Mbombela - Toll road company Trans African Concessions (Trac) has agreed to replant a 200-year-old Wonderboom fig tree that has to be removed to make way for a road project along the N4 highway.
Trac made the announcement on Tuesday morning following a series of demonstrations at the tree, which stands at the entrance to Broham farm at Alkmaar on the N4 in Mbombela, Mpumalanga.
"Trac agreed to move the fig tree to a new home at Nature's Gateway at a cost of at least R500 000. The process still needs to be finalised but this is the best possible solution under extremely trying circumstances," said Trac spokeswoman Anita Heyl.
Heyl said Trac had already started widening the N4 to make it a dual carriageway between Schagen and Mbombela.
"It became apparent that a wild Wonderboom fig tree (Ficus salicifolia) has to be removed to make way for the road's expansion," she said.
Heyl said a full environmental impact assessment and a specialist heritage assessment were undertaken before the expansion contract was finalised.
She said this was done to ensure that no harm came to sensitive areas or species.
"The Wonderboom fig is not a protected species (but) Trac acknowledges that it's sad to sacrifice such a remarkable specimen to progress. The decision to remove the tree was only taken after wide consultation and all alternative avenues were explored to save the tree," she said.
Heyl said the Ficus salicifolia is estimated to be close to 200 years old and has an extensive root system which spreads over many metres. It is estimated to weigh more than 50 tons.
"Due to the topography of the area there are no alternative options. Furthermore, an island cannot be created for the tree, and it cannot be left along the median, because it would pose tremendous road safety risks, especially to heavy vehicles and buses," she said.
She warned there was no guarantee, however, that replanting the tree would be successful.
