FSC breakthrough for small-scale tree farmers in Southern Africa

FSC certification of small-scale tree farming operations in South Africa is gathering momentum with over 870 certified in one FSC group system and many more in the pipeline. The target is to certify 3,000 small-scale grower operations in South Africa over the next few years.  

This progress has been driven by FSC’s development of accessible and user-friendly pathways to certification for managers of small and micro forest operations. These include: 

• Standard for small and low-intensity managed forests (SLIMF): Streamlines certification requirements and auditing procedures in the journey to certification, reducing cost and complexity. 
• FSC group certification: Enables certificate holders to pool expertise and resources and share costs. 
• Continuous Improvement Procedure: Enables smallholders to progress to full FSC certification over a five-year period, using a simplified sub-set of indicators as stepping stones.  

Historically small-scale and community-owned forestry operations in Southern Africa have struggled to achieve certification due to the cost and complexity of the process, whereas most of the large and medium size commercial forestry operations have been certified for decades.  

Now certification is a game-changer for small-scale tree farmers as it improves the marketability of their timber and strengthens their approach to forest management, considering the health and safety of workers and minimizing harmful environmental impacts. Ultimately, this approach reinforces the sustainability of small-scale forestry as a viable economic activity and job creator. 

Mondi group certification  

Mondi South Africa supplements its raw material requirements for its South African mills by sourcing timber from small-scale tree farmers, mainly in the Zululand area. Responding to the need to have all their timber suppliers certified, Mondi partnered with two Zululand-based timber purchasing agents, Khulanathi and Awethu, to provide crucial support for the certification of the small growers’ operations. “Being FSC-certified is opening markets for us. There is a demand for such products,” said Thokozani Mfekayi, CEO of Khulanathi Forestry.  

This partnership is facilitated through the CMO FSC group certification. CMO, an independent forestry solutions company with extensive experience in forest certification, has developed an innovative software programme that turns a complex process into a user-friendly digital system. Mondi’s enterprise development unit, Mondi Zimele, provides business support services to the small growers preparing for certification. Over 800 small-scale growers’ operations are part of the group, and more are onboarded every week. 

Sappi Khulisa outgrower programme 

Sappi, a South African pulp and paper company, established a successful outgrower programme working with small-scale growers to supplement its raw material resources. Recognizing the strategic importance of this timber supply pipeline, Sappi has taken a proactive, developmental approach to help these businesses become more professional and sustainable – including certification. They apply a risk-based approach to identify gaps and barriers to certification of individual growers and rolled out a structured interventions plan, including workshops and training. Internal audits assess readiness for certification. Through this programme, 4,000 small-scale growers manage 37,000 hectares of plantations.  

“We didn’t think there was anything better until members from Sappi advised us that it would be wise to get certification so that our products would be world-class products,” said Simeon Cele, Founder Member of Mfume Forestry Cluster.  

Certifying charcoal operations 

In the Eastern Cape province, communal grasslands and river valleys have been invaded by black and silver wattle, choking rangelands, reducing biodiversity, and using excessive amounts of water resources. The cleared wattle is now being used to manufacture charcoal for local and export markets, which increasingly demand responsibly sourced materials. 

CMO has engaged a local NGO to help charcoal manufacturing operations become FSC-certified to benefit the environment and the cattle farmers, while providing business opportunities and jobs for local community members. A similar approach is being used by CMO in Namibia to certify commercial charcoal producers. 

Connecting to international markers through certification in Eswatini  

The challenges faced by small-scale growers in South Africa are similar to those confronting small scale growers in neighbouring Southern African countries. Wattle trees (Acacia mearnsii) introduced to Eswatini have turned into unmanaged jungles and invaded rangelands and river valleys. 

To help small-scale farmers turn this challenge into an opportunity and access the pulp and wattle bark markets located across the border in South Africa, the FSC Southern Africa team is working closely with the Eswatini Government and key stakeholders to assist small-scale farmers achieve certification through FSC's Group Certification Standard and Continuous Improvement Procedure. Certification will allow farmers to connect with international markets increasingly interested in certified timber.  

Global progress 

FSC-certified small and low intensity managed forests have nearly doubled in less than a decade, increasing from 7 million hectares in 2016 to 13.5 million hectares in May 2025. FSC offers a portfolio of solutions and tools these forest managers can use to reduce the cost and complexity of certification and open the door to new market opportunities. 

Watch the video to learn more about how small-scale tree farmers engage with FSC in South Africa.