A massive environmental push in the Boosmansbos Wilderness Area has just shattered records!
Western Cape, South Africa (18 November 2025) – Over one weekend, 21 volunteers were flown into some of the toughest mountain terrain in the Western Cape by HeliHack. Together, they cleared 16,276 invasive pine trees, restoring 2500 hectares of a World Heritage Site that feeds communities downstream.
The hard work set a record for both volume and area cleared. This beats a previous record of 15,000 pines cleared and 1080 hectares restored in the area in June earlier this year.
Boosmansbos is a critical source of water. It supplies the Duivenhoks Dam, which provides water to around 15,000 people. But invasive pine trees have been choking this landscape for years, pulling enormous amounts of water from an already water-scarce region. Removing them is one of the most effective ways to protect long-term water security.
“Healthy ecosystems are the backbone of the Western Cape’s water security, livelihoods, and overall wellbeing. The removal of invasive alien species in Boosmansbos, strengthens the resilience of our catchments and ensures that water resources continue to flow to our communities,” said Anton Bredell, Western Cape Provincial Minister of Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning. “Initiatives like HeliHack are helping to future-proof the Province, where our environment, economy, and people can thrive together despite the pressures from climate change.”
Using helicopters to drop volunteers into remote peaks makes it possible to reach steep ridges and cliffs that are otherwise inaccessible.
This operation marks the biggest HeliHack achievement at Boosmansbos to date, building on three years of work in the reserve. Since 2023, HeliHack teams have now cleared 43,189 pine trees and restored 6380 hectares, roughly 40% of the wilderness area!
“This record-breaking mission is another example of how CapeNature’s partners provide complementary and additional capacity in conservation and ecosystem rehabilitation efforts in the Province. By removing invasive trees from Boosmansbos, we are not only restoring ecosystems but also protecting the water that thousands of residents rely on,” said Dr Ashley Naidoo, CEO of CapeNature. “Our partners like HeliHack, in addition to providing critical and scarce skills, are also wonderful ambassadors for conservation.”
The success of early pilot missions led CapeNature to formalise a three-year partnership with HeliHack in 2024, expanding the approach to four additional reserves.
It’s a long-term project aimed at protecting biodiversity, keeping water sources safe, and preserving some of the most important natural landscapes in the Western Cape.
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