Overstrand Municipality has received many complaints this year over the illegal cutting of trees in especially the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley.
Although there is a lot of suitable trees in the Overstrand area, neither the Municipality nor CapeNature issue permits to harvest invasive alien plants for braai wood on municipal land.
Private landowners may implement a permit system or issue a letter of authorisation to woodcutters stating that they are allowed to remove category 1b or 2 trees (such as blue gum) from a specific area. As such it is up to the individual landowner to come to an arrangement with the wood cutter regarding safety concerns and entry, regrowth and managing the woodland. The most important arrangement must be that the landowner ensures that all discarded leaves and branches are removed after the cutting as it becomes fuel for any fire that may start.
