How plantations work towards ecological balance:
Nature conservation is about conserving not only the huge number of species but also the myriad interactions between all the players on the same ecological stage. Moreover, all these species need a complex assortment of microhabitats to find food, disperse, mate, reproduce and develop into adults.
But, with so many species and even more interactions, we must find ways to conserve the overall fabric of life. This is something that we should also reflect on as we celebrate World Nature Conservation Day on 28 July.
Finding the solutions is vital for South Africa because it has a rich diversity of plants, fungi and animals — and an untold number of micro-organisms. Across landscapes, groups of species and their interactions change from place to place. Furthermore, the organisms in this mosaic must ebb and flow across the landscape in search of optimal conditions for feeding, growing, reproducing and surviving. This flux of organisms also helps maintain healthy levels of genetic diversity in their population over time.
Another challenge is that many of the species live in specific habitats. Damage to the habitat can lead to loss of a species — possibly even causing local extinction — and begin to unravel the thread of life.
A starting point is to conserve nature and embrace the “Nature knows best” principle. While nature reserves play a crucially important role in conserving biodiversity, the greatest challenge lies at the interface of human activity and the conservation of nature. This means we must find workable solutions that benefit both people and nature where they live side by side.
A way is to embrace the “precautionary principle”, which involves conserving as much land and water as possible to avoid imperiling all species and their interactions.
Timber production is important for South Africa because it has few natural wood resources, with plantations covering huge swaths of land. But how do we integrate nature conservation with timber production? After extensive discussions with timber company Mondi, we at Stellenbosch University developed a workable solution — acceptable to both timber producers and conservationists — by working with nature and not against it.
The solution involves setting aside land between plantation compartments — land amounting to about half a million hectares nationally. These land areas take the form of networks of large conservation corridors of natural habitat, composed of mostly natural grassland, but also forests, wetlands and small rivers. These networks make up about one-third of the plantations, on average, and are well established in KwaZulu-Natal.
It has been essential to demonstrate that the corridors are indeed functioning naturally. We have done this by comparing biodiversity levels in the conservation corridors with those in nature reserves nearby.
As not all biodiversity can be sampled, we use mostly plants and insects as sentinels. The reason for this is that they are numerous, rich in species, show a wide range of lifestyles and are sensitive to habitat change.
A bonus is that they also live in and on the soil, as well as being associated with plant communities. Many are also associated with freshwater — whether streams, rivers or wetlands. As they interact widely with many other species, they provide a comprehensive ecological picture.
Importantly, the corridors must be as wide as possible to avoid any adverse effects from the adjacent plantation trees, mostly alien pines and eucalypts. This great width, which ideally should be more than 120m, means that all the natural interactions and processes can take place as they would naturally. But this does not mean that narrow corridors are without value, as many natural interactions can still take place in them and they promote the movement of insects and other organisms across the landscape.
It is essential that the corridors are well connected to each other in a network, including from one plantation to the next. Doing this leads to congruence among natural habitats over hundreds of kilometers, crisscrossing all types of terrain, elevations and ecosystem types. Crucially, it is the enormous amount of conserved landscape variation that enables organisms to find their most suitable habitat. This connectivity also gives the landscapes ecological resilience to withstand a changing climate and extreme weather events such as heavy rainfall or drought.
All the while the natural water systems and soils in the corridors are maintained as intact as possible. This is done by not planting timber trees close to streams, rivers and wetlands. In turn, moist soil acts as a sponge for water and supports lush vegetation, which is kept free of plantation trees to help maintain the movement of natural ground water.
Fire must also be considered, as it is a natural phenomenon in the area— preventing the grassland from developing into a bushy landscape and playing a vital role in the health of many plants.
The edges between natural forest and grassland are also protected in the corridors, because these transition areas support many rare and important species. Game animals are also left to roam in this mosaic of vegetation as they help maintain grassland health.
