planted by visiting dignitaries since 1879 in front of the old government buildings in President Brand Street, Bloemfontein. De-listed after all trees died and were replaced. | Height: 20 m (Cedrus deodara) & 27 m (Cypressus sempervirens) Stem size: 3.1 m (Cedrus deodara) & 2.14 m (Cypressus sempervirens) Crown size: 16.9 m (Cedrus deodara) & 9.7 m (Cypressus sempervirens) | Old Government Buildings, President Brand Street, Bloemfontein, Free State | ||
| 31 | Quercus robur (English oak) | Sophiatown Oak and The Hanging Tree | The first individual tree proclaimed as protected under the National Forests Act. It was mutilated and died, but site is still of historic significance. The tree was part of the history of Sophiatown and the struggle against the forced removal of the community in the 1950s. The site will be memorialised. | Height: 18 m Stem size: 4.48 m Crown size:32 m | 128 | 8 Bertha Street Sophiatown, Johannesburg, Gauteng | |
| 32 | Eucalyptus ficifolia (Red flowering gum) | Ida's Valley Giant | Very large and attractive tree, estimated to be more than 2 centuries old. A landmark on an old historic farm. | Height: 23 m Stem size: 5.14 m, 4.31 m, 2.95 m & 0.79 m Crown size: 25.4 m & 24.4 m | 169 | Ida's Valley Homestead, Stellenbosch, Western Cape | Ida's Valley Champion Tree in Stellenbosch on YouTube |
| 33 | Quercus robur (English oak) | Northcliff Oak | The largest and oldest measured oak tree in Gauteng, and an impressive landmark. | Height: 22 m Stem size: 5.96 m Crown size: 29.4 m | 164 | Kirchmont Heights, 4 Koelenhof Road, Northcliff, Johannesburg, Gauteng | |
| 34 | Ficus macrophylla (Moreton Bay fig) | Wedding Tree and Arderne Fig Tree | Largest tree in the Western Cape | Height: 32.5 m Stem size: 11.89 m Crown size: 44.3 m | 347 | Arderne Gardens, Claremont, Cape Town, Western Cape |  |
| 35 | Araucaria heterophylla (Norfolk Island pine) | The Grand Norfolk Pine and The Arderne Pine | Exceptionally tall tree, even for its kind. | Height: 42.6 m Stem size: 5.75 m Crown size: 19.09 m | 252 | Arderne Gardens, Claremont, Cape Town, Western Cape |  |
| 36 | Quercus suber (Cork oak) | Arderne Cork Oak | Landmark tree planted by tree pioneers Ralph and Henry Arderne. [lower-alpha 2] | Height: 15.5 m Stem size: 4.4 m Crown size: 27.08 m & 25.75 m | 101 | Arderne Gardens, Claremont, Cape Town, Western Cape | |
| 37 | Quercus cerris (Turkey oak) | Arderne Turkey Oak | Landmark tree planted by tree pioneers Ralph and Henry Arderne. [lower-alpha 2] Tree collapsed in October 2023. [6] | Height: 21.56 m Stem size: 5.9 m Crown size: 28.75 m & 29.7 m | 159 | Arderne Gardens, Claremont, Cape Town, Western Cape | |
| 38 | Pinus halepensis (Aleppo pine) | Arderne Aleppo Pine | One of the largest and oldest trees in Arderne Gardens. [lower-alpha 2] | Height: 35 m Stem size: 5.46 m Crown size: 31.85 m & 32 m | 241 | Arderne Gardens, Claremont, Cape Town, Western Cape | |
| 39 | Agathis robusta (Queensland kauri) | Arderne Kauri | One of the largest and oldest trees in Arderne Gardens. [lower-alpha 2] | Height: 27.7 m Stem size: 4.94 m Crown size: 26.6 m & 26.3 m | 179 | Arderne Gardens, Claremont, Cape Town, Western Cape | |
| 40 | Eucalyptus diversicolor (Karri gum) | "Brackenhill Gum Trees" | Tallest stand of Karri gum in the country, planted in 1922 (101–102 years old). | Height: 70 m Stem size: 4.6 m Crown size: 26.34 m & 25.2 m | 429 | Kruisfontein State Forest, Harkerville, Western Cape | |
| 41 | Casuarina cunninghamiana (Beefwood) | Scanlen's Lane | Lane of large casuarinas planted in the 1860s by Charles Scanlen. | Height: 1) 27 m 2)27 m 3) 27 m Stem size: 1) 5.18 m 2) 5.81 m 3) 5.82 m Crown size: 1) 22.7 m 2) 22.92 m 3) 23.12 m | 177 (Tree 3) | Municipal Recreation Grounds, Cradock, Eastern Cape | |
