From Mills to Nurseries: Ministerial Delegation Gains Firsthand Insight into Forestry
Over two days during National Arbour Week in early September, Sappi, in collaboration with Forestry South Africa (FSA) and PAMSA – hosted now former Minister Dion George, Deputy Minister Narend Singh and a delegation from the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) to showcase the sector’s efforts in the areas of innovation, local investment, tree breeding and conservation.
The first stop was Sappi’s Saiccor Mill, located near Umkomaas on the KwaZulu-Natal south coast. As the world’s largest single-site producer of dissolving wood pulp (DWP), Sappi Saiccor supplies sustainably produced cellulose to international markets where it is used in textiles, pharmaceuticals, food products and other applications. It was here that the Minister announced that Deputy Minister Narend Singh would take on the forestry portfolio.
The delegation also visited a small community-based timber-growing operation. Small-scale growers form an integral part of South Africa’s forestry supply chain, providing timber to pulp mills and sawmills while supporting rural livelihoods. The Minister expressed delight at meeting smallholder farmers.
“It was a fantastic eye-opener to the DFFE delegation and a reminder to sector representatives of the value of our sector. From the contribution to GDP, rural development, and livelihoods to the growing of a renewable, carbon-storing resource, we are excited about the alignment of priorities between Government and the sector in terms of transformation, localisation, and green economy,” said Jane.
From Tree Planting to Fire Prevention: Exploring Tree Genetics, the Miyawaki Arboretum, and Fire Protection Efforts
Day two included a visit to the Tweedie Research Station and Clan nursery near Pietermaritzburg, which introduced the Minister and his team to tree breeding, genetics and precision forestry as well as tree propagation and seedling production. “Michael Peter (FSA) and I were also honoured to be invited to plant some trees alongside Minister George, Sappi SA CEO Graeme Wild, Duane Roothman, VP Forestry at Sappi and Tebele Makhetha, head of Sappi corporate affairs in the Miyawaki-style arboretum at the Shaw Research Centre,” says Molony.
A Japanese botanist, Akira Miyawaki, pioneered a tree planting method that involves growing indigenous trees in dense clusters to accelerate growth and restore biodiversity within compact spaces. Sappi’s arboretum seeks to be a “living classroom” for plant identification, a sanctuary for local wildlife, ecological restoration and indigenous stewardship.
A stop at the FireHawk camera-based fire detection centre and an aerial fire response facility in Shafton provided insight into the advanced technologies and coordinated efforts safeguarding the province’s plantations and adjacent key conservation sites. Fire poses a massive threat to people, livelihoods, food security, infrastructure, the environment and associated biodiversity. Technology such as remote sensing, HD cameras, weather monitoring systems and aerial and ground firefighting measures have been deployed to actively manage fire risks.
FSA executive director, Michael Peter, added, “In the initial responses made by the Minister and Deputy Minister, they expressed regret that it had taken so long to engage with our Sector and explained the unusually complex challenges of trying to oversee three important sectors like forestry.”
We are sincerely grateful to the minister and everyone who contributed to making this visit a success and the sector looks forward to working closely with the government to drive sustainable growth and transformation.
Jane notes, “All in all, it was a productive and worthwhile engagement. It was especially that the Minister and his delegation were appreciative of the sector’s efforts in addressing the Triple Ps – planet, profit and people.”