Post: Forestry As A Frontline Climate Solution

January 24, 2026

Forestry As A Frontline Climate Solution

As 2025 draws to a close, we look back on a year defined by resilience, innovation, transformation and safety excellence. Safety performance has stood out as a defining achievement, underscoring our commitment to protecting and caring for our people as well as our forests. The lessons learned in cultivating and growing an embedded safety culture have laid the foundation to unlock greater value in caring for the environment and the communities in which we operate.

Climate change is no longer a distant possibility but a lived reality, with droughts and floods reshaping how we approach sustainability. Forestry stands at the frontline of this challenge, and at Sappi we have long been preparing and adapting for it – investing in science, innovation and collaboration to secure a future that is both sustainable and inclusive.

Our breeding programmes deliver genotypes that thrive with less water and greater resilience to pests and diseases, while our nurseries integrate water-saving and recycling practices to safeguard resources. These nurseries are not only hubs of production but also centres of experimentation, where new techniques are tested to meet the challenges of drought, pests and climate variability. This commitment is reinforced through academic collaboration, including our extended support to 2028 for the Chair in Climate Change and Plantation Sustainability at Wits University, which advances climate modelling, supports emerging researchers, and deepens understanding of forest resilience under changing conditions. The research platform is also unlocking collaboration with specialised programmes at Stellenbosch University and the University of Pretoria, linking interdependencies and pivoting to amplify the value of science and applied research in operational implementation.

Equally important is the way we harness precision forestry technologies to advance knowledge and decisionmaking. Through our Sappi Sphere team, we apply spatial services such as GIS, LiDAR processing and advanced data modelling to map and optimise commercial forestry areas. This year, we made excellent progress in developing an algorithm to calculate carbon stocks using remotely sensed data, strengthening our role in climate reporting and carbon stewardship. Operational Excellence and Sustainability Operational excellence has been another highlight of 2025. We achieved a yield per hectare of 102%, reflecting the dedication of our teams and the strength of our silvicultural practices. In line with our sustainability goals, plantation offices were converted to solar power, reducing our carbon footprint and demonstrating the circular nature of our operations.

This year also marked a significant step in piloting lowcarbon logistics. In Mpumalanga, Sappi’s Forestry operations initiated a trial of a fully electric truck in partnership with a local logistics company and an international electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer. The pilot delivered promising results, with zero tailpipe emissions and energy efficiency gains that reduced approximately 0.4 kg of CO2 per kilometre – projecting an annual saving of 3 800 tons of CO2. While the evaluation highlighted challenges such as upfront capital costs, charging infrastructure and driver training, it confirmed that electric vehicles are viable for controlled forestry routes. Complementing this, the transition to electric offloading equipment has already commenced a Saiccor’s wood yard under the guidance of our Forestry Logistics team.

Meaningful Collaboration

Cooperation with local municipalities has also enabled 3 000 hectares of Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) to commence in the Eastern Cape, paving the way for responsible expansion and strengthening partnerships with communities. Interaction with the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) resulted in an additional 15 000 hectares being included under a department‑led EIA process. Together, these initiatives signal our commitment to scalable, lowcarbon solutions and meaningful opportunities for future value creation across the business.

The recent Medium‑Term Budget Policy Statement highlighted infrastructure rehabilitation in KwaZulu‑Natal as part of national flood‑damage recovery, including the reinstatement of the Illovo Bridge and the South Coast rail line. This acknowledgement reflects more constructive government engagement and reinforces the vital role of the Forestry Industry in sustaining supply chains and supporting community livelihoods. It marks an important step toward easing logistics constraints and strengthening resilience across the economy – signalling a stronger partnership between government and industry in pursuit of inclusivity and sustainable growth.

“…uniting science sustainability and social impact, we can shape a sector and a nation…”

Transformation and Inclusivity

Our structured Enterprise and Supplier Development (ESD) strategy is central to strengthening local economies and ensuring that transformation extends across the forestry value chain. This approach includes our long‑standing Khulisa programme, which for more than four decades has supported thousands of small growers. It also extends to more than 1 000 small, medium, and micro enterprises involved in silviculture, harvesting, loading and both short‑ and long‑haul logistics. Together, these growers and enterprises form a resilient network of partners who contribute meaningfully to the Sector while building livelihoods in rural communities.

Certification has expanded access for these participants, with our FSC™ and PEFC group schemes opening pathways to trusted forest management standards and formal markets. The growth of our PEFC Group Scheme in 2025 reflects the dedication of our growers and the Sappi Forests team to building an inclusive landscape. This year, growers also received support towards achieving dual certification under both PEFC and FSC™ standards, further strengthening their market opportunities and environmental stewardship.

In May 2025, we opened the Sappi Forests Skills Centre in Richmond, KwaZulu-Natal, a hub for training foresters, Khulisa farmers, and contractors. Plans to introduce carpentry training for local youth will link forestry skills with broader livelihood opportunities. Beyond technical skills, we hosted 15 youth sports tournaments, career exhibitions reaching 150 schools, and environmental education initiatives during Arbor Week and beyond, reinforcing safety and sustainability messages through our fire awareness programme in conjunction with partners such as Working on Fire.

Looking Ahead

As we close out our Thrive25 strategy – focused on growth, financial health, trust and operational excellence – our forestry business stands at the heart of a circular economy, producing products that are renewable by nature. The future of forestry lies in the opportunities we create, the communities we uplift and the resilience we build against climate uncertainty. At Sappi, we are confident that by uniting science, sustainability and social impact, we can shape a sector – and a nation – that grows stronger together, creating a thriving world.

Written By: Duane Roothman, Vice President, Sappi Forest

Source: Forestry In Focus