| 42 | Quercus robur (English oak) | Van der Stel's Oak Tree | Oak tree planted 3 centuries ago. It is the largest and oldest oak tree in the country. | Height: 14 m Stem size: 10.73 m Crown size: 22.1 m | 121 | Vergelegen Wines, Somerset West, Western Cape |  |
| 43 | Eucalyptus regnans (Mountain ash) | The Benvie Trees | The tallest tree measured in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands to date. The trio are situated on the scenic Benvie Arboretum, and established by Scottish emigrant John Geekie more than 80 years ago. | Height: 61 m Stem size: 6.85 m Crown size: 27.1 m & 28.6 m | 475 | Benvie Farm, New Hanover, KwaZulu-Natal | |
| 44 | Pinus radiata (Monterey pine) | The Eastern Cape Pine | Tallest pine tree in the Eastern Cape. Planted in late 1880s by forest workers as part of an early tree plantation. | Height: 51 m Stem size: 4.74 m Crown size: 15.5 m | 247 | Isidenge State Forest, near Stutterheim, Eastern Cape | |
| 45 | Corymbia citriodora (Lemon scented gum) | Paul Roos Trees | Very attractive group of big trees in scenic setting on campus grounds. | Height: 1) 39 m 2) 41 m 3) 42 m Stem size: 1) 2.4 m 2) 1.33 m 3) 1.26 m Crown size: 1) 21.7 m & 22.5 m 2) 30.3 m & 27.3 m 3) 30.3 m & 19.9 m | 284 (Tree 1) | Campus of Paul Roos Gymnasium, Welgelegen, Stellenbosch, Western Cape | |
| 46 | Quercus robur (English oak) | Bonniemile Oak | Large oak tree on farmyard next to the original wagon route linking Stellenbosch with Cape Town. Locals claim that W. A. van der Stel granted land to his coachmen, who planted the trees. | Height: 24 m Stem size: 5.16 m Crown size: 33 m & 34 m | 178 | Bonniemile, Stellenbosch, Western Cape | |
| 47 | Eucalyptus camaldulensis (Red river gum) | The Ruth Steer Tree | The tree plays a very prominent role in the landscape on the river plateau of Stellenbosch. It is the same size as the Bergzicht Tree and was thus probably also planted c. 1880. | Height: 33 m Stem size: 7.87 m Crown size: 32.6 m & 33.7 m | 301 | 60 Jonkershoek Avenue, Stellenbosch, Western Cape | |
| 48 | Eucalyptus camaldulensis (River red gum) | Wits Campus Tree | Large Eucalyptus planted more than 80 years ago adjacent to the entrance to Johannesburg on the old Rustenburg road. | Height: 34 m Stem size: 7.45 m Crown size: 36.4 m & 38.7 m | 321 | Gavin Reilly Green, West campus WITS, Johannesburg, Gauteng |  |
| 49 | Liriodendron tulipifera (Tulip tree) | The Baynesfield Tulip Tree | Tree planted by Joseph Baynes in 1882 (141–142 years old), on the historic Baynesfield Estate. | Height: 34 m Stem size: 6.42 m Crown size: 25.3 m & 26.75 m | 248 | Baynesfield Estate, Richmond, KwaZulu-Natal 29°45′51.933″S30°20′32.617″E / 29.76442583°S 30.34239361°E | |
| 50 | Sequoia sempervirens (Californian redwood) | The Grootvadersbos Redwood Grove | Stand of tall Redwoods planted at Grootvadersbosch more than 80 years ago. | Height: 1) 57 m 2) 58 m 3) 66 m Stem size: 1) 3.47 m 2) 4.35 m 3) 3.2 m Crown size: 1) 11.2 m 2) 12.2 m 3) 12.2 m | 238 (Tree 2); 232 (Tree 3); 200 (Tree 1) | Grootvadersbosch Nature Reserve, Western Cape 33°58′55.581″S20°49′48.709″E / 33.98210583°S 20.83019694°E |  |
| 51 | Eucalyptus saligna (Sydney bluegum) | Herbert Baker Chapel Trees | Group of scenic trees standing next to a chapel designed by Sir Herbert Baker. | Height: 1) 33 m 2) 31 m 3) 42 m 4) 45 m Stem size: 1) 6.14 m 2) 4.81 m 3) 5.69 m 4) 5.96 m Crown size: 1) 26.8 m & 27.3 m 2) 22.5 m 3) 26.3 m 4) 27.2 m & 27.3 m | 324 (Tree 2); 240 (Tree 1) | Porter Estate, Orpen Road, Western Cape | |
