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Protected trees in South Africa

The iconic Baobab (Adansonia digitata), a protected tree in South Africa.

In terms of section 15(1) of the National Forests Act, 1998, no person may cut, disturb, 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 product derived from a protected tree, except under a licence or exemption granted by the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.

List of Protected Tree Species under the National Forest Act, 1998 (Act No. 84 of 1998)

BOTANICAL NAMES	ENGLISH COMMON NAMES	OTHER COMMON NAMES	NATIONAL TREE NUMBER
Acacia erioloba	Camel thorn	Kameeldoring	168
Acacia haematoxylon	Grey camel thorn	Vaalkameeldoring, Mokholo	169
Adansonia digitata	Baobab	Kremetart, Seboi, Mowana	467
Afzelia quanzensis	Pod mahogany	Peulmahonie, Inkehli	207
Balanites subsp. maughamii	Torchwood	Groendoring, Ugobandlovu	251
Barringtonia racemosa	Powder-puff tree	Poeierkwasboom, Iboqo	524
Boscia albitrunca	Shepherd's tree	Witgat, Umvithi	122
Brachystegia spiciformis	Msasa	Msasa	198.1
Breonadia salicina	Matumi	Mingerhout, Umfomfo	684
Bruguiera gymnorrhize	Black mangrove	Swartwortelboom, IsiHlobane	527
Cassipourea swaziensis	Swazi onionwood	Swazi uiehout	531.1
Catha edulis	Bushman's tea	Boesmanstee, Umhlwazi	404
Ceriops tagal	Indian mangrove	Indiese wortelboom, Isinkahe	525
Cleistanthus schlechteri	False tamboti	Bastertamboti, Umzithi	320
Colubrine nicholsonii	Pondo weeping thorn	Pondo-treurdoring	453.8
Combretum imberbe	Leadwood	Hardekiil, Impondondlovu	539
Curtisia dentata	Assegai	Assegaai, Umagunda	570
Elaeodendron transvaalensis	Bushveld saffron	Bosveld-saffraan, Ingwavuma	416
Erythrophysa transvaalensis	Bushveld red balloon	Bosveld-rooiklapperbos	436.2
Euclea pseudebenus	Ebony guarri	Ebbeboom-ghwarrie	598
Ficus trichopoda	Swamp fig	Moerasvy, Umvubu	54
Leucadendron argenteum	Silver tree,	Silwerboom	77
Lumnitzera racemosa	Tonga mangrove	Tonga-wortelboom, isiKhahaesibomvu	552
Lydenburgia abbottii	Pondo bushman's tea	Pondo-boesmanstee	407
Lydenburgia cassinoides	Sekhukhuni bushman's tea	Sekhukhuni-boesmanstee	406
Mimusops caffra	Coastal red milkwood	Kusrooimelkhout, Umkhakhayi	583
Newtonia hildebrandtii	Lebombo wattle	Lebombo-wattel, Umfomothi	191
Ocotea bullata	Stinkwood	Stinkhout, Umnukane	118
Ozoroa namaquensis	Gariep resin tree	Gariep-harpuisboom	373.2
Philenoptera violacea	Apple-leaf	Appelblaar, isiHomohomo	238
Pittosporum viridiflorum	Cheesewood	Kasuur, Umfusamvu	139
Podocarpus elongatus	Breede river yellowwood	Breeriviergeelhout	15
Podocarpus falcatus (Afrocarpus falcatus)	Outeniqua yellowwood	Outeniquageelhout, Umsonti	16
Podocarpus henkelii	Henkel's yellowwood	Henkel se geelhout, Umsonti	17
Podocarpus latifolius	Real yellowwood	Regte-geelhout, Umkhoba	18
Prota comptonii	Saddleback sugarbush	Barberton-suikerbos	88
Protea curvata	Serpentine sugarbush	Serpentynsuikerbos	88.1
Prunus africana	Red stinkwood	Rooistinkhout, Umdumezuz	147
Pterocarpus angolensis	Wild teak	Kiaat, Umvangazi	236
Rhizophora mucronata	Red mangrove	Rooiwortelboom	526
Sclerocarya birrea subsp. caffra	Marula	Maroela, Umganu	360
Securidaca longepedunculata	Violet tree	Krinkhout, Mmaba	303
Sideroxylon inerme subsp. inerme	White milkwood	Witmelkhout, Umakhwelafingqane	579
Tephrosia pondoensis	Pondo poison pea	Pondo-gifertjie	226.1
Warburgia salutaris	Pepper-bark tree	Peperbasboom, isiBaha	488
Widdringtonia cedarbergensis	Clanwilliam cedar	Clanwilliamseder	19
Widdringtonia schwarzii	Willowmore cedar	Baviaanskloofseder	21

A magnificent Camel thorn (Acacia erioloba) in Kathu in the North West Province. The Kathu forest was the first Protected Woodland to be declared in South Africa. (Photo: Jacoline Mans)