Title: National Forests Act, 1998 (Act No. 84 of 1998): Publication of the Annual List of All Tree Species which are Protected under Section 12 of the Act 

Gazette reference: GN 4496 in GG 50291 of 13 March 2024 

Commencement date: 13 March 2024 

On 13 March 2024, the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment published the list of all protected tree species, which are declared protected in terms of section 12 of the National Forests Act, 1998 (“NFA”). The effect of the declaration is that –  

1. No person may – 

1. Cut, disturb, damage or destroy any protected tree; or 

2. Possess, collect, remove, transport, export, purchase, sell, donate or in any other manner acquire or dispose of any protected tree, or any forest product derived from a protected tree, except –  

• i) under a license granted by the Minister; or 

• ii) in terms of an exemption from the provisions of this subsection published by the Minister on the advice of the Council. 

In terms of section 62(2)(c) of the NFA, any person who contravenes this commits a first category offence. A person who is guilty of a first category offence may be sentenced to a fine or imprisonment for a period of up to three years, or to a fine and such imprisonment.