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Urban Forest Protection Group

Articles in South African newspapers :

CAPE TIMES Friday October 20, 2006

 More and some press cuttings

Read this brilliant letter from BILL IMPEY,-  a tourist to Cape Town from LONDON.

PUBLIC OPINIONS - PRESS CUTTINGS - ANGER & official response by SANPARKS

HOW PRETORIA HAD TO FIGHT (and won) for their Jacarandas  (go there and then down the page)

Freedom of press is limited to those who own one.
H.L. Mencken (1880-1956)

Hi Morning Live !

Firstly thanks for the great show.. I watch it every morning and am often late for work because of the great stories and interviews you broadcast. :)

I am not the kind of person who would do this sort of thing normally but I feel compelled to use this medium in this case. I am writing to voice my concern and heartache over the deforestation happening on the slopes of Table Mountain..

I felt physically sick driving through Tokai forest on the long weekend.. The once shady, green, cool, magical pine forest I grew up riding my bike in (and in which I had one day hoped my kids would do the same) is now on one side, a wasteland of sawn-down trees which had previously provided shade and fragrance to the area. I literally burst into tears looking upon the tree stumps that now constitute my once beloved escape.

My first date with my first boyfriend was in Cecelia forest. A romantic picnic under a large Pine tree… I’ll remember that day for the rest of my life and wish with all my heart I’d taken a few photographs now that I’m informed to my utter disgust that this forest is also set to get the axe.

These, and everyone else’s memories disappear one by one with every tree they cut down.

I am so heartbroken about what Sanparks are doing I can’t even express it. I am appalled that this kind of thing can happen to these beautiful, established sanctuaries which exist in the hearts of so many people of the Western Cape in the name of “conservation”.

This is our heritage. Isn’t that also worth conserving?

Just because the trees are alien vegetation doesn't mean they aren’t necessary and beautiful in their own right.

At the very least Sanparks could have asked us how we felt about their grand scheme.

By the time their 50 year plan comes to fruition, the Table Mountain reserve they envisage will be a shadeless, dry area only to be explored by people with enough money to pay the entrance fees which will of course be tourist rates and extortionate.

No longer an area to be enjoyed by hikers, bikers and families needing a restful, shady place to picnic and escape the searing hot summer sun.

They tell us the indigenous vegetation will grow where these 100 year old trees were, but that could take another 100 years by which time if, I’m not mistaken, I’ll be dead.

With all the horrific things going on in this country you’d think our government would just leave us the small pleasure of enjoying our natural spaces that we’ve grown to love.

We South Africans are so complacent that being sidelined by the “powers that be” on decisions that affect us directly, is simply accepted! I say it’s totally undemocratic!

I urge everyone else who feels this way to please voice their opinion before it’s too late.

I have no doubt that to you this letter will sound overly sentimental and small-minded, but for me and so many others who have enjoyed these so called “alien plantations” these feelings are very, very real.

Very sincerely

Alien Lover

Cape Town