In the 1930s, South Africa planted pine and eucalyptus across native grasslands to become self-sufficient in timber; 23 years later, streamflow had fallen 55% in one region and 82% in another

South Africa began expanding commercial tree plantations in the 1930s as the government was trying to make the country self-sufficient in timber. Pine, eucalyptus and wattle were planted on land that had been dominated by grasslands and other native vegetation earlier.

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