Southern Africa

Non-indigenous plantations have been grown in Africa for more than 100 years. The most common species are Eucalyptus, Pinus, Acacia and Cupressus. These trees are grown especially for construction timber and fuel, while in Southern Africa this timber also sustains a thriving paper and pulp industry supplying markets all over the world. Wood chips form certain Eucalyptus species are also exported to Asian and European markets.

The area covered by exotic forest plantations is 2.3 million hectares of which 1.5 million hectares, or 66% of the sub-region’s total forest plantation area is in South Africa.Three countries namely Botswana, Lesotho and Namibia do not have any real  commercial  forest plantations, except some woodlots, which were established for the provision of fuelwood and poles for general farm construction. (FAO).

In Namibia, FSC® certified charcoal and other biomass products are produced from the thinning  of indigenous encroacher and alien invasive bush and tree species that harms the savannah habitat, of which significant areas are managed with the FSC Forest Management Standard.

Southern Africa has a variety of natural forests or woodlands. In areas where rainfall is high and received throughout the year, tropical and subtropical moist forests are found. These are generally not as large as then  more widespread woodlands that are found in the drier areas. (FAO). In Mozambique alone, tropical forests and woodlands cover 34 million hectares, or approximately 43 percent, of the country's land area (World Bank 2018).

The Miombo ecoregion made up largely of the Caesalpinioideae sub-family tree species covers more than 3.6 million km2 across South Africa, Namibia, Angola, Botswana, Malawi, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Zambia and Tanzania. The well -known woodland species are in this ecoregion are Wet and Dry Miombo, Mopane, Baikaiea, Acacia/Combtretum, Burkea/Terminalia/Combretum, Afromontane, Cryptosepalum and Itigi thicket. (FAO)

Consumers and societies expect businesses to be part of the solution when it comes to environmental and social issues. For any business associated with productive forests and forest products, working with FSC makes sense. We can help your business with improved efficiency, market access, meeting the UN Sustainable Development Goals, and more.

We have tailored solutions for different sectors, from furniture to pulp and paper. And we provide additional tools for businesses that choose to work with us, such as marketing materials to promote your collaboration with FSC.