Forestry is the solution for greening economies
The weather tried to put a damper on proceedings by dishing up rain and mist, but foresters are a determined and passionate bunch. Over 300 local and international delegates turned out for the Focus on Forestry conference and exhibition at the Karkloof Country Club in KwaZulu-Natal’s Midlands.
By Joy Crane
The excellent turnout, which included about 400 people on the field day, is a clear message to the organisers that they are contributing to the future of sustainable forestry and the forestry sector in Africa. Focus on Forestry was organised by CMO, Nelson Mandela University (NMU) and Forestry South Africa (FSA).
The strong industry and exhibitor presence at Focus contributed to its success. While delegates appreciated the opportunity to interact with exhibitors and listen to the panels of expert speakers, they enjoyed meeting friends and colleagues not seen since Focus 2019. Industry-sponsored refreshments powered the reunions, introductions, flowing conversations, and learnings from early mornings to late nights.
The session themes and speaker inputs focused on the forestry industry’s present and future challenges. Read about presentations from Francois Oberholzer p3) and Dr Sand (p24) in this issue. The January mag will provide more insights.
FOREST MANAGEMENT, SILVICULTURE AND CERTIFICATION
- Keynote address: The value of forestry in a greening economy: Dr Ole Sand, Criterion African Partners.
- Global perspectives of forestry technology developments and trends: Marcos Wichert, Stora Enso.
- Integrating software into management and technical expertise as an enabler for sustainable forest management in Africa and SE Asia: Michal Brink, CMO.
- Current and future planting technologies – a Brazilian perspective: Saulo Guerra, UNESP.
- Modern genetic material available for site species matching in Africa, considering climatic change: Michael Henson, Independent Forester.
- Nursery actions to integrate with silviculture operations regarding delivery and handling of seedlings to the field for mechanised planting: Heinz Reinstorf, BCC.
- Broadening the suite of herbicides available for the management of vegetation within plantation forestry: Keith Little, NMU.
- Small tree growers in South Africa are important in supplying FSC- certified logs at scale into the mainstream timber market: Nelly Ndlovu and Mondi Zimele.
- Empowerment of communities through alien clearing and certification – a case study: Bongiwe Mafuya, Emabhaceni Development and Nature Solutions.
FIRE AND RISK MANAGEMENT
- What is the current National Veld and Forest Fire Act compliance status of Fire Protection Associations (FPAs)? An overview: Ian Henderson, Landworks.
- The benefits of a risk-based fire management plan – a case study: Gideon van Lill, Amathole Forestry.
- The future of fire risk insurance in South Africa: Gareth Smallbones, SAFIRE.
- Achieving EU Deforestation Regulations (EUDR) compliance: Daniel von Heynitz, CMO.
- Data-driven precision pest management in South African forestry: Bernard Slippers, FABI.
- Challenges and opportunities in implementing pest management strategies in plantation forestry: Jolanda Roux, Sappi.
- Using cloud technologies and AI to fight crime into the future: Corne Broodryck, OneSpace.
MARKETS, HARVESTING AND LOGISTICS
- Current trends in international timber markets: Cori Ham, Margules Groome.
- Global overview of industrial roundwood road transport: Kalle Karha, University of Eastern Finland.
- Status of PBS timber transport in South Africa: Francois Oberholzer, Forestry South Africa.
- The forwarder of the future: Rikard Lundqvist and Tobias Semberg, Skogforsk.
- Developments in rail transport: David Taylor, Taylorail.
- Current and future Eucalyptus harvesting systems: Andressa Rodrigues do Rego, Suzano.
- Achieving EU Deforestation Regulations (EUDR) compliance: Daniel von Heynitz, CMO.
- Data-driven precision pest management in South African forestry: Bernard Slippers, FABI.
- Challenges and opportunities in implementing pest management strategies in plantation forestry: Jolanda Roux, Sappi.
- Using cloud technologies and AI to fight crime into the future: Corne Broodryck, OneSpace.
MARKETS, HARVESTING AND LOGISTICS
- Current trends in international timber markets: Cori Ham, Margules Groome.
- Global overview of industrial roundwood road transport: Kalle Karha, University of Eastern Finland.
- Status of PBS timber transport in South Africa: Francois Oberholzer, Forestry South Africa.
- The forwarder of the future: Rikard Lundqvist and Tobias Semberg, Skogforsk.
- Developments in rail transport: David Taylor, Taylorail.
- Current and future Eucalyptus harvesting systems: Andressa Rodrigues do Rego, Suzano.
- The use of harvesting machine data in forestry – a contractor’s perspective: Sabelo Sithole, New Age Forest Solutions.
- Single pass harvesting systems and the correct head selection: Andrew Cooper, Mondi.
- The latest biomass processing equipment and techniques available to process plantationresidue, alien invasive trees and encroacher bush: Willem van der Merwe, Africa Biomass Company.
CARBON, TECHNOLOGY, PROCESSING AND RESEARCH
- Lessons from an African forestry company pursuing carbon credits: Candice Taylor, The New Forests Company.
- Can my woodlot or plantation be used for carbon credits? The entire process explained: Ciska Terblanche, CMO.
- Drones are essential in the forestry toolbox: Geoffrey Rippon, Saphire Blue Drone.
- Drone legislation, how does it affect me: Robin Hull, Sappi.
- Sawmilling in emerging markets – a Wood-Mizer perspective: Peet Van Staden, Wood-Mizer.
- Manual recovery and collection of Pinus patula biomass after two clearfell harvesting systems: Thandekile Ncongwane, NMU.
- Reconciliation of harvester measurement data with the pre-harvest predictions and post-harvest harvest extraction of softwood assortments: Khathutshelo Dombo, Stellenbosch University.
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WOOD-MIZER IN FOCUS “A resounding success” is the consensus after Focus on Forestry 2023’s welcome return to the local timber conference circuit. Organised by CMO, Nelson Mandela University and Forestry South Africa, the Focus theme – The Value of Forestry in a Greening Economy, drew +300 delegates and global contributions. The key take-home message from the conference, split across four broad themes, is that ongoing innovation, research and expertise are pivotal for forestry to remain relevant, grow and prepare for the future. Peet van Staden, Wood-Mizer’s senior industrial product specialist, says sawmilling is a vital part of the forestry value chain that remains lagging in emerging markets and has, in part, primed the log export-led model that dominates emerging economies. Wood-Mizer’s challenge to the delegates was for foresters and sawmillers to coordinate in emerging markets to spur timber economies for the benefit of people and sustainability. He provided a roadmap for this in his overview, Sawmilling in Emerging Markets – a Wood- Mizer perspective. The organising teams from CMO, Forestry South Africa (FSA) and Nelson Mandela University (NMU) pulled together a remarkable three-day event around the theme of “The value of forestry in a greening economy”. It would not have been possible without the support of the industry and its suppliers.
Sappi’s sustainably managed Karkloof pine and eucalyptus plantations were the venue for the Focus on Forestry 2023 field day. The event attracted 400 people eager to experience harvesting, mulching, chipping and firefighting equipment in action.
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Source: Woodbiz Magazine – November/December 2023
(Pages 28 – 32)
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