Forest Resource  

Overview
South Africa is lightly forested with around 7 percent forest cover, and a further 27 percent of other wooded land cover. The majority of forest occurs on the “lowveld” of the east coast, extending into the Drakensberg mountains. These are primarily broadleaved evergreen forests with common species including Olea capensis, Xymalos monospora and Podocarpus spp.. South Africa has extensive areas of “bushveld” savannah, particularly in the north and east. Arid savannah, characterised by Acacia thorn species, occurs in the Northern Cape province and the fringes of the Kalahari. In the northeastern provinces, moist savannah dominates, characterised by baobab (Adansonia digitata) and the candelabra tree (Euphorbia ingens). South Africa has extensive forest plantations, with Pinus radiata and Eucalyptus spp. predominating. South Africa has a large network of more than 200 protected areas, including around 20 national parks. Around 5 percent of the country’s forests are in protected areas.

Ecological Zones

Forest Industry

Forest Map