While life without plastic might be hard to imagine, there is a renewable, recyclable and sustainable alternative to single-use plastics and many other fossil fuel derivatives: wood from responsibly managed plantations and forests. This is the message from Forestry South Africa (FSA) ahead of the 54th annual Earth Day (22 April 2024). “Since inception in 1970, Earth […]
Baboons vs forestry is a highly controversial topic that can be likened to a hornet’s nest. It’s best left alone, because when it is disturbed it tends to explode and cause an almighty furore. At the moment things have been fairly quiet on the home front, but the problem has not gone away. In fact […]
A cash loan from a friend enabled Cedusizi Dlamini to start his own forestry harvesting business, which he has built up gradually through hard work and by acquiring the right equipment with the right backup to boost his productivity. “The day I left school in 2007 I joined my brother, Thulani Khumalo, who worked as […]
Small African Community Based Organisations struggle with creating a sustainable financial base. Here is how Tafika Youth Organisation of Malawi developed an innovative, synergistic, forestry approach to solving this problem while at the same time meeting their community’s needs. Tafika were new to forestry and took advice from the Malawi Department of Forests, Chinteche based, […]
There is a spark of belief among forestry stakeholders that solutions to the deepening logistics challenges faced by the sector are beginning to click into place … Never mind the energy crisis – South Africa is facing a ‘logistics crisis’ as poor levels of service and maintenance in key freight rail corridors and at ports […]
Mkhambathi forestry team visiting the harvesting site (L-R) Thembisile Zweni (Trustee), Fikile Mbane (Community Forestry Manager), Simon Khawula (Sappi Forester), Nomava Zweni (Project Administrator) and Mtshikitshiki Mqhutyelwa (Trustee). The potential for forestry to bring sustainable jobs and economic development to remote rural areas of the Eastern Cape (former Transkei) has been demonstrated with the success […]
Bell Equipment Sales Representative, Haig Thompson, with Joseph Zulu from Siyawisa Hlathi in front of the TH302E timber truck. An enterprising spirit, enduring perseverance and an ability to change with the times have seen an emerging timber harvesting contractor in northern KwaZulu-Natal evolve from a motor manual outfit into a successful, fully mechanised harvesting operation. […]
A forwarder carrying a 20-ton plus load of pine logs down a 50% slope drew gasps from a group of experienced foresters and harvesting contractors attending a field day in the KZN midlands recently. The forwarder was a TimberPro TF 840D, distributed and supported in South Africa by Zululand-based Logmech. The occasion was a field […]
In a new series of videos, She Is Forestry SA profiles women who have had fascinating journeys and careers in forestry. These videos serve to inspire women to pursue careers in the forestry sector and educate the public on the wide variety of interesting roles and avenues that exist in the forestry value chain. Women’s […]
There has been an alarming surge in rhino poaching, particularly within the Hluhluwe iMfolozi Park (HiP), forcing Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, in collaboration with WWF South Africa, to undertake a rhino dehorning programme. KZN lost a total of 325 rhinos in 2023, with 307 of those poached within HiP, despite concerted efforts to stem the tide. […]
