The GCN received a query from Sydney Smith, who wanted to find out why the trees in Limpopo Road, Marlands, were being cut down?
He pointed out that there were no power cables in the area.
The GCN approached the metro to find out why the trees were being removed and metro spokesman Themba Gadebe replied: “The trees (Acacia mearnsii) in question along Limpopo Road were removed by the metro because they are an invasive species.
“These threes fall under category two in the Conservation of Agricultural Resources Act (CARA) 2002 Legislation/National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act, 2004.”
Gadebe also provided a list of additional reasons why the trees were removed:
- they were lifting the tar/road;
- they are growing towards the road;
- litter gets stuck under the trees;
- they compete with and replace indigenous grassland and riverine species, as grasslands are invaded by dense thickets of black wattle.
“The metro’s parks department intends replacing the black wattle with indigenous trees along the street soon,” Gadebe concluded.
