SA Forestry magazine

12/11/2025

Some will disagree with me, but I believe South Africa's plantation forestry sector is regrouping, transforming, and forcefully asserting itself as a leading contributor to economic growth, social development, and environmental sustainability.

The stories in last month's edition and in this issue prove my point. The Nukor Group has built a double arbour multirip saw and customised grading line for a local sawmill. New Forests is investing in Rance Timber. Weza has been upgraded, Northern Timbers is pushing the boundaries of eucalyptus, and several other sawmills are making improvements to develop their products and markets.

The merger (if the Competition Commission doesn't say no) of PG Bison and MTO Group's Cape operations is particularly significant. Cape Forest Products now manages 41,900 hectares of plantations, three sawmills, and a pole plant. Add to this the news that the DFFE has contracted Cold Stream Timber Company to reforest 22,000 hectares in the Garden Route, and you have genuinely positive momentum for the region.

That said, let's call it what it is: it has taken the government 17 years to implement a cabinet decision reversing the exit from over 22,000 hectares of plantation forestry in the Southern Cape. Abominable. Hundreds of forestry workers and their families have paid the price, and the skills base has been eroded. Restoring the infrastructure and land for reforestation will require deep pockets, patience, and hard work.

However, the timing is critical. The Western Cape had a dry winter, and we're only months into the fire season and already thousands of hectares of agricultural land, fynbos, and indigenous forests have burned. Cold Stream will need to move quickly on firebreaks and fuel load reduction.

Meanwhile, innovation continues. The 6th annual Precision Silviculture meeting, organised by Nelson Mandela University (NMU) and industry sponsors, showcased how collaboration and integrated research can leverage technology effectively. Equipment manufacturers like Bell, Hitachi, John Deere, Log Max from AfrEquip, and Waratah are delivering machinery that builds businesses and increases harvesting efficiencies.

Catch up on these and more by reading our October Issue 53 online, or you can download ihis edition to read at your own leisure - https://www.woodbizafrica.co.za/october-2025-issue-53/

07/11/2025

Vacancy Alert: Forester

Witzenberg Properties (Pty) Ltd is seeking a Forester to manage harvesting and silviculture operations in our forestry department. You will be based in the Koue Bokkeveld, Ceres. As a member of our timber division team, you will play a critical role in delivering productivity, quality, environmental stewardship, and community engagement across our plantations.

Click the link for more information - https://saforestryonline.co.za/news/witzenberg-forester-vacancy/

05/11/2025

31/10/2025

Cape Forest Products is a new dawn for South Africa's forestry sector

The merger of PG Bison’s Southern Cape sawmilling operations with MTO Forestry Southern and Eastern Cape operations to create a new company, Cape Forests Products, creates a more sustainable timber and sawmilling industry in the Southern Cape.

CEO of the newly formed Cape Forests Products, Greg Woodbridge, says, “This merger heralds an exciting new dawn for an industry that is so important to the region in terms of sustaining jobs.” Cape Forests Products will employ directly and indirectly over 2,500 forestry and sawmilling people in the region.

Read more - https://saforestryonline.co.za/articles/cape-forest-products-is-a-new-dawn-for-south-africas-forestry-sector/

30/10/2025

EXPRESSION OF INTEREST (EOI) FOR PROVISION OF ENUMERATION, GROWTH & YIELD RESEARCH AND QUALITY ASSESSMENT SERVICES

The purpose of this expression of interest (EOI) is to engage company profiles from interested parties who wish to participate in this tender for the provision of Enumeration, Growth & Yield Research and Quality Assessments in Mondi South Africa Forestry Plantations across the KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga region.

Learn more - https://saforestryonline.co.za/articles/research-and-development/mondi-expression-of-interest/

21/10/2025

🌲Welcome to the latest edition of your sector’s magazine.

The Growing Timber Connections conference, Timber Construction Colloquium, and tour of the University of Pretoria's Engineering 4.0 Timber Laboratory demonstrated something crucial: the supply chain from plantation to construction site is ready. This collaborative academic platform, driven by UP’s York Timbers Chair, connects commercial timber growers with , , , and with the government and private sector supply chains.

Catch up these stories and more, by reading the online mag, or dowload it to read at your leisure - https://www.woodbizafrica.co.za/september-2025-issue-52/

16/10/2025

When Knysna’s woodcutters cut wood

Adam Stander was born in the Knysna forest in 1928 and given two birth days, 22 November, when his name was carved on a tree to note his birth and 28 November, the day his woodcutter father travelled into town and registered his son’s birth.

The Knysna forest, which forms part of the “Garden Route” on South Africa’s southern coastline, was historically significant from colonial times as a natural timber resource used for fuelwood, construction, shipbuilding, furniture, and other purposes.

Read more - https://saforestryonline.co.za/articles/when-knysnas-woodcutters-cut-wood/

08/10/2025

New Interim Forest Stewardship Standard for Zimbabwe

The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) has released the new Interim Forest Stewardship Standard (IFSS) for Zimbabwe, which incorporates the FSC's latest Principles and Criteria for effective forest management. The standard will take effect on 1 January 2026.

The scope of the Zimbabwe standard encompasses plantation and indigenous forests. It includes large-scale and small- or low-intensity managed forests (SLIMFs). Producers of non-timber forest products (NTFPs) are also catered for.

Read more - https://saforestryonline.co.za/articles/new-interim-forest-stewardship-standard-for-zimbabwe/

02/10/2025

Dalena Wolmarans’ entrepreneurial journey in Knysna is remarkable. Not only has she been running three successful companies since 1993, but she is also a truck driver, sawmill operator, wife, and proud mother of two daughters.

She runs the businesses established by her father, Adam Stander, back in 1950, namely Adam Stander Houtverkope (timber sales), a sawmill and AJJ Stander Vervoer (transport).

In 1993, 16 months after Dalena finished a Diploma in Tourism, Adam had a stroke, and she returned home to take over running the company with her brother. She acquired her heavy vehicle driving licence at the age of 21 and started driving the company’s trucks.

Read more - https://saforestryonline.co.za/articles/dalena-wolmarans-does-it-her-way/

01/10/2025

The future of forestry: How drones are set to transform the industry

As we look towards the future of forestry operations, one technology is emerging as a true game-changer: drones. In the next five years, we can expect drone technology to transform forest management by integrating precision applications and advanced spatial analytics, enhancing efficiency, sustainability, and data-driven decision-making.

Read the full story - https://saforestryonline.co.za/articles/the-future-of-forestry-how-drones-are-set-to-transform-the-industry/