Rustic Homes Unclaimed

The inspiration behind Rustic homes

The Forestry Exit Strategy, that used to rule the management of Grabouw's plantations was reversed in May 2015. Unfortunately much felling had already been implemented and so the areas had passed the point of sustainable plantations. There was also a big fire in early 2016 in the area and a lot of the young pines couldn’t be saved. They clear felled all the regrowth and are planting 400 000 young Pinus Eliottii hybrids which have been bred to be non invasive. Forestry in these Vecon (replanted) areas will be community based. In Grabouw a Park of Unity (along the lines of the Eden Project in Britain) has been proposed where mentorship of community co-ops and trials of alternative species will be undertaken. It is hoped that this project will not only put South Africa back at the forefront of plantation forestry worldwide but will also ,like the Eden Project, highlight sustainability.