Afforestation of Adverse Sites: Recent Improvements in the Planting Technique in Lesotho

Abstract

The current move to dry season and winter planting in southern Africa is reviewed and the probable reasons for its success are presented. Further assumptions underlying winter planting in Lesotho are listed together with the results of trials over two years. A detailed description is given of the planting technique used. Winter planting gave better survival of Eucalyptus camphora and two pines than was achieved previously from wet weather summer planting. This new planting technique has now been adopted on a large scale in Lesotho for planting at all times of the year and has resulted in reduced plantation establishment costs. The use of highly trained planting labour is emphasised.