Tokai/Cecilia
Introduction
In April 2005 the Tokai and Cecilia
Plantations became part of the
The Tokai and Cecilia Pine Plantation are
commercial operations that have been harvested on a cyclical basis since the
early 1900’s. The harvesting is determined by the age of the trees and their
yield has been factored into the availability of timber on the commercial
market for use in the industrial and construction sectors.
Role Players
Mountains to Oceans
The plantation is located on state
owned land under the jurisdiction of the Department of Water Affairs and
Forestry (DWAF) with SAFCOL having previously managed the plantation in terms
of its commercial operations.
Recently SAFCOL was fragmented and all
the commercial plantations were put out to a nation-wide tender. A company
called Cape Timber Resources (CTR) won the state tender to the harvesting
rights of the Tokai and Cecilia in these plantations. CTR then bought 75% share
in MTO - and the state retained a 25% share. MTO operates across the Western
and
MTO has bought and paid for the timber
and will lease the land during the harvesting process. The harvesting will
occur over a period of 20 years as compartments mature.
The Department of Water Affairs and Forestry (DWAF)
DWAF is the land owner of the Tokai
& Cecilia Plantations and therefore MTO’s original lessor. However, Tokai
and Cecilia are located within a designated nature area – the Cape Peninsula
Protected Natural Environment (CPPNE). When the TMNP was established the
government agreed that that the conservation worthy land within the CPPNE be
incorporated into the TMNP over time. To this end DWAF has assigned the 20 year
lease with MTO to SANParks/ TMNP.
TMNP is now MTO’s lessor and will take
be taking over the management and rehabilitation of clear felled areas. TMNP is
not the agency harvesting the trees nor will it profit from the harvesting. TMNP’s only involvement with the commercial
harvesting activities is ensuring that MTO abides by the lease agreement.
In addition the TMNP has also taken
over management of recreational activities, visitor management and
administration of the area.
However, it is recognised that much of
the plantation is a popular recreational area and for this reason a process of
public engagement with interested and affected parties will be undertaken for
the preparation of a broader management plan for the area.
As this process will require broad
consultation and must be conducted in a thorough, comprehensive manner, TMNP is
applying for funds to appoint a dedicated, professional service agency to drive
the process.
As the land will be managed as part of
the
The harvesting process
For safety reasons members of the
public are asked not to enter the compartments during the harvesting process.
For information please e-mail:
chrisb@sanparks.org