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.

Wits and Sappi renew climate-smart forest resilience research partnership

The new R4.3 million investment was announced during a launch event at Wits on 26 November 2025. The programme will continue under the leadership of Prof Mary Scholes, with research focused on drought tolerance, fire regimes and tree responses to pests and pathogens in a warming climate.

Normandien Farms buys Sappi Lomati Sawmill

The Competition Commission has approved without conditions the sale of Sappi Southern Africa’s Lomati Sawmill to Normandien Farms and handover is planned for 1 September, 2025.

NCT Commercial Tree Farmer of the Year 2025: The Crowe family's Fairfield Estate

Featured Article

08th December 2025

Wits and Sappi renew climate-smart forest resilience research partnership

Wits University and Sappi Southern Africa have renewed their research partnership to increase forestry resilience to climate change risks by extending the Wits Sappi Chair in Climate Change and Plantation Sustainability until 2028.

Women In Forestry

02nd October 2025

Dalena Wolmarans does it her way

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.

29th September 2025

She is Forestry SA 2025 Awards winners

The forestry sector celebrated exceptional female excellence at the 2025 She is Forestry South Africa Awards. The annual awards are presented during the She is Forestry annual online gathering during Women’s Month in August.

05th August 2025

Making the cut: Jana van Heerden's technical journey in woodworking

Janarien (Jana) van Heerden brings electrical expertise and mechanical precision to her role as woodworking machine technician at CMC Group, and, as South Africa's only female technician in this specialised field, she's charting new territory in the forestry sector.

Environment

08th October 2025

New Interim Forest Stewardship Standard for Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe is home to over 5,930 species of plants and more than 1,360 species of animals. Forests and woodlands currently cover about 35% of the country's total land area and play multiple essential roles critical to the livelihoods of poor rural communities.

16th October 2025

When Knysna’s woodcutters cut wood

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.

22nd August 2025

Digging Deeper: Unearthing the secrets to preparing soil the smart way

Larry Morris, Husqvarna Area Business Manager for the Western Cape, says that it is not just about clearing ground, it’s about understanding your terrain, choosing the right tools, and setting up conditions that give crops the best possible start.

Forestry equipment

05th July 2025

Winch-assisted Cobras tackle steep slopes in KZN’s Midlands and Zululand

Leading the way in this regard is Ponsse, the Finnish manufacturer that has taken steep slope harvesting to the next level. Key to the success of the Ponsse steep slope machines is the built-in Herzog Synchrowinch that is synchronised with the transmission of the harvester or forwarder, allowing it to automatically spool in and out as the machine works across the slope.

01st October 2025

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

26th May 2025

Bell Skogger has changed the game for Whisky Valley in the Eastern Cape

Harvesting contractor Wes Redinger’s decision to mechanise his operations paid off when he invested in a Bell Skogger, grew his chainsaw gangs from three to seven, and removed two tractor-trailers and eight manual labourers while increasing productivity and consistency.

Forestry in Focus

31st October 2025