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03rd June 2026

The Ponsse Buffalo Planter has landed, and Novelquip’s tech is driving it

Novelquip Forestry, a South African engineering company, and Ponsse, the Finnish manufacturer of forestry machines, launched their new mechanised planting technology, the Buffalo Planter, at Expo Minas Florestal in Brazil in May.

25th May 2026

World's first tree harvested by a drone in a real forest - AirForestry

AirForestry says its drone felled trees in a working production forest and, separately, completed an end-to-end harvest without human control — each a first for the airborne thinning method it has built since 2020.

22nd May 2026

300,000 hectares and counting: How South Africa's forestry sector is quietly preserving biodiversity

Biodiversity stewardship must extend beyond the boundaries of protected areas,” says Dr Ronald Heath, FSA’s Director of Research and Protection. “Conservation has to happen across entire landscapes, where productive land uses and natural ecosystems coexist and support one another.

06th May 2026

NCT’S RECOVERY: Bell water tankers inform NCT’s new fire station capacity

Throughout history, fires have caused widespread devastation and loss. In late September 2023, the NCT Forestry Co-operative Limited (NCT) mill in Richards Bay experienced this firsthand when strong winds, low humidity, and high temperatures combined to create ideal conditions for a fire that raged for more than ten days.

29th April 2026

STIHL marks 100 years globally and 30 years in South Africa with renewed local investment

When STIHL marks one hundred years in business, it does so from a position few in the forestry equipment sector can match

21st April 2026

The Chain of Custody communication gap in South Africa

South Africa's commercial plantation forests are mostly FSC certified. That's not a small thing. It represents a significant and ongoing investment by forest managers in responsible practice

21st April 2026

NCT Richards Bay rebuilds with Bell after massive fire

Described as “a multi-billion-rand catastrophe”, the September 2023 at the NCT mill in Richards Bay destroyed tonnes of wood chips and round logs, damaged the wattle and Eucalyptus chip lines, and equipment, including a Bell L1506 wheeled loader, an old Bell Haulage Tractor and logger, and a tracked Kobelco Excavator with a timber grab that had been purchased four years earlier.

21st April 2026

Why the Hitachi BX100 Backhoe loader is a true timberland asset

The Hitachi BX100 Backhoe Loader from Hitachi Construction Machinery may traditionally sit within the construction segment, yet in plantations, it is a capable multi-functional workhorse.

16th April 2026

The effect of Mycorrhizal Fungi inoculation on the growth rate of Eucalyptus Grandis seedlings at SA Fine-Tuned nursery in Stutterheim

Forestry contributes significantly to South Africa’s economy, providing raw materials for domestic and international markets. Among many species, Eucalyptus grandis is valued for its rapid growth, adaptability, and high-quality wood.

31st March 2026

Sawblades and Retipping Costs are Surging and It Will Get Worse

Sawmillers and woodworkers across South Africa are already experiencing sharp increases in sawblade and retipping costs. But speakers at the South African Saw Doctors Education Association (SASDEA) conference, echoed by Sawmilling South Africa Executive Director Roy Southey, warn that this is not temporary. It marks the start of a sustained structural rise.

31st March 2026

Opportunities for Southern African timber exporters?

Stricter CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species) regulations on African tropical hardwoods are creating market gaps that plantation-grown timber

30th March 2026

CUTTING IT FINE: March can be your garden’s make-or-break month

Most of us love the idea of a beautiful garden. In reality, life gets busy. One week of rain becomes three. The hedges get a little wild, the shrubs start spilling over, and suddenly the garden feels like something you need to catch up on.

17th March 2026

Focus on Forestry 2026: The Value of Forestry in a Greening Economy

Against this backdrop, CMO, Nelson Mandela University and Forestry South Africa will host Focus on Forestry 2026 under the theme: The Value of Forestry in a Greening Economy.

17th March 2026

My first experience of the Wood Conference

Hosted in the beautiful mother city of Cape Town, timber specialists from around the world convened at the CTICC for the 15th Annual Wood Conference. The word of the day was sustainability, and how innovation has driven a noticeable change in the green building industry.

11th February 2026

Five women driving the future of forestry through science

To celebrate the United Nations International Day of Women and Girls in Science, Forestry South Africa (FSA) has launched two complementary campaigns to amplify women’s voices, inspire more women to pursue STEM careers in the field, and challenge outdated perceptions of the forestry sector.

11th February 2026

Meet six young women who are turning science into sustainability solutions

South Africa’s pulp and paper sector has been opening doors for a growing cohort of young women who apply science and engineering to making the circular bioeconomy a reality.

09th February 2026

WoodEX for Africa 2026 Opens Visitor Registration

Johannesburg, South Africa – Visitor registration is now officially open for WoodEX for Africa 2026, taking place from 9–11 June 2026 at the Gallagher Convention Centre,

21st December 2025

Arxada celebrates graduation day and brings Christmas cheer to Vulingqondo Créche

When a wood preservation company in South Africa decided to support a local créche 18 years ago, nobody imagined the relationship would be so enduring or that November would become the highlight of everyone's year.

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.

06th November 2025

Witzenberg FORESTER VACANCY

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.

21st October 2025

The FX Group: 25 years of changing the face of the wood-based panel industry

The retail arm of The FX Group, trading as Home Décor Solutions (HDS) Cut and Edge, is celebrating its 25th year of changing the wood-based boards industry and building its reputation on value, service, and the courage to challenge convention.

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.

25th July 2025

PG Bison’s Mkhondo facility gets its fourth melamine-faced board line

PG Bison has announced that KAP Limited, its shareholder, has approved a R240 million investment for a new high-volume, high-pressure Melamine Faced Board (MFB) line at its Mkhondo facility in Mpumalanga.

18th July 2025

FSC tools support African forest supply chains with EUDR compliance

The European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) is poised to reshape how forest-based commodities such as timber, paper, and furniture are traded globally. For African producers and exporters, this presents both a challenge and an opportunity.

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