In 2010, South Africa had about 3.93 Mha of natural forest, covering over 4.3% of its land area. In 2023, it lost 12.3 ha of natural forest, equivalent to 26.2 Mt of CO₂ emissions. From 2000 to 2020, South Africa experienced a net change of -142 kha (-1.9%) in tree cover.

• Stable forest 5.80 Mha
• Gain 388 kha
• Loss 530 kha
• Disturbed 1.28 Mha

2010 South Africa’s natural forests covered 3.97 million hectares, equivalent to a third of the Western Cape. Just 11 years later, urbanization, farming, mining, and other activities had wiped out 23 900ha of natural forest — an area almost the size of Table Mountain National Park destroyed. South Africa’s climate is such that less than 0,5% of its surface area is covered with indigenous forest – great care should be taken to conserve the little we have. In South Africa, the reduction in forest sizes has led to a small overall contribution to the country’s total carbon stocks. Grassland and savanna, with far less per hectare carbon stocks, contribute the largest proportion of the total carbon stored.

Between 2001 and 2023, South Africa lost about 150 kha of tree cover from fires and 1.4 Mha from all other drivers of loss.

• Tree cover loss from other sources 45 Mha
• Tree cover loss from fires 150 kha

The year with the most tree cover loss due to fires during this period was 2017, with 22.8 kha lost to fires — 24% of all tree cover loss for that year. Fires were responsible for 9.3% of tree cover loss in South Africa between 2001 and 2023. Western Cape had the highest rate of tree cover loss due to fires, with an average of 4.68 kha lost per year, as shown in the table below.

1
Western Cape	4.68 kha
2
Eastern Cape	1.14 kha
3
KwaZulu-Natal	462ha
4
Mpumalanga	150 ha
5
Limpopo	62ha

 

The South African government remains committed to implementing its NDC adaptation and mitigation commitments under the Paris Climate Agreement. In South Africa, policies that reduce deforestation and forest degradation emissions have provided a significant benefit for maintaining carbon sinks, biodiversity, ecosystem services, and supporting livelihoods. Also, the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF) Agroforestry Strategic Framework for South Africa 2017 presents a broad overview of the potential for agroforestry in a South African context by providing a set of principles, strategic themes, and goals. Further, it recognizes the potential role of agroforestry in carbon sequestration.

South Africa has the National Forests Act, 1998 (Act No. 84 of 1998) (NFA), which promotes the sustainable management and development of forests for all benefit and creates the conditions necessary to restructure forestry in State forests for protection and sustainable use. Another important forest policy is the National Veld and Forest Fire Act, 1998 (Act No. 101 of 1998), which makes provisions for the prevention and management of veld, forest, and mountain fires throughout the Republic of South Africa.

Learn More Resources

1. https://mg.co.za/the-green-guardian/2023-06-05-unpacking-deforestation-forest-loss-and-carbon
2. https://www.environment.co.za/environmental-issues/deforestation.html
3. https://www.globalforestwatch.org/dashboards/country/ZAF/
4. The South African Carbon Sinks Atlas, first edition (2017) Department of Environmental Affairs, Pretoria, South Africa
5. National Terrestrial Carbon Sinks Assessment: Summary for Policy Makers (2020), Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries, Pretoria, South Africa
6. NDC implementation in South Africa through green investments by private sector A SCOPING STUDY. The African Development Bank

Primary influencer for Forest conservation in South African

South Africa Forestry Company Limited (Safcol) is the government’s forestry company, conducting timber harvesting, timber processing, and related activities, both domestically and internationally. Safcol mainly focuses on managing and protecting the growing stock to provide logs to the industry and internal processing mills sustainably. SAFCOL (South African Forestry Company SOC Limited) is a state-owned forestry company in South Africa, under the Department of Public Enterprises (DPE) with operations in Limpopo, Mpumalanga, KwaZulu-Natal, as well as in the southern half (Manica and Sofala provinces) of Mozambique.

Masebolelo Gaeganelwe is the Chief Information Officer & Acting Chief Risk Officer of Safcol

Contacts: Masebolelo.Gaeganelwe@safcol.co.za

Dear Ms. Gaeganelwe, we have a few suggestions for making South African forestry more productive and sustainable.  To maintain, conserve, and enhance forests, Safcol should undertake the following;

1. Ensure the prohibition of forest conversions for efficient and sustainable management of forests,
2. Foster the continued competitiveness of the forestry sector locally and internationally within bounds of acceptable environmental and social costs,
3. Address all options to increase the sustainable development of forests through research, technological and managerial innovation,
4. Support research and promote innovation through technology transfer to maintain the competitiveness and sustainability of the industry and to improve productivity,
5. Develop district-level plans for areas where many small farmers are involved in forestry developments. This will regulate small-scale afforestation and mitigate social and environmental costs.
6. Develop district-level fire management plans to minimize the reduction of forests due to wildfires.
7. Ensure prohibition of genetically modified trees and most hazardous chemicals.

This post was submitted by South Africa Country Manager Rugare Zhou.