What once was a landscape of sugarcane and weeds is now a thriving forest, and it’s all thanks to the incredible ‘Tree-preneurs’ of Buffelsdraai.
Buffelsdraai, South Africa (23 March 2026) – Back in 2008, a bold initiative was launched in Buffelsdraai to transform degraded land north of Durban into a flourishing natural landscape. Once dominated by sugarcane fields and invasive plants, the Buffelsdraai Landfill Site Community Reforestation Project (CRP) has successfully reshaped the terrain into a thriving mosaic of coastal forest, lush wetlands, and vibrant grasslands.
Over the past 17 years, this restored environment has matured into a resilient ecosystem sequestering carbon, supporting biodiversity, and contributing to climate change mitigation efforts.
A Celebration of Growth and Economy
To mark the International Day of Forests this past Saturday, WILDLANDS celebrated the project’s official conclusion within its programme. It leaves behind a powerful legacy of ecological restoration and community empowerment that perfectly mirrors the global theme: Forests and Economies.
This theme highlights the vital role forests play not only in sustaining ecosystems but also in supporting livelihoods, strengthening communities, and driving sustainable development.
But beyond its ecological achievements, Buffelsdraai stands as a powerful example of how forests can drive local economies. Through WILDTRUST’s Indigenous Trees for Life Programme, local residents from Buffelsdraai and Osindisweni communities became “Tree-preneurs.”
Tree-preneurs Contributing to Ecological Restoration
As Tree-preneurs, community members have cultivated and supplied indigenous trees and plants to the project, directly contributing to reforestation efforts in exchange for store vouchers.
This initiative created meaningful economic opportunities for unemployed individuals, allowing them to earn income, access essential goods through voucher systems, and build valuable knowledge and skills in conservation and plant propagation.
“As the final Tree-preneur vouchers are handed over, this milestone marks more than the conclusion of a project; it celebrates a model where ecological restoration and economic empowerment go hand in hand. The thousands of trees planted are not only rebuilding an ecosystem, but they also represent livelihoods supported, dignity restored, and a community actively engaged in shaping its environment,” WILDLANDS shared.
In the spirit of the International Day of Forests, Buffelsdraai is a reminder that investing in forests is an investment in people. It all goes to show that when communities are placed at the heart of environmental action, restoration becomes a pathway to both ecological resilience and economic inclusion.
Related Stories
The Hope Dealers: Jozi Trails Looks After the City's Longest Green Artery
Banjo's Best Life! Scruffy Pup Found in Bushes Gets Happiest New BeginningAs this chapter closes within the WILDLANDS programme, the forest continues to grow, and so too does its conservation legacy. Nondumiso Khumalo, Buffelsdraai Community Restoration Project Manager: WILDLANDS Programme, captures the success of the initiative:
“Without the community, this forest would not have thrived; it is all due to the efforts and patience of the Tree-preneurs.”
Sources: WILDLANDS
Don’t ever miss the Good Things. Download the Good Things Guy App now on Apple or Google.
Do you have something to add to this story? Please share it in the comments or follow GoodThingsGuy on Facebook and Twitter to keep up to date with good news as it happens, or share your good news with us by clicking here or click the link below to listen to the Good Things Guy Podcast with Brent Lindeque – South Africa’s very own Good Things Guy. He’s on a mission to change what the world pays attention to, and he truly believes there’s good news around us. In the Good Things Guy podcast, you’ll meet these everyday heroes and hear their incredible stories:
Or catch an episode of Good Things with Brent Lindeque or our Weekly Top 5 below. The videos here are always changing, updated with the latest episodes from these two shows. Both are part of Good Things TV, created to bring South Africans balance at a time when the news can feel overwhelmingly negative. Our goal is simple: to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in our country – and to leave you feeling a little more proudly South African.
by 
