PROJECT: ILLEGAL FELLING OF TREES AND DEFORESTATION
- Isabel Spies
- 1 day ago
- 7 min read
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The illegal felling of trees and uncontrolled deforestation pose serious environmental threats —
not only in South Africa but across the world. The ongoing destruction of forests has far-reaching ecological, social,
and economic consequences. It is estimated that vast numbers of trees are cut down every day worldwide,
with approximately one football field of forest lost every minute. If deforestation continues at this rate,
only about 10% of the world’s forests may remain within the next decade.
Mr. Mike Bolhuis of Specialised Security Services (SSS) was recently interviewed regarding the illegal felling of trees and deforestation. His valuable insights into crime, environmental offences, and their broader societal impact make him one of South Africa’s most respected authorities on the interconnectedness between organised crime and environmental destruction.
Mr. Bolhuis’s investigative experience sheds light on how illegal logging is not an isolated act of greed—but part of a larger criminal ecosystem involving corruption, exploitation, and the breakdown of law enforcement in vulnerable regions:
(This interview is in Afrikaans.)
DEFINITIONS:
ILLEGAL FELLING OF TREES:
The cutting down, damaging, or removal of trees without the necessary permit or authorisation from the relevant authorities.
DEFORESTATION:
The permanent clearing or destruction of forests for human purposes, most commonly for agriculture, logging, and urban expansion.
LEGISLATION:
The National Forests Act, 1998 (Act No. 84 of 1998) is the principal law governing sustainable forest management in South Africa.
This Act forms part of broader environmental legislation designed to ensure the responsible use of natural resources.
KEY PROVISIONS INCLUDE:
Protection of natural forests, wooded areas, plantation forests (excluding orchards), and their ecosystems.
Safeguarding of endangered and protected tree species.
Promotion of community participation in forest conservation and sustainable use.
Continuous publication of the official list of protected trees under Section 12 of the Act. At present, 52 tree species are classified as protected in South Africa.
UNDER THE ACT:
No person may cut, damage, destroy, possess, or sell any protected tree without written permission.
Any individual who contravenes these provisions may be convicted under Section 58(1) and sentenced to a fine or imprisonment of up to three years, or both.
REGULATION OF POWERS:
Although the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) has extensive powers under the Act, these powers are strictly regulated.
The Department must apply specific environmental and social principles before making any decision.
These include:
Natural forests may not be destroyed except in exceptional cases where the proposed land use offers clear economic, social, or environmental benefits.
A minimum number of trees and bushes of each type must be preserved.
Forests must be managed to protect biodiversity, ecosystems, and habitats, while ensuring that economic and social benefits are sustained.
The overall health of forests and related natural resources, such as soil and water, must be maintained.
CHALLENGES IN ENFORCEMENT:
Illegal logging and deforestation are difficult to monitor and police, particularly in rural and informal settlements.
Common contributing factors include:
Dependence on wood for cooking, boiling water, and heating during the winter months.
Use of timber for building homes, shelters, and fences.
Lack of awareness among communities about protected tree species and forestry regulations.
Public education and active community involvement are essential in preventing illegal felling and reporting offenders.
CONSEQUENCES OF DEFORESTATION:
Deforestation has devastating and far-reaching effects on the environment and society:
CLIMATE CHANGE:
Forests act as carbon sinks, absorbing and storing carbon dioxide.
Their destruction releases stored carbon, contributing to increased greenhouse gas emissions and global warming.
DISRUPTION OF THE WATER CYCLE:
Trees play a crucial role in regulating rainfall and groundwater systems.
Deforestation alters rainfall patterns, intensifies droughts, and contributes to flooding.
SOIL EROSION:
Tree roots stabilise soil.
When removed, the land becomes vulnerable to erosion by wind and water, resulting in sedimentation of rivers, loss of fertile topsoil, and landslides.
DECLINE IN QUALITY OF LIFE:
Millions of people depend on forests for food, medicine, and materials.
