Die ontginning van Noord-Transvaal se Houtbronne in die Negentiende Eeu en Vroeë Bewaringsmaatreëls

Abstract

SUMMARY The exploitation by Europeans of the indigenous tree of the Northern Transvaal date back to the settlement of Schoemansdal in 1848. The main areas for wood cutting operations were the Soutpansberg mountain range, Woodbush, Soekmekaar and regions in the Lowveld. The growth and expansion of the industry was directly linked to the first discoveries and development of gold mining operations, first in the Northern Transvaal (ca. 1870) and later on the Witwatersrand (as from 1886). Initially large quantities of trees were felled, but by the 1890's it had become apparent that conservation measures were essential. The result was a limited degree of success, Before the end of the nineteenth century however these measures had to be abandoned. The rapid local population growth, natural disasters such as the Rinderpest (1896–1897) and famine caused general poverty. This forced the authorities to accept the fact that some people had to make an economic livelihood from cutting trees.