Community forestry wins
Mbongeni Mngomezulu, a wizened timber farmer and small grower, shares the history of community forestry in the Mfekayi area and his vision for the future…
“When the depot was set up in ’89, it streamlined the market and more people could see the possibilities of forestry. Khulanathi is the backbone of the timber industry here,” said Mngomezulu.
The Mfekayi depot and weighbridge’s opening meant that smallscale growers could deliver their harvested timber to the depot, no longer needing to make the long trek (88km) to the Mondi mill in Richards Bay.
The Mondi and later Mondi Zimele’s outgrowers’ scheme was instrumental in establishing sustainable community forestry in the Mfekayi area, where economic opportunities are scarce and unemployment is rife.
Khulanathi Forestry was formed in April 2007 after the closure of the Mondi group’s Khulanathi outgrower programme.
Mngomezulu started growing trees in 1980, when local people knew very little about forestry. He began managing three hectares on behalf of the local Chief and established a timber transport business to assist other small growers with the short haul to the Mfekayi depot. Today, he is the chairperson of the Growers’ Committee in the area, employs 10 permanent employees and also grows sugar cane to supplement his forestry business.
Mondi Zimele supplies Khulanathi Forestry with 500,000 seedlings/cuttings a year, with the mandate to distribute them to local community growers and sell the timber back to Mondi once it has gone full rotation. Khulanathi also assists the growers with technical support, training and timber certification.
“The free, high-quality seedlings have been very important in growing the timber industry here,” said Mngomezulu. “Their distribution also saves us travel costs, where previously we needed to travel up to 150km to the nursery to buy them. They make forestry here more viable and sustainable.”
“I do loading and short-hauling of timber from the small growers’ woodlots to the depot using a tractor-trailer system. There are 14 contractors doing the same work in this area … with around six people per per contractor!”
“This really contributes to the volume of available fibre for our mill in Richards Bay,” said Sizwe Mtengu of Mondi Zimele. “It also helps us foster good relationships with our communities and supports local economic development. We have seen a huge improvement in the timber quality from small growers over the years. Many are taking forestry more seriously as a business that can support their families.
“Khulanathi ensures that forestry development is in line with best operating practices,” he said. “They also pay the small growers upfront, which assists them hugely with cash flow.”
Their main challenge is having more timber than the depot can procure. Mondi Zimele is committed to growing its small timber grower footprint and partnership in the region, and with that, increase the timber supplied by growers to Mondi.
Another challenge is that of water security, for which Mngomezulu would like to see boreholes established. “I would like to praise Mondi Zimele and Khulanathi,” he said. “Forestry is the number one driver of economic development in this area. We have sent our children to school and built beautiful homes with the money we have made growing trees.”