If the Cecilia plantation means anything to you then it’s too late for one last walk, I am sorry.

For the next four to six weeks, the pines of both Cecilia and Tokai plantations will be cut down.

Cue anger and tears from a group of middle-aged white women, who gathered yesterday when the entrance to the forests were blocked with danger tape.

#Tokai Several residents have gathered here at the plantation. MM pic.twitter.com/b3qMQWo2rW

— EWN Reporter (@ewnreporter) August 30, 2016

Poor babies.

You see, it all started when Mountain to Ocean won the tender to partner with the Department of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries.

The tender was to manage the lease for the duration of a conservation process, incorporating more than 1 000 hectares into the Table Mountain National Park. According to the website:

A further 1000 ha of plantation forests at Tokai and Cecilia have also been transferred to SanParks for incorporation into the Table Mountain National Park. SanParks will manage the lease with Mountain To Ocean (MTO) for the duration of the conversion process and during the time that the forest company clear-fells the plantation area. It is expected that the land will thereafter be released from the provisions of the NFA.

While the felling of trees began yesterday, the land is set to be planted with fynbos in an effort to rehabilitate it back to its original state.

Walking through the trees, all that’s on the ground is pine needles, dog poo, and mud. There is hardly anything alive – and if it is it probably shouldn’t be there.

One Bergvliet resident, Andrea Pearson, stated:

I come here with my dogs every day. During the school holiday I also take the kids  to come play here. This is a great place and cutting down the pines is a mistake. The fynbos is dangerous. We don’t want the fynbos. I don’t think I will come here ever again because I’m afraid for my safety. Someone can hide in the fynbos and you won’t see them.

Interesting, interesting. Another angry resident Billy Cox, stated:

This place was used by everyone. It wasn’t just people from Tokai, people from all over came here. Honestly, f*** the fynbos, who needs that. It was such a beautiful place with the pines and it’s really nice walking here. The worst part is that we were never told about this.

So childish. F**k the fynbos? The fynbos is such an important part of the Peninsula’s heritage, and you want to f**k it? How old are you, dude?

Others have a more modest opinion, looking at the bigger picture instead of just thinking of themselves. Historian Berta van Rooyen:

This is the beginning of a process to complete the cycle. Fynbos is a historic marker. This area will preserve the history and it is extremely important.

While the residents have claimed that the proper public consultation process was not followed, SANParks denies this.

Guys, if you care so much why don’t you make your way up the trees and go on a hunger protest? Or how about helping these guys stay?

Meh, you’ll probably just forget about it next week.

[source:news24]