Forestry in South Africa Goes Beyond Trees as Beaders, Beekeepers and More, Grow

There are great stretches of the South African landscape dedicated to the renewable forestry industry. I often find myself staring out the window in the hope of catching a glimpse of some magical creature standing tall between the trunks of the pine and Eucalyptus trees as we drive by, off to some adventure. But I recently learned that a bit of magic does, in fact, dwell in these spaces.

The South African magic is that we are so diverse and proud of it! However, industries are still working towards making sure that diversity is represented in their structures, too. The forestry industry is no different. What was once a male-dominated space is now more magically inclusive, and the movement is growing.

I got the chance to spend time with representatives from the industry at The Forest Sector Charter Council’s (FSCC) 15th anniversary celebration (aka, their birthday) in October. Here, I learned how the industry works to include brilliant female minds, empower community income generation and preserve cultural heritage.

A series of videos were shared during the event, highlighting the changes, including forestry contractor Zinhle Mbuyazi, who shared her story of how she took over the family business from her father, drawing inspiration from his passion for forestry. Despite working in a traditionally male-dominated industry, Mbuyazi has thrived and now encourages young women not to give up.

“If you have your brain and your heart, you will succeed,” she said.

The She is Forestry initiative highlights and empowers women in the forestry industry, from business owners to graduates and scientists.

What inspires young girls and women to dream of themselves in these spaces is having representation within them. So, where one woman must forge her way into a male-dominated space, once she is there, she becomes the beacon for all the other dreamers to aspire to; the way forward. These are the women who have become the beacons of inspiration!

Role models help change narratives and inspire young women to rise above their circumstances and overcome self-doubt, peer pressure, and even teenage pregnancy.

Not only does the initiative spark inspiration in the industry, but there are so many facets to how it comes together.

Much like the Komasi Woodwork Project in the rural community of Weza, KwaZulu-Natal, which is supported by a local sawmill. Through this initiative, local residents learn essential woodwork and carpentry skills that serve to refurbish desks for underprivileged schools, where students often have to share desks or, in some cases, sit on the floor.

Trees grow slowly, which gives people time to invest in other skills. Being at the FSCC celebration, I got to see first-hand how the people involved come up with ways to earn an income while the tree grows.

Mama Busi Mnguni Finds a Way!

Mama Busi Mnguni is a small-scale grower, an FSA Executive Committee member and a She Is Forestry SA visionary. With the combined efforts of other small-scale farmers, they are tapping into their heritage to make beautiful things that will earn a supplementary income.

“In our landholdings we have many natural materials that our ancestors have been using for years to create items they could barter with or sell. We still have those materials and there are still some of us with the skills needed to make these cultural heritage crafts, this could be the solution”

“The clay from the ground here was used by our ancestors to make pots for Zulu beer, now we use the same clay and skills to make beautiful home decorations. Beading was the way our grandmothers communicated to our grandfathers in the past, a small splashs of white beads was a sign of love, combinations of yellow and white indicated pregnancy. They harvested the palm leaves to make bags, baskets and sunhats. These skills and these items still have a use today, we have the women who can make them, all we need now is the market.”

Mama Busi and the other small-scale growers who have turned to cultural crafts to substitute their income are a great example of how forestry is not just about trees. It’s about the people, their passion, belief, determination and perseverance. If you want to support this amazing cause, please contact makhosazana@forestsectorcharter.co.za for more information.

The Buzz Around Eucalyptus Trees

Beekeepers are also being integrated into the industry as many Eucalyptus plantations are a great source of food for honey bees. The Honey Project is just one facet of the Mondi Food Security Programme, which aims to facilitate and encourage food production in the company’s neighbouring communities. Hundreds of people are benefitting from the project, and a product is being produced which is highly sought after.

“We have three projects running in the Zululand area and a total of 120 honey collectors that have permits to do beekeeping in our plantations. I love this project because it helps to put food on the table. We want to make sure that not even one household in Mondi communities goes to bed without food.” – Nosipo Zulu, Mondi Land Manager

There are about 1,000 hives (bee boxes) distributed and managed by the Nodongo Apiaries Cooperative, which was founded by five dedicated community beekeepers.

Eucalyptus trees produce a large amount of nectar, which is a primary food source for honeybees. This abundance allows bees to produce significant quantities of honey. Eucalyptus honey is known for its unique flavour, aroma, and medicinal properties.

In the off-season for honey production, all the beehives are moved to nearby macadamia farms to pollinate the trees. Macadamia trees rely on cross-pollination to produce fruit. Bees are the most effective pollinators, transferring pollen from the male parts of one flower to the female parts of another. This fertilizes the flowers, leading to the production of macadamia nuts.

The additional pollinating business ensures a more consistent income for the cooperative throughout the year.

Mr Bethuel Sithole, one of the co-ops founding beekeepers, goes on to explain that the money generated by the cooperative has helped to buy vehicles, send children to school and university, and buy cattle.