Heuningvlei – Arbour week is an annual highlight on the environmental calendar and is celebrated in the first week of September. This year, CapeNature and the Heuningvlei community joined hands in launching the Heuningvlei Cedar Seedling Nursery, in aid of saving the critically endangered cedar tree.

The endemic Clanwilliam cedar tree (Widdringtonia cedarbergensis) occurs only in the Cederberg mountains, 270km north of Cape Town. It represents one of a 1000 surviving conifer species in the world. The cedar tree also grows very slowly and only reaches seed bearing maturity when it is about 20 to 30 years old. Cedar tree restoration efforts started in 1987 and a cedar tree planting event is held every year. To date 7 000 to 8 000 seedlings were planted into the Cederberg Wilderness area.

Over the past few years, a bioprospecting initiative driven by the Bodyshop, using a technology called head spacing where extracts of the natural scent of a plant is artificially reproduced for fragrances, lotions, and soaps, was able to fund the establishment of the Heuningvlei Cedar Seedling Nursery – the first nursery which will be owned and managed by the Heuningvlei community. The launch is made possible through the initial investment by the Bodyshop, CapeNature, Bushmans Kloof Wilderness Reserve & Wellness Retreat, who is a key partner in the annual cedar tree planting event and the small, but vibrant community of Heuningvlei. 

In South Africa, different cultural groups have been living close to nature for generations and they make use of natural resources to improve their lives. The Heuningvlei Cedar Seedling Nursery will actively contribute to supporting the livelihoods of the Heuningvlei community. The seedlings will be germinated in the nursery by the local community members and when ready, will be sold and planted out during the annual Cedar tree planting season. A hidden gem in the majestic Cederberg mountains, the town of Heuningvlei, epitomises sustainability and this project is a testament to what can be achieved when tourism, conservation and community spirit come together.

“This project has meant a lot for me to put food on the table and to help my children do better at school. This is the nursery that we as the Heuningvlei Community built and together with CapeNature`s help we will manage this nursery so that there can be a successful income for the community” - Gert Theron, Heuningvlei community member employed on the nursery building project.

Dr. Razeena Omar, CapeNature Chief Executive Officer is looking forward to seeing the nursery grow from strength to strength: “Famous for its indigenous Cedar trees, this initiative is a wonderful example of how nature can benefit people and there is no one better to tell the story than those who are involved in it. We look forward to the growth that this nursery will bring to the environment, but also to the people of Heuningvlei”.

Bushmans Kloof Deputy General Manager, Mr. Michel Bouic, echoed the sentiments. “As a company, we always look for ways to work with the communities in which our hotels and lodges are located. Years of experience has demonstrated the strength of partnerships for success, especially in smaller communities, where resources are often lacking. Our long-standing relationship with CapeNature and the Heuningvlei Community, around the annual Cedar tree planting event is a perfect example of this. After the past two and a half years, we are more convinced than ever before, that we are stronger together and by bringing together a wider range of stakeholders, all with a common goal, we can achieve so much more.”

Read more about the work being done to save the endangered Clanwilliam Cedar Tree (Widdringtonia cedarbergensis) here.