Some difficulties have arisen in these networks of conservation corridors. Invasive alien plants are an ongoing problem. While the woody aliens are controlled relatively easily, it is the American bramble that has been most troublesome. But recent research, using satellite technology and machine learning, has identified the weed’s invasion pathways, enabling swift and effective bramble removal.
Local people are involved in the establishment of corridors, and they use the land as pastures for moderate levels of cattle and goat grazing. Poaching of large mammals is strictly controlled, resulting in healthy populations of elephants, rhinos, giraffes, zebras, wildebeest and many other large animals. This is important for insects as these large animals support a rich variety of dung beetles.
In turn, firebreaks help stop wildfires from entering the plantation compartments. Also, timber tree harvesting is carried out sensitively to reduce disturbance to the soil.
Plantations benefit from implementation of the corridors in that the soil and water systems, along with their biodiversity, are maintained in an ongoing healthy state. Mondi has embraced sustainable forestry. In doing so, the company attains Forest Stewardship Certification and exports products to Europe and elsewhere.
Michael J Samways is Emeritus Distinguished Professor in the Department of Conservation Ecology & Entomology at Stellenbosch University.
Response to Chrispin Phiri’s open letter:
When a government spokesperson devotes an open letter to attacking a journalist by name, it often says more about the state’s discomfort with being questioned than it does about the journalist.
On 21 July 2025, department of international relations and cooperation spokesperson Chrispin Phiri published an open letter accusing me of promoting “clickbait”, “unsubstantiated hogwash” and undermining the integrity of South African media. His response was directed at a blog published in the Times of Israel on 11 July.
In that blog, I raised a set of concerns based on documents shared with me by a source, Justin Lewis. These included allegations that certain South African officials may have had foreknowledge of the 7 October Hamas attacks and played a role in enabling legal access to international courts on Hamas’s behalf.
I never claimed that the allegations were confirmed, only that they deserve to be taken seriously and properly looked into. As a journalist, it is not my role to suppress serious allegations simply because they are unproven — it is my responsibility to bring them to light when they raise legitimate public interest concerns. In doing so, I make clear what is allegation and what is fact, and I seek responses from all relevant parties. That is how scrutiny, accountability, and responsible journalism work. Which is why two days later I published a follow-up explicitly stating that the material formed part of a lobbying and advocacy initiative — not a legal case — and that the source’s credibility had come under scrutiny.
Phiri’s letter acknowledged that clarification — only to dismiss it as “damage control”. Instead of presenting factual rebuttals, he delivered a lecture peppered with sarcasm and insults, calling my work reckless and unethical, and accusing me of misleading the public.
This exchange, at its core, comes down to a clear line of argument on both sides. My position is that journalists have a duty to raise serious allegations — especially when they involve governments, foreign policy or international law. Not because all allegations are true, but because the public deserves to know what questions are being asked, and what answers are being avoided.
Phiri’s position, on the other hand, is that because Justin Lewis has made exaggerated and questionable claims elsewhere, the allegations I raised should never have been aired. But journalism doesn’t work that way. Bad people can stumble onto important truths. Flawed sources can raise valid concerns. A journalist’s job is not to vouch for a source’s biography — it’s to follow a story where it leads, verify what can be verified, and disclose what can’t.
That’s what I did. Within 48 hours, I published a follow-up. I clarified the context not because the allegations were proven or disproven, but because responsible journalism requires transparency when new information comes to light. What Phiri offered in response was not a factual correction, but a character attack against both the source and me.
After two decades reporting from front lines in Gaza, Syria, Ukraine, Russia, Israel and beyond I’ve learned that truth in conflict is rarely clean. Sources sometimes collapse under scrutiny. When that happens, you take responsibility, correct, and move forward. That is exactly what I did.
What I did not do was present fiction as fact. I reported on allegations. I clarified their status. I acknowledged the problems. And I continued asking questions.
If the government believes those questions are baseless, it should present evidence to the contrary. It should clarify timelines, communications and diplomatic steps taken before and after 7 October. Instead, it has chosen to mock the person raising them.
The department’s refusal to engage with the core concern, South Africa’s foreign policy conduct and the credibility of its international alliances, is telling. Their silence on substance, and volume on character, only fuels public doubt.
