Champion Trees: how to?

Individual Trees and Groups of Trees can be Declared as Protected Under Section 12 of the National Forests Act of 1998 by the Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries.

How do trees qualify to be Champion Trees?
Several criteria are considered when trees are evaluated for “Champion” status. These include historical significance, visual impact in the landscape as well as size of the tree. The over-all size index is the determining factor. Tree size is calculated on the measurements of three attributes; tree height; diameter of the trunk and spread of the canopy. Trees that are exceptional in all three attributes have the best chance to achieve “Champion” status; however, extraordinary large measures on two of the three criteria may sometimes be sufficient.

1. Do you know of a potential Champion Tree? Follow this link to check if it meets the specification and for the Method and Procedures. https://www.environment.gov.za/sites/default/files/docs/championtreesselection_methodsandprocedures.pdf.

2. Need help with the application process?

Contact the City of Cape Town’s arbourist Arborist@capetown.gov.za

or

Treekeepers https://treekeeperscapetown.org.za/

3. Do you know of a tree that may not meet the Champion Tree specification, but that you would like to protect as a Significant Tree?

Contact the City of Cape Town’s arbourist Arborist@capetown.gov.za

4. National List of Champion Treeshttps://www.environment.gov.za/sites/default/files/legislations/championtreesofsouthafrica_treesdeclaredprotected.pdf

5. List of Champion Trees in Cape Town from City of Cape Town

GOVERNMENT GAZETTE 2016

	Species	Description	Height (m)	Stem diameter at breast height (m)	Crown diameter (m)	Location/site
1	Eucalyptus species & a variety of other tree species (Tokai Arboretum – all mature trees)	Arboretum of historic significance with trees planted there since 1885. Laid out by Joseph Storr Lister at the beginning of the forestry industry.	62	1,71	20,5	Table Mountain National Park, Cape Town, Western Cape
2	Ficus macrophylla (Moreton Bay fig) Arderne Fig Tree	Landmark tree planted by tree pioneers Ralph and Henry Arderne	27,4	3,56	45,1	Arderne Garden, Claremont, Cape Town, Western Cape
3	Auracaria heterophylla (Norfolk Island pine) The Arderne Pine	Landmark tree planted by tree pioneers Ralph and Henry Arderne	42,6	1,83	19,09	Arderne Garden, Claremont, Cape Town, Western Cape
4	Quercus suber (cork oak) Arderne Cork Oak	Landmark tree planted by tree pioneers Ralph and Henry Arderne	15,5	1,4	30,37	Arderne Garden, Claremont, Cape Town, Western Cape
5	Quercis cerris (Turkey oak) Arderne Turkey Oak	Landmark tree planted by tree pioneers Ralph and Henry Arderne	21,56	1,87	29,22	Arderne Garden, Claremont, Cape Town, Western Cape
6	Pinus halepensis (Aleppo pine) Arderne Aleppo Pine	Landmark tree planted by tree pioneers Ralph and Henry Arderne	32,9	1,74	30,95	Arderne Garden, Claremont, Cape Town, Western Cape
7	Agathis robusta (Queensland kauri) Arderne Kauri	Landmark tree planted by tree pioneers Ralph and Henry Arderne	27,7	1,57	26,45	Arderne Garden, Claremont, Cape Town, Western Cape
8	Quercus robur (English oak) The Vergelegen Oak	Oak tree planted three centuries ago – largest and oldest oak tree in the country	14	3,4	22,1	Vergelegen Estate, Somerset West, Western Cape
9	Eucalyptus saligna (saligna gum) Herbert Baker Chapel Trees	Group of scenic trees standing next to a chapel designed by Sir Herbert Baker	45	1,89	27,25	Orpen Road, Cape Town, Western Cape
10	Sequoia sempervirens (Californian redwood) The Table Mountain Grove	Redwood trees planted in 1887 forming a landmark and recreation area for local residents, including tall Monterey pines at the fringe of this grove	51	1,09	15,1	Tokai Plantation, Table Mountain National Park, Western Cape
11	Ficus macrophylla (Moreton bay fig) The Kindergarten Giant	Large landmark tree at the University of Cape Town campus	25	5,09	41	University of Cape Town Cape Town Western Cape
12	Ficus macrophylla (Moreton Bay fig) The Fernwood Trees	Landmark trees of the same vintage as the Arderne Garden trees (about 160 years old)	27,5	3,02	45,5	Fernwood Avenue, Newlands, Cape Town, Western Cape
13	Cinnamomum camphora (camphor tree) The Hohenhort Grove	Grove of camphor trees of about 250 years old growing behind cellars on a historic farmyard	24	2,1	18,9	Cellar Hohenort Hotel, Brommesvlei road, Constantia, Cape Town Western Cape
14	Quercus suber (cork oak) Ina Paarman Oak	Tree on the property of Mrs Ina Paarman of food condiments fame, planted in the mid nineteenth century	22,7	1,4	32,6	Constantia Main Road, Constantia Western Cape

GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 18 OCTOBER 2019

	Species	Description	Height (m)	Stem diameter at breast height (m)	Crown diameter (m)	Location/site
15	Ficus elastica (rubber tree) The Company’s Garden Giant Rubberboom (A)	Large tree forming a focal point to the entry to the Company’s Gardens				Company’s Gardens, Cape Town, Western Cape