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The forest, timber, pulp and paper (FTPP) sector contributes R12.2 billion annually (1.2%) of South African GDP and provides some 170 000 jobs (1.4% of total formal employment).
The forestry sector is a vital component of the first and second economies, and Government seeks to promote the sustainable development of this sector in line with the vision put forward by the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry (DWAF): “Forests are managed for people and we need to create an enabling environment for economic and social development through sustainable forestry, especially at the local level.”
In addition to this expectation, there is expected to be a substantial increase in demand for pulp, paper, sawtimber, timber board and charcoal over the next 25 years.
A key focus of Forestry Resource research in NRE is to ensure an optimal contribution from forests and plantations to be able to contribute to economic growth and to the sustainable development of South Africa and the region. This will be achieved through research that contributes to increased productivity and profitability of forestry and forest products operations to enhance investment, employment and contribution to economic growth, while ensuring that social and environmental issues are addressed.
The Forestry Resources theme focuses its research on understanding the condition of the plantation resource base, and how it is changing; the consequences of change; andoptions for the management and utilisation of plantation resources for optimal benefit, as well as for avoiding harmful consequences.
Its contribution is thus towards ensuring the economic growth of the FTPP sector; sustainable plantation management; increased benefit to small-scale growers; strengthening research alliances and partnerships with local Higher Education Institutes (HEIs) and research institutes, as well as with international researchers and research institutes; and the development of competent researchers and depth in research capability in the NRE operating unit, and in the country through mentorship by local and international researchers.
The CSIR, and the NRE operating unit in particular, are uniquely positioned to address some of the challenges presented in this theme, as it is able to integrate across different research areas (biological and engineering), and it is likely that the forestry, ecosystems, water, and pollution and waste competence areas will contribute to addressing key research questions. In addition, NRE has strong linkages with appropriate HEIs and local and international research institutes.
It is anticipated that the Forestre Resources Theme will play a critical and leading role in the development and implementation of the National Forest Sector Research strategy, and a similar strategy for the Pulp and Paper sector.
The Forestry Research theme encompasses four carefully structured and focused research groups, namely:
- Fibre processing (Pulp and paper processing; Solid wood processing)
- Forest assessment (Forestry resource planning, modeling and optimisation; Remote sensing; Forestry IT)
- Tree improvement (Quantitative genetics; Applied tree breeding and TI; Reproductive biology of plantation species; Tree domestication;
- Plant propagation; Site species matching)
- Wood science (Wood quality evaluation and prediction; Wood chemistry; Plant physiology; Yield modelling; Wood anatomy and cell ultrastructure)
The Forestry and Forest Products Research Centre (ffp) is a leading provider of research, services and software products for plantation forestry and forest products industries in Southern Africa and worldwide. The Centre is a joint venture between CSIR Natural Resources and the Environment operating unit and the University of KwaZulu-Natal. The objective of the Centre is to develop and align both contract and postgraduate research activities with industry's needs.
- Co-operative Research for the pulp and paper industry - Deepening the understanding of all aspects of wood properties of the South African plantation resource, in particular that of eucalypt timber
- Basic Research in cellulose chemistry - Investigating the relationship between cellulose structure, fibril aggregation and reactivity of dissolving pulp
- Remote Sensing in Forestry - Evaluation of RS technology for improved plantation management (yield and quality)
- Basic research in tree growth and tree physiology - Impact of climatic changes on wood formation (Dendrometer trial)
- Basic research in wood chemical component - Nanostructure of wood chemical components (cellulose, hemicelluloses and lignin) and its impact on pulp and paper processes
- Tree Improvement and Genetic Resource Development - Tree Improvement and Genetic Resource Development
- Hydrological impacts of forest plantations at the whole-catchment scale
- Environmental footprint of Forestry and Forestry Processing operations
- Effects of climate change on the South African (African) plantation resource (incorporating 1 & 2 above), as well as on woodlands and forests
- Development and implementation of a National FTPP Research Strategy
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