The Soutpansberg is South Africa’s northernmost mountain range, stretching east-west across Limpopo, from Vivo to Punda Maria in the Kruger National Park. It is recognised as a Centre of Endemism and Key Biodiversity Area due to its rich biodiversity. The range is also identified as a Strategic Water Source Area (for both groundwater and surface water in the east), providing vital water resources to communities and agriculture. However, the range faces several threats, one of the most significant being the spread of invasive alien plants.

Invasive alien plants (IAPs) are plants introduced into an ecosystem from foreign environments. They establish themselves, spread rapidly, and negatively impact the environment by displacing indigenous species, altering habitats, and affecting water resources. Globally, invasive alien species are recognised as one of the major drivers of change in ecosystems, alongside habitat transformation and climate change. IAPs are also referred to as a ‘wicked problem’ because they can be economically valuable for other industries, complicating their removal. In the Soutpansberg, some key culprits include Eucalyptus sp. (Eucalyptus) and Acacia mearnsii (Black Wattle). These trees were originally imported from Australia for their timber value but have since spread and become highly invasive. They are known to consume significantly more water than indigenous species, having a high impact on water resources in the country.

In 2018, shortly after the Soutpansberg Protected Area Programme was initiated, we launched a water conservation project. With initial funding from the Coca-Cola Foundation’s Replenish Africa Initiative, we brought together a small team of rangers to remove invasive alien trees from wetlands and mountain catchment streams across the western Soutpansberg. This project was further supported by critical funding from Fondation Franklinia, focusing on habitat restoration.

The rangers worked tirelessly to cut down large stands of Eucalyptus and Black Wattle from numerous properties in the western Soutpansberg. This required weeks of work on-site, often camping in remote locations away from their families. Many of these invasive tree strands were in extremely inaccessible areas, making the work even more challenging. Despite these difficulties, our rangers have successfully cleared over 60 hectares of Eucalyptus and Black Wattle from remote mountain areas, resulting in an estimated 30 million litres of water being replenished to the environment annually.

As part of the project, we have also focused on upskilling the rangers. They have gained valuable experience in invasive plant management and received accredited qualifications in First Aid, Herbicide Application, and Intermediate Chainsaw Operation.

After six years of hard work, and in collaboration with landowners on the western Soutpansberg, our efforts are paying off. We conduct annual follow-ups to prevent regrowth, and we are witnessing natural regeneration of wetlands and riverine systems. This includes the natural recruitment of endangered tree species and other forest species. These results show that with continued collective effort, we can restore and protect critical ecosystems.