A criminal case has been opened against the resident who chopped down some 15 milkwood trees in front of her beachfront property on Strelitzia Road, Southport destroying a section of protected coastal dune forest.

The South Coast Herald reported that a team of forestry regulations officers from the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment (DFFE) from Pietermaritzburg and Pretoria arrived on Monday last week to conduct an onsite inspection and confirm the extent of the environmental damage.

They were met on site by Umtentweni Conservancy chairperson Alex Skene, resident Justin Sadler and the newspaper.

After the inspection, the DFFE officials opened a criminal case at the Southport police station, confirming that the incident contravenes Section 15(3) of the National Forests Act (No. 84 of 1998), which protects milkwood trees and other indigenous species from damage, removal, or destruction without a valid permit.

Protected trees act leads to criminal charges

According to DFFE senior forestry regulations officer, Thembalakhe Sibozana, those responsible will be issued a compliance notice and face potential criminal charges.

“If a person is caught cutting down protected trees, they can be fined, issued a notice to rehabilitate the damaged area and face legal prosecution.”

The clearing of the milkwood trees has stripped away a vital section of the Admiralty Reserve, an ecologically sensitive dune forest that provides protection against coastal erosion, supports wildlife and enhances the natural beauty of the coastline.

Residents call for action after coastal forest destroyed

Residents have called for stricter enforcement and harsher penalties to prevent similar environmental destruction in future.

“People cannot just destroy protected vegetation for a better sea view. We want this Southport catastrophe to serve as a case study and set a precedent,” said Sadler.

Despite the destruction, the remarkable resilience of nature was on discplay – some of the felled milkwoods have already begun to show small signs of new life.

Second milkwood clearing incident reported in Shelly Beach

In a second, unrelated incident, it has been reported that a resident in Seagull Road, Shelly Beach, has also cleared coastal vegetation, including milkwoods, around their beachfront home.

Sibozana confirmed they also visited the site on Monday and issued a fine as two milkwoods were cut down.

Environmental officials have reiterated that no person may cut, damage, or remove a milkwood tree without formal authorisation, warning that violators will face prosecution under national environmental laws.

DFFE has urged the public to be the ‘eyes and ears’ and report any similar acts of environmental vandalism via their 24-hour hotline on 0800 205 005 or envirocrime@dffe.gov.za