From pineapple farm back to critically endangered sand forest

Restoring the forest at Suni-Ridge

Dr Theodorus Hendrik Cornelis Mostert

The land that became Suni-Ridge was once covered in pristine Sand Forest. During the 1950s, large sections — including this farm — were cleared for pineapple cultivation. So much Sand Forest was lost to agriculture that the vegetation type is now classified as Critically Endangered, at risk of extinction unless drastic steps are taken to protect the remaining patches and restore degraded land.

In 1991 Janet and Rob Cuthbertson bought what is now Suni-Ridge, with the aim of restoring the natural order and rehabilitating the old pineapple farm back towards its original Sand Forest state. With their eyes fixed on the long-term goal, they diligently cleared the exotic vegetation and fought the never-ending battle against invasive alien plants — giving nature the chance to begin the slow process of succession.

That neighbouring ecosystem acted as a source of seed and propagules to repopulate Suni-Ridge, and supplied the insect, bird and mammal species needed to disperse viable seed onto the property. Over the years, Suni-Ridge has transformed from a monoculture of pineapples into a highly diverse reserve — a mosaic of Sandy Bushveld and early-stage Sand Forest patches.

Many areas have now entered the closed-canopy phase of succession. It is in these closed-canopied patches that slow-growing hardwood Sand Forest trees have increased dramatically. Though the work is far from finished, the ecological processes needed for the return of mature climax species are now in place. The rehabilitation and protection of this habitat continues with ongoing dedication.