Partnering with land reform communities
Jim Matsho (MFP), Sizwe Mtengu (MFP), Simon Ngcobo (Mondi silviculture forester), Mbongeni Sibiya (Kewulane Trust Chairman) and Mzungezeni Xulu (Kewulane Trustee) visit a compartment where a coppice reduction operation is in progress.
Mondi has established a business unit that partners with community land reform beneficiaries in an effort to support their businesses. The aim is to make a contribution to the ongoing productivity and viability of the communities’ commercial forestry operations, and to secure access to fibre for the Mondi mill at Richards Bay.
Mondi Forestry Partners (MFP), headed up by Jim Matsho, is already involved with two land claimant communities in Kranskop and one near Vryheid in KwaZulu-Natal. Another seven community forestry projects are in the pipeline.The MFP team will provide a range of support services including capacity building, assistance with establishing businesses, mentorship, training and facilitating access to finance.
The Mondi partnership initiative fulfills a massive need to assist communities who have received land from government’s land reform programme. There are many instances in South Africa where land-based businesses fail after they have been transferred to communities as there is insufficient support for the land beneficiaries. The importance of maintaining the productivity of timberland in South Africa is especially critical for the downstream processing industries, as there is a widening gap between supply and demand for timber, and limited suitable land available for new afforestation.
Forest Management Short Courses
- Forest Finance and Valuation, 1 September 2010, Pietermaritzburg
- Strategy for Forest Managers, 2 September 2010, Pietermaritzburg
The courses are intended for forestry managers, contractor managers, contractors, and service providers, academics and consultants involved in the forestry industry.
For more information please contact Cori Ham at telephone 021 808 3297 or e-mail cori@sun.ac.za |
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Supporting forestry projects in East Africa
South Africans are busy contributing to the establishment of woodlots in East Africa to offset the over-reliance of local communities on indigenous forests for timber and fuel wood. Read more...
FIETA set to go in SETA restructuring
The Forest Industry Education and Training Authority (FIETA) is set to be disbanded in a proposed restructuring of the Sector Education and Training landscape in South Africa. Read more...
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PESTS AND DISEASES POSTERS FOR SALE
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Click on poster for a bigger image
The Pests and Diseases in South African Forestry A1-size poster (which was inserted into the June issue of SA Forestry magazine) is now for sale at R10 each (SA only), excl. postage.
This amazing resource features eight pests and eight diseases currently plaguing South African plantations and highlights their distribution, status, biology, symptoms, relative importance and management.
Contact us today to order your copy/ies. Discounts will be given for bulk orders.
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