Top achievers in Forestry, Wood Technology and Veldfire Management at Nelson Mandela University’s George campus, and staff members.
A special awards ceremony was held at the Nelson Mandela George campus recently to acknowledge the top achievers in Forestry, Wood Technology and Veldfire Management.
“Today we celebrate your excellence, hard work and perseverance shown during the period of acquiring your qualification, and we encourage you to continue and be responsible ambassadors of our institution and carry the Nelson Mandela University name with pride in the work place and communities you will serve in,” said Forestry Department head Tiaan Pool.
In the Forestry Diploma, Benjamin Ringwood received the award for best student in Forest Engineering, Forest Management and Fire Management modules, whilst Mushaisano Ndou and Sandisiwe Langman received awards for best students in the Silviculture and Human Resource Management modules respectively.
In the Wood Technology Diploma, Mponeng Pina received an award for the best student in Timber Seasoning and Iviwe Dangazela for Timber Processing.
In the Higher Certificate in Veld Fire Management, Hlobisile Madlala and Amanda Rodo received awards for the best students.
The Nelson Mandela Forestry Association committee which served in 2022 was also recognised for their excellence in leadership. The committee members were Avelile Cishe, Lelonathemba Ndaleni, Ronewa Sathuma and Minenhle Machi.
NMU students representing Africa at international conference
(Left to right): Ronewa Sathuma and Avelile Cishe (NMU), and Irene Mathabela (DFFE Representative) at the International Forestry Students’ Symposium in Chile.
Two Forestry and Wood Technology students from Nelson Mandela University (George Campus) recently attended the 50th International Forestry Student's Symposium in Chile. This is one of the world's most prestigious forestry student events. The main aim of the event was to learn about forestry and the management of natural resources of Chile, with specific focus on the sustainability of the forest sector. Furthermore, the event was aimed at networking and exchanging ideas among different delegates from all over the world.
Delegates from over 30 countries including Germany, Czech Republic, Romania, Estonia, United Kingdom, Canada, Finland and Slovakia attended the event. NMU forestry students Avelile Cishe and Ronewa Sathuma represented South African and African students at the conference. This was made possible by funding assistance from the Nelson Mandela University, the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and Environmental (DFFE), South African Forestry Contractors Association (SAFCA), Hans Merensky, and Forestry South Africa (FSA).
Some of the topics that were discussed in the congress included the future of forestry in the world, climate adaptation strategies, forest certification systems, wood science and wood products in support of the green economy, climate-smart forest technologies, forest trade and governance, water quality, and higher education policy and development. These topics are of significant value to the South African forestry industry.
"The South African forestry industry plays a positive role in the climate debate and other global environmental concerns like that of water quality and soil degradation," said Avelile, President of the NMU Forestry Students Association, who gave a presentation at the conference about the role of forestry in solving major environmental threats.
Participating in a tree planting event at the IFSA symposium.IFSA Symposium delegates got together for a group photo.
Avelile Cishe with the full Symposium programme.
Preparing for the next mega fire
In the line of fire …
‘Preparing for the next Mega Fire’ is the theme of the 13th Fire Management Symposium, scheduled to be held at the Nelson Mandela University’s (NMU) George Campus from 23 to 25 November.
Effective wildfire management is impeded by a lack of integration between research results, technological development, and efforts by fire managers. In the end all strive to prevent, suppress and protect the environment, human wellbeing, and assets against wildfire.
This event aims to integrate the efforts of natural resource managers, engineers, and scientists through an integrated approach.
The Symposium will bring together fire managers and authorities from different disciplines and land uses including nature conservation, agriculture, disaster management, forestry and local authorities, for a range of informative presentations and exciting networking opportunities.
The choice of George as a venue to host the Symposium is appropriate as it is situated in the scenic southern Cape which experienced one of the worst fires in the history of South Africa on 7 June 2017. Exactly one year later another mega fire swept through the Southern Cape, so this region knows all too well about wildfires.
The George campus is also the venue for the highly acclaimed Fire Management programme offered by NMU which equips aspirant foresters and land managers with a deeper understanding of fire dynamics and the practical application of fire risk reduction, fire management and suppression.
The Symposium brings together top rated international and South African-based fire management specialists who will share their expertise in a very practical and applied manner. Internationally renowned fire scientist Prof Pete Fule will deliver the first keynote address.
The 2nd day of the event is a field day that will provide opportunities for Symposium participants to visit the Southern Cape region to observe the unique vegetation and take note of fire related issues - hosted by the Southern Cape Fire Protection Association.
For more information contact tiaan.pool@mandela.ac.za or Hannes.vanZyl@mandela.ac.za or sonia.roets@mandela.ac.za.
NMU’s top students in Forestry, Wood Technology & Veld Fire Management
Top students celebrate with NMU staff (right to left): Dr Muedanyi Ramantswana (Forestry programme co-ordinator), Hannes van Zyl (Veld Fire Management programme co-ordinator), Lelonathemba Ndaleni, Buseka Bhebhi, Likho Ndevu, Luphumlo Tomana, Zizipho Pikashe and Richard Muller (Wood Technology programme co-ordinator).
A special awards ceremony was held on April 7 at the Nelson Mandela University George campus to recognise the top student achievers in Forestry, Wood Technology and Veldfire Management.
“You have shown excellence in your academic studies during a difficult time of the COVID pandemic,” said Forestry programme coordinator Dr Ramantswana in his address to the students at the awards ceremony. “We encourage you to continue on this trajectory in the workplace and other spheres of society.”
Three forestry diploma students were recipients of the special awards: Sanele Xulu received the award for best student in Forest Engineering, Silviculture and Human Resources modules, whilst Buseka Bhebhi received the award for Forest Management and Lelonathemba Ndaleni received the award for Veld Fire Management. Top students in the Wood Technology Diploma programme were Zizipho Pikashe who received an award for the best student in Timber Seasoning and Likho Ndevu was the top student in Timber Processing. In the Higher Certificate in Veld Fire Management, Luphumlo Tomana (full-time programme) and Renier Groenewald (part-time programme) received top student awards.
Masters student graduates cum laude Phozisa Dlokweni (aka ‘Phozy’), from Ngceleni village in the Eastern Cape, graduated with an MSc Forestry (cum laude) at the recent NMU George Campus graduation ceremony.
Phozy (26) completed her MSc in record time and attributed her success to the assistance she received from her supervisors, Muedanyi Ramantswana, Raffaele Spinelli and Andrew McEwan.
Phozisa ‘Phozy’ Dlokweni graduated with an MSc Forestry cum laude, in record time.
Phozy said her passion for forestry comes from her father, a forestry contractor, and her uncle who is a forester. She is currently an intern at the University of Pretoria in the Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute (FABI), employed as a field extension officer.
After matriculating at Maclear High School, Phozy enrolled for the extended Forestry Diploma programme at the George Campus. The following year she bagged several distinctions in the mainstream Forestry Diploma programme after which she excelled in her BTech in Forestry, with core modules in Forest Engineering, Silviculture and Veld Fire Management.
In 2020, Phozy enrolled for an MSc in Forestry. Her research thesis focused on assessing the productivity and volume recovery of mechanised harvesting in a pine fire salvaging operation in the Eastern Cape. She plans to start her PhD in forestry soon.
“My supervisor, Dr Muedanyi Ramantswana, has been my role model and encouraged me to work hard and be dedicated,” said Phozy. “The experience gained at the University during my internship and research at MTO Cape, has augmented my academic journey as a life changing experience that I will forever cherish,” she says.
Phozy also enjoys reading, outdoor adventure, volunteering in community upliftment projects, travelling and is a true sports fanatic.
