Barbara Dallas Creecy, Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment has added four new tree species to the annual list of all tree species which are protected under the National Forestry Act of 1998. Disturbing or damaging these protected tree species holds some heavy repercussions including up to three years prison time and a hefty fine. This update to the Forestry Act came on 25 March 2022.
The newly protected trees under the National Forestry Act are listed below:
- Berchemia zeyheri (red ivory, pink ivory, rooi-ivoor)
- Diospyros mespiliformis (jackal berry, musuma, muntoma)
- Schinziophyton rautanenii (manketti, mankettiboom, mokongwa)
- Umtiza listeriana (umtiza, omtisa)
By declaring these trees as protected under the National Forestry Act, it stipulates that “no person may cut, damage or destroy any protected tree or, possess, collect, remove, transport, export, purchase, sell, donate or in any other manner acquire or dispose of any protected tree, or any forest product derived from a protected tree,” as per the gazette.
There are some exceptions, however, for those who have been granted a license by the Minister. Any person who disobeys the regulations set out in the act commits a first category offence and may be sentenced to up to three years in prison, issued a fine, or both, the gazette added.
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Picture: Wikimedia Commons