Deforestation undermines these livelihoods, especially in developing regions.
OCEAN ACIDIFICATION:
Increased atmospheric carbon from deforestation contributes to ocean acidification, affecting marine ecosystems and food chains.
FOOD INSECURITY:
Soil degradation caused by deforestation reduces agricultural productivity.
Around 52% of agricultural land is already moderately or severely affected by erosion, threatening future food security.
LOSS OF BIODIVERSITY:
Approximately 80% of the world’s biodiversity is found in tropical forests.
The destruction of these ecosystems leads to the extinction of countless plant and animal species.
HABITAT LOSS AND SPECIES EXTINCTION:
As forests disappear, wildlife — including birds, insects, reptiles, and mammals — lose their habitats.
Many are captured, sold, or killed, and some species face total extinction.
MAJOR CAUSES OF DEFORESTATION IN SOUTH AFRICA:
AGRICULTURE:
Expanding croplands and plantations to meet food demands.
LIVESTOCK FARMING:
Clearing vegetation to create grazing areas.
WOOD AND FUEL:
Cutting trees for firewood, charcoal production, and building materials.
URBANISATION:
Rapid growth of towns and cities, increasing land demand for housing and infrastructure.
INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT:
Road construction and related projects open new areas to exploitation and deforestation.
RESPONSIBILITIES OF LANDOWNERS AND COMMUNITIES:
Landowners and local communities play a critical role in protecting natural habitats:
Take full responsibility for managing and preserving forests and natural vegetation on their property.
Participate in provincial conservation and guardianship programs.
Prioritize environmental conservation over personal gain, ensuring all development decisions consider ecological impacts.
Promote environmental awareness and adopt sustainable land-use practices to reduce deforestation and protect biodiversity.
RECENT EXAMPLES:
TIMBER THEFT IN STATE PLANTATIONS:
According to South Africa’s State of the Forests Report 2021, “high levels of timber theft and criminal activities in state plantations” have become a serious and growing problem. Forestry and Fisheries Dept
The 2018 State of the Forests Report also referred to “unprecedented timber theft, particularly in the State-owned plantations,” identifying this as a rising threat to commercial forestry in South Africa. Forestry and Fisheries Dept
In many cases, theft occurs in remote plantation forests where surveillance is weaker, and logs are moved covertly.
This reflects how illegal logging is not always in natural forests but also targets commercial tree farms and industrial plantations.
COURT DECISION: UNLAWFUL TREE FELLING AND RESTOCKING ORDERS:
In mid-2025, a Court of Appeal in the UK (not South Africa) upheld a ministerial decision requiring a developer to plant over 240 saplings after unlawfully felling fewer than 10 mature trees.
Though not a South African case, it is illustrative of how courts can enforce restoration even when criminal prosecution is dropped. ICLG Business Reports
This type of remedy (restoration or replanting orders) can serve as a precedent or inspiration for stricter enforcement in South Africa.
It also emphasises that environmental protection obligations may continue independently of criminal trials.
PROTECTED PLANT SPECIES SENTENCING:
In July 2025, South Africa welcomed a 15-year sentence in a case involving the illegal harvesting of protected plant species. Forestry and Fisheries Dept
This demonstrates that enforcement is not only limited to timber species but also extends to protected flora.
The case serves to underscore that courts are willing to impose substantial penalties for plant protection offences.
The illegal felling of trees and deforestation threaten not only South Africa’s natural heritage but also the global environment. Protecting forests is essential for climate stability, biodiversity, and future food and water security.
Every individual, community, and landowner has a role to play in conservation.
Through education, awareness, and enforcement of existing laws, South Africa can contribute meaningfully to
the global effort to halt deforestation and preserve the planet’s natural ecosystems.
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Regards,
Mike Bolhuis
Specialist Investigators into
Serious Violent, Serious Economic Crimes & Serious Cybercrimes
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