Juggling Social and Economic Goals: South Africa

By the time of South Africa’s first democratic elections in 1994, the forestry industry was making a significant contribution to the national economy. The industry had matured quickly and included two world leaders, Mondi and Sappi. South Africa has favourable growing conditions, world-class forestry research and development (R&D), established timber-processing operations, and is well placed to exploit local and international markets. The main factors that have underpinned the industry’s success have been the: • strong local demand for forest, combined with limited overseas competition; • availability of suitable land to permit the rapid expansion of plantations; • supportive government policy; • the initial direct role played by the state in creating forest resources (Chalmers, 2001).