| 52 | Sequoia sempervirens (Californian redwood) | The Table Mountain Grove | Redwood trees planted in 1897 (126–127 years old), forming a landmark and recreation area for local residents, including tall Monterey pines at the fringe of this grove. | Height: 51 m Stem size: 3.44 m Crown size: 15.1 m | 207 | Part of block B18C Tokai plantation, Table Mountain National Park, Western Cape | |
| 53 | Acacia galpinii (Monkey thorn) | The Marico Tree | Tallest thorn tree measured in South Africa to date. | Height: 37 m Stem size: 5.69 m Crown size: 30 m& 32.14 m | 277 | Veeplaas, Skuinsdrift, Groot Marico, Northwest 25°23′25.620″S26°22′42.327″E / 25.39045000°S 26.37842417°E | |
| 54 | Ficus thonningii (Common wild fig) | "Umtentweni Giant" | Largest Common wild fig in South Africa. | Height: 21 m Stem size: 9.74 m Crown size: 34.1 m | 288 | Eden Park, Umtentweni, KwaZulu-Natal | |
| 55 | Eucalyptus camaldulensis (Red river gum) | The Infruitec Gum Tree | Large tree planted about 130 years ago, and now a landmark. | Height: 38.2 m Stem size: 9.7 m Crown size: 34 m & 40.1 m | 409 | Infruitec, Helshoogte Pass, Stellenbosch, Western Cape 33°55′23.082″S18°52′11.581″E / 33.92307833°S 18.86988361°E | |
| 56 | Eucalyptus camaldulensis (Red river gum) | Wilgenhof Grandfather | Large tree planted about 130 years ago, and now a landmark. | Height: 30.8 m Stem size: 8.5 m Crown size: 28.1 m & 28.4 m | 269 | Wilgenhof Residence, Victoria Street, Universiteitsoord, Stellenbosch, Western Cape |  |
| 57 | Adansonia digitata (Baobab) | The King of Ga-Ratjeke | Newly discovered and one of the big 5 biggest indigenous trees in South Africa. | Height: 23.5 m Stem size: 24.15 m; 7.85 m & 2.14 m Crown size: 34.4 m & 30.8 m | 383 | Ga-Ratjeke Village, Limpopo | |
| 58 | Quercus robur (English oak) | Akkerdraai Oak Tree | Large Oak tree, possibly older than 175 years. Prominent landmark. | Height: 28 m Stem size: 6.1 m Crown size: 26 m | 198 | Akkerdraai Lodge, Annandale Road, Stellenbosch, Western Cape 33°59′48.508″S18°49′46.516″E / 33.99680778°S 18.82958778°E | |
| 59 | Eucalyptus grandis ; Eucalyptus maculata (Rose gum, Spotted gum) | Gum Tree Corner | Group of exceptionally large gum trees. | Height: 58 m Stem size: 6.16 m Crown size: 41.2 m | 521 | KwaZulu-Natal National Botanical Garden, Pietermaritzburg, Kwa-Zulu Natal | |
| 60 | Sequoia sempervirens (Californian redwood) | Misty Grove | A stand of tall Sequoia trees planted about 80 years ago. | Height: 59 m Stem size: 3.4 m circ Crown size: 18 m | 260 | Woodbush Plantation, Haenertsburg, Limpopo | |
| 61 | Eucalyptus saligna (Saligna gum) | "Saasveld Sentinels" | Large Eucalyptus landmark trees at the scenic Saasveld campus. | Height: 1) 35 m 2) 39 m Stem size: 1) 5.49 m 2) 4.61 m Crown size: 1) 29.6 m 2) 34.2 m | 276 | Saasveld Campus of Nelson Mandela University, Western Cape 33°57′43.4160″S22°32′06.6480″E / 33.962060000°S 22.535180000°E | |
| 62 | Populus deltoides (Cottonwood tree) | The Parktown Tree | The largest Cottonwood tree measured locally, and a remnant of the semi-rural surroundings of Johannesburg which are now built up. | Height: 35 m Crown size: 28.07 m | 238 | 5a 10th Avenue, Parktown North, Gauteng | |
| 63 | Pinus pseudostrobus (False Weymouth pine) | The Three Matrons | The largest pine trees in Limpopo, planted in 1914 (109–110 years old). | Height: 1) 49.2 m 2) 50.3 m Stem size: 1) 4.93 m 2) 4.26 m Crown size: 1) 24.35 m 2) 16.7 m | 304 (Tree 1); 239 (Tree 2) | Woodbush Forest Estate, Limpopo 23°50′35.6280″S29°59′03.2640″E / 23.843230000°S 29.984240000°E | |
| 64 | Ficus macrophylla (Moreton bay fig) | The Zoo Giant | Large landmark tree near the entrance of the Pretoria Zoo. | Height: 27 m Stem size: 11.94 m Crown size: 39.7 m & 43.1 m | 339 | National Zoological Gardens, Pretoria, Gauteng 25°44′16.4000″S28°11′20.6300″E / 25.737888889°S 28.189063889°E | |
