More Interesting Facts about South Africa’s Forest Industry
South Africa’s forest industry is a vibrant and dynamic economic sector with a rich history dating back more than one hundred years. Today, the sector is renowned for producing timber exports which can be found far north into the African continent and beyond.
South Africa’s natural forests
South Africa has a diverse ecology, though a fair portion has been allocated to government and private sector efforts to foster an innovative forest industry and timber sector. In fact, it is estimated that roughly 0.4% of South Africa’s landmass is covered by natural forests, which amounts to nearly half a million hectares.
As of the 2018/2019 fiscal year, the total commercial timber plantation area in South Africa amounted to over a million hectares - this includes not only active production sites but further spaces for planting, conservation, and recreation.
In fact, conservation is highly important to the South African forest industry - around 30% of all forestry land remains unplanted to create space for conservation or recreation.
Economic contributions
As the South African economy continues to expand, the local forestry sector remains a steadfast contributor to this growth - in 2019, it was recorded that Forestry and Forest Products sector employs around 150,000 people in primarily rural locations in South Africa near major plantation sites.
The contribution to the local economy has further been immense. The South African forest industry is estimated to contribute to 9.8% of our country’s Gross Domestic Product as of 2019, and further amounts to an estimated 4.9% of the South African manufacturing GDP.
What do South African plantations grow?
South African plantations develop a wide variety of timber, though primarily grow wattle, eucalyptus and pine. Treated pine exports have become a South African stable and have been used locally in a variety of functions - such as construction and in agriculture.
R&B Timber Group is especially renowned for its production of treated eucalyptud used for fencing, netting, transmission poles, overground fibre, and more.
Where can South African timber exports be found?
South African wood exports reach as far as Morocco, Senegal and Ethiopia, to the West Coast, including Angola, Cameroon and Namibia, through to the East and Tanzania and Mozambique and off shore to Madagascar and Mauritius.
The R&B Timber Group specializes in the manufacturing of large scale orders and export of utility poles throughout Africa, and globally. Our easy access to the Durban port in Kwa-Zulu Natal makes shipping utility poles to any destination simple.
