Cape Town - Greenpop and Platbos Forest Reserve, ravaged by fires this year, have made an appeal for volunteers to help plant 8 000 new indigenous trees this month during the annual Reforest Fests.
Platbos Forest Reserve near Gansbaai produces endemic seedlings, which are raised in a tree nursery for two years, before being replanted in a bid to save and expand the forest.
The forest eco-system has a unique mix of Coastal Forest and Afromontane tree species, including White Milkwood trees, African White Stinkwood trees, and many others.
Greenpop stressed that planting endemic trees is important because they adapt to droughts and maintain generic integrity of the forest, also serving as a food source for birds and animals.
Greenpop is hosting two reforestation weekends this month, with hundreds of volunteers expected to give their time to planting thousands of indigenous trees where aliens have been cleared.
In the past four years, the organisation has planted more than 18 000 trees, and hopes to add a further 8 000 this year.
Greenpop’s Lauren O’Donnell said:
“We are connected to our planet. We just sometimes forget this. But being in Platbos Forest is a reminder for me of how humans are part of nature, we are not separate from it.”
The first Reforest Fest takes place next weekend, May 8 to 10, and is aimed at families with children. On Mother’s Day next Sunday, they are planning a special Mother’s Day tree- planting ceremony.
The second fest is from May 15 to 17, and is dubbed the Friends Fest. It plans to bring people together to celebrate and appreciate the beautiful forest, and to learn sustainability and the importance of forests.
Festival tickets are R590 for adults and R390 for children older than four. All meals are included and visitors can pitch or rent a tent from Greenpop. There are also guesthouses in the area.
* For more information, go to www.greenpop.org
Weekend Argus