| 65 | Pinus taeda (Loblolly pine) | The Buffelsnek Pine | Tallest pine tree measured in South Africa. | Height: 60.1 m Crown size: 18 m | 279 | Buffelsnek State Forest, Knysna, Western Cape 33°54′28.5500″S23°09′17.4000″E / 33.907930556°S 23.154833333°E | |
| 66 | Ficus sycomorus (Sycamore fig) | "The iLembe Tree" | Very large tree in rural landscape, known as a local landmark from a century ago. | Height: 23 m Stem size: 11.49 m & 2.66 m & 12.12 m (23.55 m just below 1.4 m) Crown size: 39.24 m & 32.25 m | 318 | iLembe District Municipality, KwaZulu-Natal 28°52′50.7000″S30°58′58.7280″E / 28.880750000°S 30.982980000°E | |
| 67 | Cussonia spicata (Lowveld cabbage tree) | "The Kurisa Forest Giant" | An imposing giant forest tree. | Height: 35 m Stem size: 11.65 m Crown size: 22 m | 316 | Kurisa Moya Nature Lodge, Limpopo 23°28′51.4920″S29°24′00.0480″E / 23.480970000°S 29.400013333°E |  |
| 68 | Eucalyptus camaldulensis (River red gum) | The Waterkloof Giant | Largest landmark tree of the eastern Pretoria suburbs. Remnant of a plantation taken over by suburban development. | Height: 34 m Stem size: 6.783 m Crown size: 33.72 m & 34.82 m | 292 | Waterkloof Primary School, Pretoria, Gauteng 25°46′40.7600″S28°14′29.1700″E / 25.777988889°S 28.241436111°E | |
| 69 | Adansonia digitata (Baobab) | Buffelsdrift baobab or Swartwater baobab | One of the five largest baobabs in the country. | Height: 28.4 m Stem size: 24.55 m Crown size: 29.11 m | 336 | Farm Swartwater, Limpopo 22°30′50.9400″S28°07′58.7640″E / 22.514150000°S 28.132990000°E |  |
| 70 | Afrocarpus falcatus (Outeniqua yellowwood) | The Blouberg Big Trees | Among the tallest indigenous forest trees in the country. | Height: 41 m Stem size: 5.2 m Crown size: 31 m | 293 | Blouberg, Limpopo 23°05′08.8440″S29°00′08.7120″E / 23.085790000°S 29.002420000°E | |
| 71 | Ficus macrophylla (Moreton bay fig) | The Kindergarten Giant | Large landmark tree at the UCT campus. | Height: 25 m Stem size: 16 m Crown size: 41 m | 361 | University of Cape Town, Cape Town, Western Cape 33°57′31.1500″S18°27′28.5800″E / 33.958652778°S 18.457938889°E |  |
| 72 | Ficus thoningii (Common wild fig) | The Vygekraal Trees | A scenic grove of large trees growing on the walls of a cattle kraal built in the late nineteenth century | Height: 23 m Stem size: 5.02 m Crown size: 2.,6 m | 155 | The farm Vygekraal, Pretoria, Gauteng | |
| 73 | Eucalyptus grandis(rose gume) | The Satico Giants | Stand of second-tallest trees in the country, planted in 1938 (85–86 years old) | Height: 72.3 m Stem size: 3.29 m Crown size: 16.5 m | 301 | Satico Plantation, near Louw's Creek, Mpumalanga | |
| 74 | Eucalyptus globulus (blue gum) | Exceptionally large gum tree | Height: 72.3 m Stem size: 3.29 m Crown size: 16.5 m | The farm Radyn near Villliersdorp, Western Cape | |||
| 75 | Ficus macrophylla (Moreton Bay fig) | The Fernwood Trees | Landmark trees of the same vintage as the Arderne Garden trees (about 160 years old) | Height: 27.5 m Stem size: 3.29 m Crown size: 45.5 m | 322 | Fernwood Avenue, Newlands, Cape Town, Western Cape |  |
| 76 | Cinnamomum camphora (camphor tree) | The Hohenhort Grove | Grove of camphor trees of about 250 years old growing behind cellars on a historic farmyard. | Height: 24 m Stem size: 9.48 m Crown size: 18.9 m | 151 | Cellar Hohenort Hotel, Brommesvlei Road, Constantia, Cape Town, Western Cape | |
| 77 | Eucalyptus globulus (blue red gum) | The Welbedacht Tree | Landmark tree on private nature reserve. | Height: 37.5 m Crown size: 29.8 m | 330 | Welbedacht Reserve, Tulbagh, Western Cape | |
