Areas of forest which grow in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa mostly on south facing slopes in higher rainfall areas, and along the humid coastal areas. Different types of forest can be identified by their species composition which depends mostly on the altitude, latitude and substrate (soil and rock types) in which they grow. South facing slopes are favourable for the development of forest as they are more shaded, and therefore cooler and retain more moisture than the northern slopes. The extra moisture on the south slopes is not only favoured by forest trees, but also helps to prevent or subdue wildfires. Fires can also be blocked by cliff faces and rocks or boulders on these slopes, and by streams or rivers at the base of the slopes. The coastal regions are conducive to forest formation, because of high rainfall and humidity which are favoured by forest trees and also help to prevent or subdue fires. The rivers of the coastal areas are also broader than further inland, which may often prevent fires from spreading long distances, and fires generally burn uphill and therefore more often away from areas at low altitude.
Forest types
Various forest types can be distinguished, but many of these overlap or integrate with each other for example; coastal dune forest can fade into coastal lowland forest, which can in turn fade into riverine forest.
This type is found on slopes and in secluded valleys between the coast and the Mistbelt. Trees include: white stinkwood (Celtis africana), forest bushwillow (Combretum krausii) and umzimbeet (Millettia grandis). The Natal cycad (Encephalartos natalensis) may occur on the forest edges, usually among rocks.
This forest type occurs along natural waterways, even in dry areas that would not normally support forest. Trees found here include; Ficus sycomorus, Ficus polita, quinine tree (Rauvolfia afra) and fever tree (Acacia xanthophloea). These forests are vulnerable to flooding and many were destroyed by Cyclone Domoina.
Several animals are adapted to living in these forests. Many are locally adapted subspecies of animals found further north in Tropical Africa, such as the blue duiker and Samango monkey, but some are local endemic species like the dwarf chameleons (Bradypodion spp.), Natal forest tree frog and bush squeaker frog.
Scadoxus puniceus produces flowers in late winter in the forests of KwaZulu-Natal
A wide range of herbaceous plants are found in the forests, either as ground cover or in the trees as epiphytes. Various lianas and climbers are also common plants in these forests.
Coastal scarp and mistbelt forests were the main source of timber in South Africa before the advent of exotic timber plantations.[1] Giant yellowwoods and stinkwoods were the most sought-after trees.[1] Most of the larger forests are now protected, but some small scale timber extraction by local communities still takes place. Attempts to grow indigenous trees as timber plantations have so far proven economically unviable compared to exotics, but more research is needed.[2] A promising species is the fast-growing Trema orientalis which is appropriate for paper and pulp production; producing paper with good tensile strength and folding endurance.[3] Another species for closer study is Celtis africana, which is fast-growing and can be used for furniture and panelling. Both of these species could be used as cover for slower-growing forest hardwoods which could be interplanted for more long-term production of more valuable timber.
Forests have been a source of medicinal plants for hundreds of years. It is estimated that more than 2100 tonnes of medicinal plants are extracted from forest areas in KwaZulu-Natal each year, which is projected to be unsustainable.[4]
Eco-tourism is the most viable and sustainable option for the forests of Kwazulu-Natal, and several government, private and non-government projects to ensure this are underway or in the planning stages.[5][6]
