FORESTRY FEATURE

FEATUR

E

T H E W O O D F O U N D A T I O N

2 www.southafricamag.com

Decreasing forest areas are pushing productive capacity

to the limits and frustrating the timber

and wood industries growth ambitions. Roy Southey of the Wood Foundation tells Colin

Chinery about the danger of lost opportunities and the

socio-economic implications for South Africa.

forestsA ST IRRING IN THE

forestsChecked by conservation strategies

and competing land uses, South Africa’s commercial forests now account for a mere one percent

of total land area; down from a peak of over 1.5mha in the late 1990s to 1.28mha.

And with the country nearing the limit of productive capacity, the timber trade is sounding a warning. “We want to expand,” says Roy Southey, chairman of industry body Forestry SA’s marketing arm launched last year, the Wood Foundation.

“Wood is an eco-friendly renewable resource with outstanding Green credentials, should be seen as such and used in greater quantities or in more and better applications than is currently the case

“The entire sector is dependent on the capacity of South Africa to establish and grew forests, but only one percent of our land mass is ideally suitable for forest development. What we are lobbying for, and trying to convince Government and the decision makers over is the urgency of utilising this capacity to its fullest. At the moment we are not quite there.”

The forestry industry is a substantial foreign exchange earner for South Africa, employs around 130,000 people, mostly in rural areas, and is a signifi cant contributor to the socio-economic scene. And Southey says the potential for growth is “quite substantial.”

“The Government has announced its intention to allow the forestry industry to expand quite signifi cantly in the Eastern Cape and KZN. But like almost all things with governments anywhere in the world; it’s a slow process. The political will is there, but to get it moving along offi cialdom has to get its house in order and its act together.”

Trees and the Green interest might seem a fl awless symbiotic relationship, but commercial forests have been criticised by environmentalists for their high volumes of water extraction. The charge was justifi ed in the past, but no longer, says Southey. Forestry and water retention are now allies.

Forestry SA FEATURE

3www.southafricamag.com

“Years ago the amount of water used by the forest industry was pretty well unknown. Trees trended to be planted like a green carpet in and out of the valleys and across the wetlands. And while it was understood that forests consumed a lot of water, exactly how much, and the effect it had on stream-flow were less certain.”

Alerted to the issues, the Government through the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry began a series of projects. Trees were planted in water catchment areas and stream-flow reductions were measured. One result was 1998 National Water Act setting out new provisions for the licensing of stream flow reduction activities - in effect targeting only commercial forestry.

“We now have a far more informed view of where we should and should not plant forests,” says Southey.

The South African forestry industry has refined its practices and plants correctly, with the result that forests no longer pose an environmental threat. “Modern day foresters are controlled by regulations and their own conscience.

“To expand the forests you have to take into account a number of considerations, of which water is an obvious one. South Africa is a predominantly dry or semi-arid country and water production is all-important. So you can’t establish forests where they might come into conflict with water production, and we have to be continually researching water usage and dovetailing it with water production for human consumption.”

Other environmental issues include natural habitat for fauna and flora. “We don’t want to establish forests in sensitive areas. All these points need to be balanced up, and the Wood Foundation is saying,


Forestry SA FEATURE

5www.southafricamag.com

When we say Experience, it is not so much a statement of our history as it is evidence of the skill that is already empowering a great

future. We are proud of the pioneering and leadership roles we have fulfi lled in forestry and wood processing for over 50 years. This

experience has enabled us to contribute real innovation to our industry - innovation that

has become a world standard.THIS IS THE WORLD OF MERENSKY,

ARE YOU READY TO JOIN US?www.merensky.co.za

BA

/HM

358/

2011

PlYWOOD | HARDWOOD | SOFTWOOD

2011_ads_SA Architecture_100211.indd 1 2011/02/24 3:57 PM

‘Let’s have a balanced approach to the whole forestation question; let’s involve the environmentalists, the foresters, the water interests and the Government, so that we can find a solution where everybody can share in the resources and forestry can expand to its ultimate potential without infringing on anyone else’s rights.’”

