Champion Trees in South Africa are individual trees or groves that have been identified as having special significance, and therefore protected under the National Forests Act of 1998 by the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment.
History In 2003, the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries initiated the project to identify and grant special status to indigenous and non-indigenous trees in South Africa that meet certain set criteria. From May to July 2003, workshops were held in Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal and the Western Cape to gain consensus from experts to assist in the identification process of exceptional trees (Champion Trees) that are worthy of special protection throughout South Africa.
The Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries initiated the Champion Trees Project with the purpose of identifying exceptional trees and regulating for their special protection using the National Forests Act of 1998 (NFA). Section 12(1) of the National Forests Act states that the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment can declare certain tree species and individual trees or groups of trees as protected. Under Section 15(1)(a) of the National Forests Act, such protected trees may not be "...cut, disturbed or damaged and their products may not be possessed, sold or transported without a licence...". In the case of individual trees, the protection is absolute, with no potential for permission for removal except if life or property is threatened (e.g. by dying or leaning trees).
One of the outcomes of the Department's Champion Trees Project is to gazette a list of Champion trees as part of the National Forests Act.
Criteria for selection of a Champion Tree Any person can nominate a tree for selection. Individual trees or groups of trees proposed for Champion status should have the following attributes: Must fit the definition of a tree; Must be living or dying only; Can be indigenous or non-indigenous; May be in protected areas or in botanical gardens; May be listed as protected in other pieces of legislation; and Must be evaluated against a system of categories and criteria to merit Champion status.
Additional criteria that define a tree's eligibility are biological attributes, the age of the tree, and heritage or historical significance.
Biological attributes Champion trees can be designated on a range of singular biological attributes: Diameter () Height () Crown spread ()
The Dendrological Society of South Africa, which maintains the National Register of Big Trees in South Africa, uses a formula of the combination of the three biological attributes to obtain the Size Index (SI): This formula has been implemented to determine a tree's Champion status.
Tree age The National Forests Act recommends that trees considered for Champion Tree status on the basis of age should be at least 120 years old.
Heritage Significance This criterion should take into account the particular value associated with the tree, and graded on a scale of 1-10 (>6 is a potential candidate for Champion Tree status): Aesthetic value (image of the tree) Landscape value (enhancement of the landscape) Historical value (related to a past event or icon) Cultural value (of ongoing importance to a cultural group) Economic value (able to generate economic benefits such as through ecotourism)
Designated Champion Trees As of 2018, 93 trees have been designated Champion Trees. indicates a de-listed tree.
+List of Champion TreesChampion Tree (Register Number)Tree SpeciesCommon NameDescriptionTree SizeSize IndexLocationImage1Adansonia digitata (Baobab)Sagole BaobabThe largest indigenous tree of South Africa, and habitat for a rare colony of mottled spinetail swifts.Height: 22 mStem size: 33.72 mCrown size: 34.3 m & 41.7 m440Sagole, Limpopo2Adansonia digitataGlencoe BaobabSecond-largest indigenous tree of South Africa. It's carbon dated to be from 181 CE ( years old). Tree de-listed after it was damaged.Height: 16 mStem size: 46.6 mCrown size: 41.5 m & 34.2 m413Glencoe Farm Hoedspruit, Limpopo3Ficus salicifoliaWonderboom fig of PretoriaLargest Wonderboom fig. It is about 1000 years old and historic. An ox wagon outspan area in earlier years. It also shares a legend that a local chief was buried under the tree.Height: 22 mStem size: many sub-trees – 2.56 m to 7.14 mCrown size: 61.2 m & 51.9 m380Wonderboom Nature Reserve, Pretoria4Breonadia salicina (Matumi)Largest of a trio of trees called The Three QueensLargest Matumi tree in South AfricaHeight: 40 mStem size: 8.3 mCrown size: 34.6 m363Amorentia Estate, Mooketsi valley, Limpopo5Breonadia salicina (Matumi)Second-largest of a trio of trees called The Three QueensSecond-largest Matumi tree in South AfricaHeight: 38 mStem size: 8.17 mCrown size: 25.4 m & 24.4 m306Amorentia Estate, Mooketsi Valley, Limpopo6Breonadia salicina (Matumi)Third-largest of a trio of trees called The Three QueensThird-largest Matumi tree in South AfricaHeight: 38 mStem size: 2.41 m286Amorentia Estate, Mooketsi Valley, Limpopo7Adansonia digitata (Baobab)Platland Tree or Sunland BaobabVery large baobab and well-known tourist attraction. Tree split in 2017.Height: 19 mStem size: 33.6 mCrown size: 33.7 m & 30.2 m340Sunland Estate, Platland, Duiwelskloof (Modjadjiskloof), Limpopo8Ficus sycomorus (Common cluster fig)Cluster Fig GiantThe largest cluster fig in South Africa, after demise of the largest fig in KwaZulu-NatalHeight: 31 mStem size: 10.7 mCrown size: 38.2 m & 38.10 m336The farm Excellence, Hoedspruit, Limpopo9Afrocarpus falcatus (Outeniqua yellowwood)King Edward VII TreeLargest Outeniqua yellowwood accessible to tourists in South AfricaHeight: 39 mStem size: 6.92 mCrown size: 33.5 m316Diepwalle Forest Estate, Garden Route National Park, Western Cape10Eucalyptus saligna (Sydney blue gum)The O'Connor tree laneVery tall tree lane. It was planted in the 1930s by forestry pioneer AJ O'Connor. The landmark visible from various viewpoints. Situated next to O'Connor's memorial.Height: 73 mStem size: 4.28 mCrown size: 32.1 m482Woodbush Plantation, Haenertsburg, Limpopo11Eucalyptus saligna (Sydney blue gum)Part of "The Magoebaskloof Triplets"The tallest tree in South Africa and Africa. And the tallest planted tree in the world. Stand of trees planted in 1906 ( years old) by forestry pioneer AK Eastwood. Previous tallest tree in this stand fell in 2006.Height: 79 m 78.5 m Stem size: 3.2 m 4.28 m Crown size: 20.7 m