Weston Agricultural College wins the Forest Rehabilitation Challenge

The Weston Agricultural College boys celebrate their victory in the tree planting challenge at Ferncliffe forest

Husqvarna recently teamed up with a conservation NGO and two prominent KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) schools to host a Forest Rehabilitation Challenge in the Ferncliffe natural forest on the edge of Pietermaritzburg.

Ferncliffe is a beautiful mist belt forest that has been heavily invaded by alien vegetation that is becoming a significant threat to biodiversity.

The challenge involved learners from Durban High School (DHS) and Weston Agricultural College competing in a tree-planting race designed to raise awareness of the need for environmental stewardship and contribute to the restoration of the Ferncliffe forest at the same time.

"We were truly touched by the enthusiasm of DHS and Weston, who signed up despite the boys' busy schedules and approaching school holidays," said Timothy Isabirye, Husqvarna South Africa's Marketing Manager.

The Husqvarna team partnered with local conservation NGO Ferncliffe Forest Wilding to host the event.

"With our sales office in Pietermaritzburg, it was natural to give back to our immediate community", explained Timothy. "And our commitment to sustainability and local environmental protection aligned perfectly with NPO Ferncliffe Forest Wilding's mission, making them the perfect partner for this initiative".

Janine Stephen, a representative from Ferncliffe Forest Wilding, said, "We were really excited when Husqvarna approached us with the idea of the challenge. Collaborating with schools and businesses like Husqvarna to protect and restore endangered mist belt forest habitat is exactly the kind of community-driven action we need in a world where so much biodiversity is threatened".

Competitive fun

In an exhilarating race, boys from each school, armed with spades and gloves provided by Husqvarna, were tasked with digging 15 holes as quickly as possible. As expected, the competitive spirit was high. Still, focusing on making a positive difference in the environment stayed at the top of everyone's mind.

In the end, it was Weston Agricultural College that emerged victorious. They earned bragging rights and a Husqvarna battery-operated leaf blower worth R10,000, including accessories for their school and a trophy to celebrate their achievement.

The DHS boys who participated in the tree planting challenge

DHS didn't go home empty-handed. They were rewarded with a R5,000 e-commerce voucher to use on the Husqvarna South Africa website. Participating learners also received a certificate recognising their contribution to this impactful initiative.

Fantastic opportunity

"This challenge was a fantastic opportunity for our learners to step up and contribute to something greater," said Barry Coskey, DHS Head of Marketing and Admissions. "At DHS, we aim to develop responsible, motivated young men with strong moral convictions, and today, they truly embodied those values".

Amber Pollock, Head of Marketing for Weston, said, "At Weston, we love embracing challenges, particularly those safeguarding our environment. We also strive to instil a strong work ethic and sense of responsibility in our learners, and this initiative provided an excellent opportunity for them to rise to the occasion."

The event has laid the foundation for what is hoped to become an annual event, expanding its reach and impact in the coming years. "This is just the beginning. We're committed to making this challenge an annual celebration where schools come together to compete and create real, lasting environmental change," Timothy concluded.

The Husqvarna Schools Forest Rehabilitation Challenge is part of the brand's sustainability and community engagement commitment.

Celebrating International Day of Biological Diversity

Forestry South Africa (FSA) celebrates International Day of Biological Diversity (Monday 22 May 2023) with a video that emphasises the need to take action to conserve biological diversity for future generations and the role multifunctional landscapes can play...

The South African forestry landscape is a multifunctional environment, where grasslands, indigenous forests, wetlands, rivers and streams weave their way between the productive forestry compartments. These natural spaces provide important habitats and migratory routes for all kinds of species, some of which are endangered and others that are only found in South Africa (endemic). These natural corridors are important, enabling the free movement of species both within the forestry landscape and between conservation areas that neighbour it. When these unplanted natural areas are managed in a way that promotes biodiversity, they can play a really important role in the conservation of both individual species and whole ecosystems.

"Across the forestry landscape, there are over 170 000 hectares of grasslands, with their associated wetlands and pans, and over 60 000 hectares of indigenous forests, all of which are sustainably managed by forestry companies. Very few Agri-sector businesses would leave 30% of their landholdings unplanted, however, in forestry this is common practice and as a result, the forestry landscape is made up of a mosaic of planted compartments and natural spaces. FSA is intensely proud of the onus forestry companies place on being custodians of the natural spaces found within their landholdings and the role these are having in maintaining and preserving biodiversity." – FSA Head of Communication and Director of Research and Protection, Dr Ronald Heath.

The Forestry Sector provides the perfect example of how it's possible to incorporate environmental stewardship into a production landscape without compromising on productivity. This not only benefits biological diversity, but it also produces a patchwork landscape that provides all manner of recreational activities that benefit our mental and physical health. FSA commissioned this video in celebration of the International Day of Biological Diversity to encourage other land users to take a multifunctional landscape approach when planning their management activities. We hope this will inspire them to do their bit in conserving South Africa's precious biodiversity for future generations to come.

"We are only now realising the true extent of the impact human activity is having on our planet. The dramatic loss in global biodiversity combined with the changing weather patterns attributed to climate change, are a warning to us all that now is the time to act. Small changes make big differences and if we all take responsibility now, as individuals and companies, we still have time to reverse these worrying trends. We have gone past the point where biodiversity can be conserved in dedicated nature reserves alone, we need to adopt a multifunctional landscape approach where production landscapes are managed in a sustainable way that promotes environmental and social benefits alongside economic gains. The video illustrates this, showcasing the important role multifunctional landscapes play in the conservation of biological diversity and how adopting this approach can make a big difference", Dr Heath concludes.

Visit the FSA website: Forestry South Africa | Forestry South Africa Official Site

*Video shot and edited by SA Forestry / Green Forest Films