Coastal Scarp Forest

Areas of forest which grow in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa mostly on south facing slopes in higher rainfall areas, and along the humid coastal areas. Different types of forest can be identified by their species composition which depends mostly on the altitude, latitude and substrate (soil and rock types) in which they grow. South facing slopes are favourable for the development of forest as they are more shaded, and therefore cooler and retain more moisture than the northern slopes. The extra moisture on the south slopes is not only favoured by forest trees, but also helps to prevent or subdue wildfires. Fires can also be blocked by cliff faces and rocks or boulders on these slopes, and by streams or rivers at the base of the slopes. The coastal regions are conducive to forest formation, because of high rainfall and humidity which are favoured by forest trees and also help to prevent or subdue fires. The rivers of the coastal areas are also broader than further inland, which may often prevent fires from spreading long distances, and fires generally burn uphill and therefore more often away from areas at low altitude.

Various forest types can be distinguished, but many of these overlap or integrate with each other for example; coastal dune forest can fade into coastal lowland forest, which can in turn fade into riverine forest.

Found in secluded valleys in the Drakensberg area. Characteristic tree species include yellowwoods (Afrocarpus falcatus and Podocarpus latifolius), mountain hard pear (Olinia emarginata) and Cape beech (Rapanea melanophloeos). Mountain cypress (Widdringtonia nodiflora) may occur on the forest margins.

Found in secluded valleys in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands. Characteristic trees are; yellowwoods (including Afrocarpus falcatus, Podocarpus latifolius and Podocarpus henkelii), Natal krantz ash (Atalaya natalensis), red stinkwood (Prunus Africana), sneezwood (Ptaeroxylon obliquum) and forest elder (Nuxia floribunda). The forest tree fern (Cyathea capensis) is also found in these forests.

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Wikipedia