| 78 | Sequoia sempervirens (Californian redwood) | Hogsback Redwood Giants | Grove of large redwood trees planted almost a century ago. | Height: 55 m Crown size: 13.2 m | 309 | Hogsback, Eastern Cape | |
| 79 | Quercus suber (cork oak) | Ina Paarman Oak | Tree on the property of Mrs Ina Paarman of food condiments fame, planted in the mid-19th century. | Height: 22.7 m Crown size: 32.6 m | 157 | Constantia Main Road, Constantia, Western Cape | |
| 80 | Eucalyptus globulus (blue gum) | Houwhoek Inn Tree | Large tree planted in the mid-19th century at the oldest hotel in the country. (1850 [7] ) | Height: 27 m Crown size: 26.8 m | 250 | Off the N2 road, Grabouw, Western Cape |  |
| 81 | Eucalyptus saligna (saligna gum) | Merensky Lane | Scenic lane of trees planted by Hans Merensky on the Westfalia Estate in the 1930s. | Height: 69 m Crown size: 21.5 m | 404 | Westfalia Estate, Modjadjiskloof, Limpopo | |
| 82 | Eucalyptus diversicolor (Karri gum) | Boschendal Lane | Lane of exceptionally large trees planted more than two centuries ago. | Height: 50.4 m Crown size: 33.6 m | 483 | Boschendal Estate, Helshoogte Road, Western Cape | |
| 83 | Sequoia sempervirens (Californian redwood) | The Harkerville Giants | Tall and scenic redwoods planted in 1925 (98–99 years ago). | Height: 48 m | Harkerville State Forest, Garden Route National Park, Western Cape | ||
| 84 | Ficus elastica (rubber tree) | The Company's Garden Giant | Large tree forming a focal point to the entry to the Company's Gardens. | Height: 36.7 m | Company's Garden, Cape Town, Western Cape |  | |
| 85 | Ficus sur (broom cluster fig) | The Sabie River Giant | Very large tree along the Sabie River. | Height: 34.5 m | Sabie Park Nature Reserve, Limpopo | ||
| 86 | Ficus thonningii (common wild fig) | The Whisper Tree or Fluisterboom | Very large tree in the grounds of a guesthouse. Estimated to be more than 200 years old. | Height: 17 m | Voëlroepersfontein Guest House, Albertinia, Western Cape | ||
| 87 | Eucalyptus viminalis (manna gum tree) | The Frankfort Big Trees | Two very large landmark trees on a farm near the Vaal Dam. | Height: 33.0 m | The farm Brakwal, Grootdam-Alma 1440, Frankfort, Free State | ||
| 88 | Eucalyptis saligna | The Dwarsrivierkloof Lane | A lane of very large landmark trees on a farm, planted more than 150 years ago. | Height: 60.4 m | The farm Dwarsrivierkloof, Winelands District Municipality, Western Cape | ||
| 89 | Adansonia digitata (baobab) | The Honnet Giant | One of the five biggest baobab in South Africa. | Height: 16 m | Honnet Nature Reserve, Tshipise, Limpopo | ||
| 90 | Corymbia ficifolia (red flowering gum) | The Wolfskloof Tree | Very large landmark tree on a farm; 170 years old. | Height: 34.5 m | Wolfkloof Farm, Robertson District, Western Cape | ||
| 91 | Ficus anulata (Anulata fig) | The Durban Big Tree | Very large and rare landmark tree in botanical garden. | Height: 33 m | Durban Botanic Gardens, Kwa-Zulu Natal | ||
| 92 | Ficus benghalensis (Banyan tree) | The Durban Banyan Tree | Very large landmark tree in botanical garden. | Height: 31 m | Durban Botanic Gardens, Kwa-Zulu Natal |  | |
| 93 | Eucalyptus camaldulensis (River red gum) | The Plaisir de Merle Trees | Grove of very large trees. | Height: 37.2 m | Plaisir de Merle, Simondium, Western Cape |
Environmental laws are laws that protect the environment. Environmental law is the collection of laws, regulations, agreements and common law that governs how humans interact with their environment. This includes environmental regulations; laws governing management of natural resources, such as forests, minerals, or fisheries; and related topics such as environmental impact assessments. Environmental law is seen as the body of laws concerned with the protection of living things from the harm that human activity may immediately or eventually cause to them or their species, either directly or to the media and the habits on which they depend.
