The WWF

WWF South Africa supports the eradication of the trees in Cecilia and Tokai forest due to the belief that the trees are soaking up precious water that we need in the Cape. Thérèse Brinkcate, the Ecoregions Programme Manager, says in regard to the destruction of the trees that “although they might be green and leafy, the pine trees and other exotic trees like eucalyptus are not part of South Africa's natural wealth.  Rather, they are responsible for the demise of numerous plant and animal species which are indigenous to South Africa.  WWF works to support the health and integrity of our natural systems - this means that exotic and invasive plant vegetation must be cleared.  Not only do these plantations (they are not forests) cause the demise of numerous species, they also soak up precious freshwater and pose a heightened fire risk for the people on the Cape Peninsula." Although she claims that they are not clearing forests, the amount of trees that she is cutting down is on par with the amount of trees seen in a normal forest. It seems that there are many trees that are to be cut down due to them being “invasive” and so even though it may not be one large patch of forest that is being destroyed, all the individual trees put together could be the size of a forest. (Cool forest n.d)

(WWF. 2012)