Ecoregion of the tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests biome in South Africa
34°00′S23°06′E / 34°S 23.1°E / -34; 23.1
Conservation
Conservation status
Vulnerable[1]
Afrocarpus falcatus near Nature's Valley
The Knysna–Amatole montane forests ecoregion, of the tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests biome, is in South Africa. It covers an Afromontane area of 3,100 square kilometres (1,200 sq mi) in the Eastern Cape and Western Cape provinces.[2][3][4]
Setting
The ecoregion, which is South Africa's smallest in area, covers two separate enclaves.
The Knysna forest extends along the coast between 22°E and 25°E, generally along 34°S in a region called the Garden Route. The KwaZulu-Cape coastal forest mosaic lies along the coast to the north-east.
The Amatole forests lie in the Amatole mountains, which lie inland and 400 km ENE of the Knysna forest.
The ecoregion has a subtropical/warm-temperate climate (Cfb in the Köppen climate classification). Rainfall occurs year-round, and ranges from 525 mm to 1,220 mm per year in the Knysna forest, and from 750 mm to 1,500 mm in the Amatole forests.
Thomas Henry Duthie was the first appointed Supervisor of Crown Forests and Lands. Despite the small size of the ecoregion, the Knysna and Amatole forests are South Africa's largest individual forests. The Knysna forest has been exploited for valuable timber since the 18th century, and the Amatole forests since the 20th century. Since 1939 the forests have mostly been within protected areas and are recovering well, although managed timber harvesting is allowed.
References
^"Knysna-Amatole montane forests". Terrestrial Ecoregions. World Wildlife Fund.
^"Map of Ecoregions 2017". Resolve. Retrieved August 20, 2021.
^"Knysna–Amatole montane forests". Digital Observatory for Protected Areas. Retrieved August 20, 2021.
^"Knysna–Amatole montane forests". The Encyclopedia of Earth. Retrieved August 20, 2021.