A forest is an ecosystem characterized by a dense community of trees. Hundreds of definitions of forest are used throughout the world, incorporating factors such as tree density, tree height, land use, legal standing, and ecological function. The United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) defines a forest as, "Land spanning more than 0.5 hectares with trees higher than 5 meters and a canopy cover of more than 10 percent, or trees able to reach these thresholds in situ. It does not include land that is predominantly under agricultural or urban use." Using this definition, Global Forest Resources Assessment 2020 found that forests covered 4.06 billion hectares, or approximately 31 percent of the world's land area in 2020.
The United States Forest Service (USFS) is an agency within the U.S. Department of Agriculture that administers the nation's 154 national forests and 20 national grasslands covering 193 million acres (780,000 km2) of land. The major divisions of the agency are the Chief's Office, National Forest System, State and Private Forestry, Business Operations, as well as Research and Development. The agency manages about 25% of federal lands and is the sole major national land management agency not part of the U.S. Department of the Interior.
Protected areas of South Australia, consisting of protected areas located within South Australia and its immediate onshore waters and which are managed by South Australian Government agencies. As of 2018, South Australia contained 359 separate protected areas declared under the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972, the Crown Land Management Act 2009 and the Wilderness Protection Act 1992. Together, they cover a total land area of 211,387.48 km2 (81,617.16 sq mi) or 21.5% of the state's area.
Protected areas or conservation areas are locations which receive protection because of their recognized natural or cultural values. Protected areas are those areas in which human presence or the exploitation of natural resources is limited.
The conservation status of a group of organisms indicates whether the group still exists and how likely the group is to become extinct in the near future. Many factors are taken into account when assessing conservation status: not simply the number of individuals remaining, but the overall increase or decrease in the population over time, breeding success rates, and known threats. Various systems of conservation status are in use at international, multi-country, national and local levels, as well as for consumer use such as sustainable seafood advisory lists and certification. The two international systems are by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
Conservation in New Zealand has a history associated with both Māori and Europeans. Both groups of people caused a loss of species and both altered their behaviour to a degree after realising their effect on indigenous flora and fauna.
Forestry laws govern activities in designated forest lands, most commonly with respect to forest management and timber harvesting. Forestry laws generally adopt management policies for public forest resources, such as multiple use and sustained yield. Forest management is split between private and public management, with public forests being sovereign property of the State. Forestry laws are now considered an international affair.