The strategy is working, with over 75 percent of South Africa’s forests now managed to standards set by global industry watchdog the Forest Stewardship Council. And in its report ‘Forestry 2030 Roadmap’ the Department of Agriculture, Forestry & Fisheries notes that a well-managed forestry operation has positive effects on water quality, surface run-off, evaporation and topsoil.

One regulatory response causing unease within the industry is the water tax, but from Southey, a measured response. “The water tax affects all agricultural products and as with all taxation, it’s a contentious subject. Foresters are concerned that because of perceptions that forestry is a water-thirsty activity it will be unfairly disadvantaged in comparison with say the cane or maize industries.

“We don’t oppose the idea of a water tax and we understand what it is trying to achieve. We just want to ensure we get our fair consideration.”

But for South Africa’s timber sector the problem of imminent production capacity is part-masked by another - lower demand, in particular from the construction industry. In a head-on response the Wood Foundation is lobbying the government to modify its housing construction policy through the selective use of wood rather than bricks and mortar.

This would give a shot in the arm for the timber trade, support rural economies and job creation, and steer the country towards Green building practices and the implementation of energy efficiency legislation. At present South Africa’s carbon footprint is the highest on the continent, with per capita emissions of 10 tons per person.

“Our core objective is to promote the vital role wood plays in influencing our lives through sustainable forestation and building practices,” says Southey. “Wood is biodegradable, serves as a great insulator, uses less energy to process than steel, concrete, aluminium or plastic, and is 100 percent renewable. It is easy to maintain and has excellent insulation and acoustic characteristics while also being flexible to work with and aesthetically pleasing.”

In Australia, New Zealand, the United States, and parts of Europe, timber framed construction is widely accepted and used extensively. But here in South Africa Southey notes there is - not least among architects and specifiers – “a basic lack of common knowledge. Our homes are built traditionally of brick and mortar, and timber is not regarded in this light. So we are trying to change the perception and lobbying Government to include in their housing projects the option of timber frame construction.”

And the campaigning is seeing some success. ”Even two years ago most local authorities wouldn’t even consider timber framed construction as an acknowledged building method. Today most authorities and municipalities do accept it, and is being widely used in the Cape Province, KZN and various other parts of the country. The Government has said it is very open to finding out more about the issue and considering it if it holds benefit. So it’s gaining ground quite significantly, especially in the second home, upper and coastal markets, although at this stage it is not seen as an answer to the mass housing need.”

Meantime the looming inability to fully meet domestic needs could scarcely come at a worse time, with research firm International Wood Markets predicting surging Chinese demand could more than double timber prices over the next four years. Southey takes a more relaxed view.

“We are already an importer of exotic hardwoods and so on for the furniture industry. But at some point we will need to become an importer of structural lumber and timber products. And this will come pretty soon after the world returns to economic normality. However I think this excess will be absorbed quite comfortably within the economy and we shall continue to produce the majority of demand ourselves.”

But on the fundamental supply-side challenges facing the timber and wood sector, Southey’s call to Government and public is unequivocal. “Timber is an entirely renewable and environmentally-friendly resource that needs to be seriously considered, with the decision makers allowing the industry to expand to its full potential while taking into consideration all interested parties.

“And there is a further need - for forestry and the wood sector to be seen in South Africa as the important strategic component it is and with the status it deserves.” END


Forestry SA FEATURE

South Africa Magazine, Suite 9 and 10, The Royal, Bank Plain, Norwich, Norfolk, UK. NR2 4SF

TNT Magazine, 14-15 Child’s Place, Earl’s Court, London, UK. SW5 9RX

ENQUIRIESTelephone: 0044 (0)1603 343267Fax: 0044 (0)1603 283602 [email protected]

SUBSCRIPTIONS Call: 00441603 [email protected]

www.southafricamag.com

The Wood Foundation,P.O.Box 686,Isando,1600

Tel: 011 974 1061Fax: 011 392 6155Email: [email protected]

www.thewoodfoundation.co.za

Documents

FORESTRY FEATURE