Understanding Silviculture Technology: Plantation Forestry in the Southern Hemisphere
Interview with Dr Muedanyi Ramantswana, Nelson Mandela University
Technological advances are reshaping the Forestry Sector at a pace, and South African companies are under real pressure to reduce costs and improve efficiency across the forestry value chain. Competing in an international market means being innovative, adopting value-adding technologies and staying current with the latest developments across productivity, quality and accreditation.
“I never cease to be amazed at how quickly technology evolves once a niche has been found,” says Dr Muedanyi Ramantswana, Senior Lecturer at Nelson Mandela University. “Take UAVs as an example. Initially limited to assessments and monitoring through aerial photography, they are now embedded across entire operations, from weed control, pest control and fire protection through to precision mapping, remote sensing and comprehensive work planning and management. In a very short time, they have become integral to modern forestry.”
The challenge, he points out, is keeping pace with that rate of change and adopting technology that supports your economic, environmental and social dynamics. While completing his PhD in 2018, Dr Ramantswana identified a knowledge gap in the market for a textbook covering the shift from predominantly manual silviculture operations in South Africa to those incorporating semi and fully mechanised technologies. There was a clear need for a teaching resource that could guide undergraduates and postgraduates through this evolution and give them a firm grounding in the technologies powering South Africa’s modern Forestry Industry.
His intended audience extends beyond the lecture theatre. “I see it as a practical handbook for those already working in the Sector too, whether that is forestry practitioners, researchers, contractors or foresters on the ground. People who may have exposure to certain silviculture technologies but lack familiarity with the full range being used across an entire operation.”
Dr Ramantswana collaborated with Professor Saulo Guerra from São Paulo State University (UNESP) and Professor Jose Mauro da Silva of the Federal University of São Carlos in Brazil on what became a five-year project. “Brazil is widely regarded as a leader in plantation forestry technology adoption and application, partly because of the scale at which it operates, which drives constant innovation. My co-authors also saw the need for a single textbook that traced this evolution, hence we collaborated and gave readers a solid understanding of the technologies being adopted in silviculture from the perspectives of both South Africa and Brazil.”
Published in March 2026 by Taylor Francis, the book runs to six chapters. Following an introductory chapter, Chapter Two examines technological innovations changing the propagation and growing of plants in nurseries. “I was particularly fascinated with the early emergence of automation and robotics for identifying, picking and planting cuttings on containerised trays, and big data applications for improving input materials (e.g. water, fertiliser) efficiency, both have the potential to truly transform this part of the forestry value chain.”
Chapters Three and Four cover the establishment and re-establishment of planted compartments, from site preparation to pruning. “Over the years, we have seen the adoption of technologies such as mulchers for residue management, pitting machines for the preparation of a planting position, tractor-based rigs for planting and weeding. One area where a surprisingly large technology gap remains is pruning, so it will be interesting to watch how that develops over the next decade.” The chapter also addresses technologies available for the management of pests and diseases as well as fire protection and prevention, where advances are saving money, preventing losses and preserving infrastructure and lives.
Chapter Five looks in greater detail at key technological developments in silviculture, mapping the key drivers and trends. “What struck me was how technology has influenced not just the machines and materials we use, but also the significant advancements in precision technologies to support machine operators perform work more effectively. The potential of AI, deep learning and machine learning is something we have barely begun to tap, and both could be significant gamechangers for the Sector if properly integrated.” Chapter Five is the one I am most proud of. It pulls everything together, setting out where we are now and where we are headed.”
Chapter 6 examines the relationship between silviculture and harvesting, with particular focus on how the even aged silvicultural system is impacted by activities performed across the value chain. Re-establishment and tending activities affect harvesting operations, and vice versa. The chapter describes these impacts and interventions.
Dr Ramantswana’s enthusiasm for both the Industry and his students comes through clearly. “If you do what you love, you never have to work a day in your life. This project has taken five years, but I have enjoyed every moment because it brings together my passion for teaching and research. I have a real opportunity to make a difference to young people who will be the future of this Sector, and I take that seriously. I hope the textbook serves as an accessible and lasting gateway into the technological advances shaping forestry today and in the years ahead.” Dr Ramantswana is thankful to the Nelson Mandela University and all forestry stakeholders who have contributed in various ways to the compilation of this book.
To order your copy, follow the link: Understanding Silviculture Technology – Routledge
Source: Forestry in Focus
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