Pine Busters

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Pine Busters We are a group of volunteers dedicated to eradicating pine trees in the berg, which threaten the survival of its native flora and fauna.

So why are pine trees, specifically Pinus Patula, devastating to the Drakensberg?

🌲 because of their growth and pine needles, hundreds of grass species in the Drakensberg will be wiped out
🌲 the animal species that feed off these grasses will therefore be wiped out, we are talking thousands of species
🌲 pines are extremely thirsty trees, therefore, draining from our water sources and the Drakensberg is the water factory for South Africa
🌲 they are highly flammable causing runaway fires to worsen if they pass through pines, yet they do not die themselves in a fire
🌲 they are native to Mexico and can withstand long periods of temperatures as low as -10°C, hence doing well in the berg

Let's eradicate these trees before it is too late!

🌲 WHO ARE WE?We’re Pine Busters – a group of volunteers who give our time (and a fair bit of sweat! 💪) to help eradicate...
14/10/2026

🌲 WHO ARE WE?

We’re Pine Busters – a group of volunteers who give our time (and a fair bit of sweat! 💪) to help eradicate invasive pine trees in the Drakensberg.

Why? Because we love the Drakensberg and want to help protect its beautiful indigenous landscape and natural ecosystems. 🏔️🌿

We’re just ordinary people doing our bit, one pine at a time! 🌲

07/10/2026

🌲 Timber!

Another Pinus patula bites the dust! 😅

Felling a tree like this takes skill, planning and a good understanding of where that tree is going to land. Our team makes sure every job is carried out safely.

Here’s a little look at the process in action. 👇🌲And one less pine invading our precious berg.

🌿📱 CHECK OUT OUR iNATURALIST RESULTS!A huge thank you to everyone who has been posting their observations on iNaturalist...
30/09/2026

🌿📱 CHECK OUT OUR iNATURALIST RESULTS!

A huge thank you to everyone who has been posting their observations on iNaturalist! 🙌

Every observation helps build a valuable picture of the biodiversity in our area and this data is incredibly helpful to the work we do at Pine Busters. 🌱🔎

Keep those observations coming, and have a look at what's discovered so far https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/pines-in-maloti-drakensberg-park

🌿 Working together for conservation. 🐾This past weekend, Pine Busters, Mark & Jess, had the privilege of attending the N...
16/09/2026

🌿 Working together for conservation. 🐾

This past weekend, Pine Busters, Mark & Jess, had the privilege of attending the North West Honorary Officers Meeting at the beautiful UmPhafa Nature Reserve , a wonderful space dedicated to wildlife research and species conservation.

Thank you so much for hosting us and for giving us the opportunity to come together, share ideas and celebrate the incredible achievements being made in conservation.

We are so proud to be part of this fabulous group of people, all working together towards the bigger picture, protecting our wildlife and wild spaces. 💚

Mark McTaggart Jessica Cherry McTaggart Honorary Officers of Ezemvelo

We were invited to give a talk at the South African Hydrological Conference, hosted at Ch*****ne Sports Resort, but inst...
09/09/2026

We were invited to give a talk at the South African Hydrological Conference, hosted at Ch*****ne Sports Resort, but instead of sitting in a conference room, we headed out onto the mountains! ⛰️

We hiked with a small group of scientists to a spot overlooking the pine trees, up towards Sphinx and then down Kertlands Pass.

It was a small group, but the conversations were fascinating! We had a great time chatting about different fields of science and learning more about how Pinus patula affects them all. 🌲

A big thank you to Alanna for organising and inviting us, and to everyone who joined us. It was a really interesting and unique experience!

*****neSportsResort

This was a great adventure! Thank you to the South African Hydrological Society for inviting us to speak about the work ...
04/09/2026

This was a great adventure! Thank you to the South African Hydrological Society for inviting us to speak about the work we are doing. It was great to share our mission and meet like minded people who share in the goal of what we are trying to achieve. Thank you for this special experience.

Tackling Pinus patula (Mexican weeping pine) in the Drakensberg isn’t just about removing invasive trees; it’s about pro...
02/09/2026

Tackling Pinus patula (Mexican weeping pine) in the Drakensberg isn’t just about removing invasive trees; it’s about protecting the ecosystems and water resources that make this landscape so special.

Invasive pines can use significant amounts of water, reducing the water available to streams, wetlands and rivers. By clearing them, we help restore natural water flows and protect the Drakensberg’s vital water catchments. 💧⛰️

And these catchments matter far beyond the mountains. The water captured in the Drakensberg feeds rivers and systems that contribute to water supplies across KwaZulu-Natal and South Africa.

Protect the mountains. Protect the catchments. Protect our water. 🌿💧

🌲📲 Don’t Forget to Download iNaturalist! 📲🌲You can play a direct role in protecting the Drakensberg, and it starts with ...
26/08/2026

🌲📲 Don’t Forget to Download iNaturalist! 📲🌲

You can play a direct role in protecting the Drakensberg, and it starts with downloading the iNaturalist app.

This free, citizen-science app allows you to photograph and log invasive pine trees (as well as plants, animals, and fungi), helping us track problem areas more accurately and efficiently. Every observation gives us valuable data on where action is needed most.

How it helps:
✔️ Pinpoints exact locations of invasive pines
✔️ Helps us prioritise clearing areas
✔️ Tracks environmental changes over time
✔️ Empowers the community to be part of conservation

Simply download the app (available on iOS & Android), create a free account, and snap a photo when you spot a pine tree that shouldn’t be there. We can monitor the platform and use the data to guide our work.

Together, we can keep the Berg thriving and pine-free. 💪🌿

🌲 Did You Know?The majestic Drakensberg isn't just a beautiful mountain range, it's one of South Africa's most important...
19/08/2026

🌲 Did You Know?

The majestic Drakensberg isn't just a beautiful mountain range, it's one of South Africa's most important water catchments, supplying water to millions of people.

When invasive Pinus patula (Mexican Weeping Pine) spreads into natural grasslands, it can have a significant impact on this precious resource. These trees use far more water than indigenous grasses, drawing moisture from the soil and reducing the amount of water that reaches streams, rivers, and dams.

The result? Less water flowing downstream for communities, agriculture, and ecosystems that depend on it.

By removing invasive pines and protecting our indigenous grasslands, we help preserve the Drakensberg's role as one of South Africa's natural water factories, ensuring clean, reliable water for generations to come.

💧 Every invasive tree removed is a step towards protecting one of our country's most valuable natural resources.

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Hilton
3245

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+27823346122

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