ENVIRONMENTAL MONTH BY JESSIE TAYLOR
5 new forests in
Cape Town H
undreds of trees are the newest green spaces in Cape Town, as part of a project to create five newly planted SUGi pocket urban pocket forests.
species. This technique cultivates fast-growing groves of native plants, with the dense, mixed planting intended to simulate the layers of a natural forest.
These forests provide community spaces and learning opportunities and have many benefits for those living around them – from improving mental health to improving air quality and cooling temperaturesThey are also key aids in capturing CO 2 and decreasing the impact of climate change. SUGi Pocket Forests is a non-profit organisation that fosters biodiversity-building, ecosystem restoration, and reestablishing natural connections in communities. SUGi has resulted in 200 forests being planted in 42 cities around the world.
The new forests have been planted by Mzanzi Organics and local primary schools in Langa, Mitchells Plain, Bo-Kaap, Pinelands and Philippi. More than two years ago, the first urban pocket forest in Cape Town was piloted in Philippi on the KT Grows organic farm. A second forest followed it, the Khoi First Nations Forest, at the Oude Molen Eco Village in Pinelands. It comprises 600 trees and is on its way to being self-sustainable.
SUGi works with forest-makers like Aghmad Gamieldien, the founder of Mzanzi Organics, to deliver these pocket forests across Africa, Asia, the Middle East, Europe and South America using the Japanese Miyawaki afforestation technique, planting ultra-dense, biodiverse forests of native and indigenous
42| Public Sector Leaders | June 2024
Aghmad explains that a forest only requires mulch and water in the first two years, along with some weeding. Thereafter, the forest takes care of itself as a natural forest. The Cape Flats forest was planted in partnership with the Seed Abundance community at Rocklands Primary in Mitchells Plain. It comprises 1 200 indigenous trees and shrubs and an outdoor classroom teaching space. The fourth forest, the Schotche Kloof
Forest, was planted at Schotche Kloof Primary School in Bo-Kaap. This is one of the smaller forests, with 100 trees. The most recent forest was created in Langa, with 800 trees planted. The site has since been named the Langalibalele Forest. The forest has been used for community engagements as an outdoor classroom for a school. Local musicians also use the space to make music with the learners. The project relies on community support and ongoing ownership of and involvement in the forests. The schools involved have an agreement the trees will not be cut down for at least of 20 years. Before making the pocket forests, Aghmad spent time in Cape Town’s indigenous forests, studying them to ensure the pocket forests are indigenous and resilient. He said that SUGi pocket forests are 30 times denser and 100 times more biodiverse than monoculture plantations, and the trees grew 10 times faster. This means that in five years, the forest would look like it had always been there.