Going forward together: South African company changing the paradigm of plantation management

In a world where jobs and local community needs frequently clash with conservation goals, forest companies such as SiyaQhubeka Forests (Pty) Limited in South Africa are proving that there is a better way to manage forest plantations and balance people, jobs and biodiversity.

Located at the border of the Greater St. Lucia Wetland Park, a World Heritage Site and one of Africa's oldest reserves, SiyaQhubeka (FSC certificate code SGS-FM/COC-0870) has demonstrated that fifty years of traditional plantation management can be changed in a very short period of time by using FSC standards as a model of responsible forest management.

One change has been the positioning of a 4,000 hectare 'eco-track' buffer zone between the park, the commercial plantation areas, and the adjoining farm areas. The wet-lands, Hydromorphic soils and riparian areas included in the zone had been afforested by the previous managers, but now have been excluded from the commercial plantation area and will be rehabilitated back to wetlands and grasslands.

The buffer zone also allows wildlife - including a herd of 40 elephants - access to additional habitat and greater freedom of movement. Local job opportunities have increased in the region with 70 permanent jobs and activities such as silviculture, harvesting and transport outsourced to local enterprises.

SiyaQhubeka means "we are going forward together" in the Zulu language.

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