The theme for this year’s International Day of Forests (IDF) is “Forest restoration: a path to recovery and well-being” and it’s one that resonates with the local forest industry. “Many people don’t know that timber plantations in South Africa were originally established to provide an alternative timber supply, in order to protect our few natural forests from further … [Read more...]
SA researchers shortlisted in international forestry research award
Three South African researchers have made it to the global shortlist of the Blue Sky Young Researchers and Innovation Awards. They were selected from 14 candidates in the South African round. The awards, launched in 2016 by the International Council of Forest and Paper Associations (ICFPA), aim to recognise, celebrate and promote innovations being developed in the global … [Read more...]
Blue Sky Awards launched in SA for young researchers
The local leg of the Blue Sky Young Researchers Innovation Award has been launched by the Paper Manufacturers Association of South Africa (PAMSA). The 2020-2021 round is the third edition of this award, organised by the International Council of Forest and Paper Associations (ICFPA), to which PAMSA belongs. It invites young students and researchers in wood and fibre-based … [Read more...]
Raising awareness of the importance of forests
The United Nations General Assembly proclaimed 21 March the International Day of Forests (IDF) in 2012. The Day celebrates and raises awareness of the importance of all types of forests. On each International Day of Forests, countries are encouraged to undertake local, national and international efforts to organize activities involving forests and trees, such as tree … [Read more...]
Pakistan needs 20% more forest for healthy environment
Pakistan needs to raise its forest cover from 5% to 25% to meet its economic, employment and green environment needs. So says Preston Institute of Management Science and Technology’s (PIMSAT) final year students of MBA Syeda Bushra Hasan, Mehwish Saqib and Dinsha Vania. Forests are the source of economic support, employment, oxygen generation, livestock grazing, furniture … [Read more...]
Around the world with Greengo Blarr
Hi, I am Greengo Blarr. Some might say I am out of this world. I visited Earth a month ago, interested in what you call ‘life’ and ‘dancing’. My sizeable, green feet and hands, big nose and sad eyes are only visible to Earthlings with a certain intelligence. Intuition lead me to a large building in downtown Johannesburg. ‘Morning. Any ideas for the next weeks?’ Every … [Read more...]
Cameroon palm oil project finally on ice
After years of controversy surrounding the proposed palm oil plantation in Cameroon, the Cameroonian government has ordered Herakles Farms to suspend all logging at its main worksite at Talangaye, in the Nguti region of the country. Greenpeace Africa is encouraged by this decision - there are numerous illegalities associated with the project, not to mention the social … [Read more...]
Working towards protecting our wetlands
Over the past 22 years, the Mondi Wetlands Programme (MWP) has moved wetland conservation from being a side issue to centre stage. This has irreversibly changed the way government, communities, public, as well as the forestry and sugar industries understand and manage their wetlands. MWP works nationally to conserve wetlands predominately outside nature reserves. Most of the … [Read more...]
First nation-wide government effort to restore wetlands
A non-governmental wetland conservation programme established in 1991, Mondi Wetlands Programme is a partnership between two of SA’s largest conservation NGO’s (WESSA and WWF) together with the funding from two corporates (Mazda Wildlife Fund and Mondi Ltd). The programme was started with the aim to raise awareness of the strategic importance of wetlands to facilitate proper … [Read more...]
Green lungs for Africa
A responsible corporate company joins hands with an environmental NGO to take on the cause of sustainable forestry in Uganda. Nedbank Capital and Face the Future have signed a pioneering Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) designed to facilitate future collaboration between the two companies with the sole intention of enabling them to jointly develop sustainable forestry projects … [Read more...]
No ceiling in ongoing climate negotiations
What is your assessment of the outcomes of Cancun and how much progress has been achieved in following up and in implementation of the decisions that were made, particularly as relates to adaptation and finance? The Cancun Outcome must be commended as one that contributed to keeping the climate change negotiations process alive after Copenhagen where trust in the process was … [Read more...]
Finding a future in forests
There is 'hidden' economic value in protecting forests, people and animals that depend on the forests. When they are protected, sustainable economies develop, and climate change is stopped. Conservation International (CI) is an organisation dedicated to helping nations and communities find value in protecting their forests. One of CI's current Africa programmes is in … [Read more...]
Permaculture fertility speaks of abundance
'Can man, using the forest as a model, design human habitats with the same complexity, stability & productivity as the life webs in the forest?' This question was asked in the 60's by Bill Mollison and David Holgrem from the University of Tasmania. They observed and studied life webs in the forest. Systems that continued to grow more and more stable and resilient the … [Read more...]
