Gum trees compete for survival in R20 million research project in Stellenbosch

Scientists from Stellenbosch University are planting more than 11 000 gum trees to track how they compete for resources like sunlight and water in a new experiment. 

"A key part of the study is to understand how the trees grow, and it is focused on the Eucalyptus group, also known as gum trees or 'bloekom,'" said associate professor Dave Drew from Stellenbosch University's Forest and Wood Science Department.  

"The gum trees are probably the world's most widely planted hardwoods and are of great international value as a fibre resource and a carbon biomass store."