And for the record: I do not claim South Africa collaborated with Hamas. I do not claim the allegations are proven. I do claim they are serious enough to merit scrutiny. That scrutiny should not be met with institutional outrage.
Phiri’s letter suggests that by platforming concerns, I violated the principles of journalism. But journalism is not built on silence. It’s built on inquiry. You follow leads. You evaluate sources. You clarify what cannot be confirmed. That’s what I did. That’s what I will continue to do.
South Africa’s case at the International Court of Justice is not what I was writing about. My focus was narrower: what was said, shared or supported before the events of 7 October? Were there missteps or blind spots in our diplomatic positioning? And if so, shouldn’t we want to know?
In his closing, Phiri quotes Nelson Mandela: “Our freedom is incomplete without the freedom of the Palestinians.” I would add this: our democracy is incomplete without the freedom to question our own government especially when the stakes involve war, ideology and lives.
I’ll continue to ask hard questions, report without fear, and correct when needed — not because it’s popular, but because journalism demands it. A free press doesn’t need permission to investigate — and it certainly doesn’t answer to the government it is questioning.
Paula Slier is a South African-born war correspondent and journalist.
Lesotho at risk of economic collapse after aid cuts and Trump’s tariffs:
Lesotho is facing economic and public health crises triggered by cuts in foreign aid and harsh US trade tariffs. The small, landlocked kingdom is struggling with high unemployment and fresh job losses.
According to an African Development Bank (AfDB) Country Focus Report on Lesotho released last week, the country’s economic growth of 2.4% in 2024 is expected to fall to just 1.1% this year and 0.5% in 2026.
The report says the slowdown is driven by declining Southern African Customs Union revenues, a decrease in foreign aid, and rising trade-related risks (notably the new, prohibitively high US trade tariffs), and the cancellation of the $ 300-million Millennium Challenge Corporation second five-year compact.
Aid cuts have hit Lesotho’s health sector hard. The sudden termination of US aid programs has resulted in the loss of about 1,500 healthcare jobs, according to the report, and has severely undermined efforts in prevention, treatment, and outreach for HIV. Lesotho has one of the highest HIV prevalence rates globally, with over 20% of the adult population living with the virus.
What makes these cuts even more damaging is Lesotho’s already underfunded health system. The report says Lesotho now has only 21 health workers per 10,000 people, far below the World Health Organisation’s recommended minimum of 44.
At the same time, Lesotho’s key export sector — textiles and apparel — is under threat. The US has imposed a 50% tariff on Lesotho, temporarily reduced to 10% until 1 August. While this reduction offers some relief, AfDB warns that the long-term consequences could be severe.
Lesotho’s textile industry has long depended on duty-free access to US markets, which make up 47% of its shipments, valued at over $ 200-million annually, and account for nearly 13% of GDP. The AfDB warns that the tariffs could lead to a 20 to 30% decline in orders, a loss of over R1-billion in exports.
“This could push GDP growth below 1%, especially if factory closures or layoffs increase,” the report says. “Lesotho may face further declines in investment, factory relocations, and job losses in its already fragile manufacturing sector, which could reduce tax revenue.”
The AfDB warns of increased rates of poverty, which, together with inequality, are major issues in Lesotho.
Action needed
The report warns that without quick and coordinated policy actions, Lesotho could face a surge in social unrest and poverty.
The AfDB urges Lesotho to act swiftly. Economic diversification, investing in skills and infrastructure, and expanding regional trade, especially through the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), are essential.
Tax reform and debt management programmes, supported by AfDB, are already underway. But more action is urgently needed.
To keep the textile sector viable, the report recommends improving quality standards, logistics, and worker skills to meet changing global market demands. It also calls for accelerating regional trade efforts under AfCFTA and encouraging entrepreneurship in non-textile industries.
“Lesotho could reorient its production towards regional markets and gradually reduce its exposure to US policy shocks,” the report suggests.
This article was first published on GroundUp
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