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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.

13th October 2025

New study confirms FSC certification contributes to maintaining and increasing forest cover

A new study in The Journal of Cleaner Production confirms that Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification contributes to maintaining and increasing forest cover, especially in lower-middle-income countries.

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.

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.

01st October 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.

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.

27th September 2025

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

NCT's annual recognition of commercial growers farming their land responsibly and sustainably has become a benchmark achievement for the cooperative's members. Fairfield Estate, owned and managed by Matthew Crowe and his wife Karien, was announced the winner of the annual Commercial Tree Farmer of the Year award at NCT's recent annual general meeting.

23rd September 2025

Congratulations, Godi Nsele: NCT's 2025 Small-scale Tree Farmer of the Year

Godi Isaac Nsele, an agroforestry farmer from Manguzi in KwaZulu-Natal, was chosen as NCT's 2025 Small Grower Tree Farmer of the Year. The award recognises exceptional silvicultural and operational practices and environmental management.

05th September 2025

Minister George plants trees at Sappi Shaw in Arbour Week

In a fitting tribute to Arbour Week, the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Dion George, visited Sappi’s forestry operations in KwaZulu-Natal, together with industry representatives, and ceremonially planted six indigenous trees at the Sappi Shaw Research Centre.

05th September 2025

Arbour Month: Sappi’s indigenous trees programme spreads its roots

The bark, leaves, and roots of indigenous tree species in Africa form the backbone of traditional medicine, providing remedies passed down through generations. However, indiscriminate harvesting is threatening ecosystems and the livelihoods of millions of people.

01st September 2025

Call to plant one million trees on 24 September 2025

The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) is calling all South Africans to accept the challenge to plant

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.

13th August 2025

Transforming South Africa's forestry sector

Makhosazana "Khosi" Mavimbela's words ", This is not the time to moan and groan, this is the time to learn

12th August 2025

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.

07th August 2025

Perseverance, passion, and purpose are the roots of leadership

"Forestry became part of who I am before I even understood it was a career," comments Yoliswa Dlamini, attributing her

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.

07th July 2025

John Deere helps you OUTRUN THEM ALL

AFGRI introduces John Deere's new 2144G forestry swing machine - built for the woods. Efficient. Agile. Productive. The John Deere 2144G Swing Machine is changing the way forestry professionals tackle timber harvesting. Purpose-built with insights from the people who live and breathe harvesting, the G-Series machine doesn't just meet expectations, it resets them.

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.

26th June 2025

Inaugural Youth Webinar inspires SA’s next generation of foresters

In celebration of Youth Month and National Youth Day in June, the Forest Sector Charter Council (FSCC) and Forestry South Africa (FSA) joined forces to host the first-ever FSCC Youth Webinar, themed “Raise Your Hand to Be Part of the Discussion”.

24th June 2025

John Deere brings the new 2144G Tracked Harvester to Southern Africa

John Deere is introducing a lower-cost, purpose-built forestry harvester to the Southern African market. Designed and manufactured in Brazil, the 2144G track-based purpose-built machine has been very successful in harvesting fast-growing, high-yield (FGHY) plantations, which are the backbone of Brazilian and South African forestry. It is around this culture that the 2144G was developed.

13th June 2025

Goobs Forestry loads up on Bell and Kobelco for timber loading contract

Simphiwe hails from a small village called eMakhwabe between Vryheid and Paulpietersburg in Northern KwaZulu-Natal. When he matriculated at the Mantshinga Combined School in Paulpietersburg in 2007, there was no money for him to continue his education. He worked for a while as an intern with a large timber-growing and paper and pulp company. The same company would later sponsor his tertiary education in forestry.

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.

25th May 2025

The STIHL BR700 and BR800 backpack blowers are essential firefighting tools

As cosy nights and warm drinks become the norm this South African winter, we face a critical, less welcome seasonal

24th May 2025

Structural reforms are opening doors and South Africa’s forestry sector is leading the way

The 23rd Forestry South Africa AGM provided fascinating insights into how the public and private sectors are chipping away at the structural reforms and investments required to spark an exciting phase of growth and development in forestry and other key economic sectors. Keynote speaker Rudi Dicks, who is head of projects in the Office of the President and leads Operation Vulindlela, has played a key role behind the scenes in driving these reforms. His presentation provided a welcome dose of optimism that was echoed by other speakers at the AGM.

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