Forest management is a branch of forestry concerned with overall administrative, legal, economic, and social aspects, as well as scientific and technical aspects, such as silviculture, forest protection, and forest regulation. This includes management for timber, aesthetics, recreation, urban values, water, wildlife, inland and nearshore fisheries, wood products, plant genetic resources, and other forest resource values. Management objectives can be for conservation, utilisation, or a mixture of the two. Techniques include timber extraction, planting and replanting of different species, building and maintenance of roads and pathways through forests, and preventing fire.
Papua New Guinea together with the West Papua region of Indonesia make up a major tropical wilderness area that still contains 5% of the original and untouched tropical high-biodiversity terrestrial ecosystems. PNG in itself contains over 5% of the world's biodiversity in less than 1% of the world's total land area. The flora of New Guinea is unique because it has two sources of origin; the Gondwana flora from the south and flora with Asian origin from the west. As a result, New Guinea shares major family and genera with Australia and the East Asia, but is rich in local endemic species. The endemicity is a result of mountainous isolation, topographic and soil habitat heterogeneity, high forest disturbance rates and abundant aseasonal rainfall year round. PNG boasts some 15–21,000 higher plants, 3,000 species of orchids, 800 species of coral, 600 species of fish, 250 species of mammals and 760 species of birds and 8 species of tree-kangaroos out of which 84 genera of animals are endemic. Ecosystems range from lowland forests to montane forests, alpine flora down to coastal areas which contains some of the most extensive pristine mangrove areas in the world. Much of this biodiversity has remained intact for thousands of years because the ruggedness of the terrain made the interior lands inaccessible; furthermore low population density and restrictions on the effectiveness of traditional tools, ensured that these biodiversity was never overexploited.
Forest protection is a branch of forestry which is concerned with the preservation or improvement of a forest and prevention and control of damage to forest by natural or man made causes like forest fires, plant pests, and adverse climatic conditions.
Since declaring independence in 1981, Belize has enacted many environmental protection laws aimed at the preservation of the country's natural and cultural heritage, as well as its wealth of natural resources. These acts have established a number of different types of protected areas, with each category having its own set of regulations dictating public access, resource extraction, land use and ownership.
The Sagole Baobab is a Champion Tree and the largest baobab tree in South Africa. It is located east from Tshipise, in Vendaland, Limpopo Province and has a trunk diameter 10.8 metres, circumference 32.89 metres. It would take 18–20 people to encircle the tree with open hands.
Australia has coastal areas where mangrove thickets and swamps occur, such as in the intertidal zones of protected tropical, subtropical and some temperate coastal rivers, river deltas, estuaries, lagoons and bays. Less than 1% of Australia's total forested area consists of mangroves.
Cecilia is a section of the Table Mountain National Park on the lower eastern slopes of Table Mountain in Cape Town, located just to the south of Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden. It was previously used for commercial logging and known as Cecilia Forest or Cecilia Plantation, but has now been given protected status and integrated into the National Park.
Chiau Wen-yan is a Taiwanese politician. He was the member of Legislative Yuan, a professor and the former director of the Institute of Marine Affairs and Resource Management at National Taiwan Ocean University.
The Wonderboom is a dense grove of parent and daughter trees of the species Ficus salicifolia, that descended from a central bole of about a thousand years old. It is situated in the Wonderboom Nature Reserve, Pretoria, and two circular walkways currently protect it from pedestrian traffic around its trunk and roots. As it has grown, its outlying branches have rooted themselves around the parent tree. This has repeated until there are now three layers of daughter trees encircling the mother fig, with 13 distinct trunks, covering an area with a diameter of over 50 metres.
The marine protected areas of South Africa are in an area of coastline or ocean within the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the Republic of South Africa that is protected in terms of specific legislation for the benefit of the environment and the people who live in and use it. An MPA is a place where marine life can thrive under less pressure than unprotected areas. They are like underwater parks, and this healthy environment can benefit neighbouring areas.
The Rocherpan Marine Protected Area is a small coastal conservation region on the West Coast of the Western Cape province, in the territorial waters of South Africa. It is about 25 km north of Velddrif on the road to Elands Bay, north of Dwarskersbos.
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