Question
26 July 2010
Hi, I am interested in a block of land near Grahamstown, but its got a lot of wattle on in. about 50 ha. Some of the trees are large - 80mm and bigger and not straight, but the majority of the land is covered like hair on a dog's back by wattle the size of you thumb. Is there a way to convert the young trees to managed forest and could you provide me with any articles on how to do this?
– Marcel Kroese
Answer:
The wild growing wattle that you describe sounds like what the industry calls a 'wattle jungle'. If you reduce the number of trees giving even spacing to the remaining bigger, healthier, straighter trees you could end up with some good timber after a growing period of about 10 yrs (planting to felling). But you are far from the main timber markets (pulp or chips) which are in Durban and Richards Bay. The wattle bark is also a valuable raw material with tanning extract factories in the KZN Midlands, once again distance is your problem. The cost of transport may make it uneconomical. The bark would have to be dried, bundled and sent to UCL or NTE. Local firewood or charcoal plants could be a better alternative. Your next problem is a planting permit, issued by the Dept Agriculture, Forestry & Fisheries. If you already have one you're OK, but if not you're not going to get it easily. Commercial plantations have to be licensed. Then there are the baby wattles like 'hairs on a dog's back'. If you thin them into rows with lots of hard work (as described above) you could end up with a useful stand eventually. But wattles make millions of seeds which will keep coming up, wanted or unwanted, for up to 30 years, so good luck.
– Chris Chapman
Question
24 July 2010
We are an indigenous nursery based in Pinetown and are considering producing seedlings for the commercial plantation market. Where can I find out more market information regarding Podocarpus falcatus as we are interested in producing this yellow wood. Your response, as always, is deeply appreciated.
– Simon Beverley, Pinetown
Answer:
Podocarpus falcatus or Outeniqua Yellowwood is currently not in the commercial plantation market, but its demand is primarily based on good quality, large-diameter logs for various products such as table surfaces, panels with dark timber, etc. The SANParks office in Knysna and the DAFF offices in Knysna and King Williams Town should be able to give Simon Beverley more information on how the timber from the natural forests is used. I believe that timber from grown trees could still be used, but such a market may still have to be developed, such as for Do-It-Yourself kits for chairs. It will take about 30 – 40 years to grow trees to that size, but very little research has been done in that context.
– Coert Geldenhuys
Question
13 July 2010
I am looking for suppliers of self-loading tractor drawn timber trailers complete with crane for payload of between 10-15 tons. Ideal for small diameter saw logs and wattle logs.
– Sherpard Machona, Zimbabwe
Answer:
Afrit Pty Ltd, who are in Pretoria. Telephone 012 541 2123 and ask for Johan or Albert van de Wetering.
– Ann Nicholas
Question
5 July, 2010
I am looking at buying a piece of land of about 600ha of which 60ha are planted under timber (Pine, wattle and gum). The rest of the area is grassland which is used by the local community for grazing. If I buy this land will I be able to obtain planting permits to plant the grass area to timber? Or will I be able to plant the area without a permit? What is the current price for land in the country at the moment?
– Corlius du Plooy
Answer:
Planting permits for commercial timber are very difficult to get. Need to do a full EIA and more. Most catchments are closed to timber. I have no idea about the price of land.
– Chris Chapman
Question
5 July, 2010
I am currectly looking for a direct contract or sub-contract to transport timber in areas around Nelspruit, Mpumalanga. I have approached one of the biggest funding intitutions in SA for funding of this timber trucks and their response was, as soon as I get a timber transportation contract, they are willing to help me regarding the financing of the trucks. So can you help or advise with regard to getting a contract to transport timbers?
– Ottis Nyalunga
Answer:
Contact Sappi, Mondi, York Timbers, KLF, Merensky, Safcol etc for a start. Most of the big timber growers advertise tenders for their transport contracts. Otherwise try some of the commercial timber farms, this may be a better option because the contracts will be smaller.
– Chris Chapman
Question
21 June, 2010
I am on the lookout for reputable Saw mills in the Western Cape (Cape Town to Ceres to Oudtshoorn to Mosselbaai covering area) to do business with. Is there an association representing same that I can make contact with to obtain trustworthy referrals?
– Gerrit Stenvert
Answer:
Try these guys:
Karl-Heinz Niemand, MTO General manager – 044 871 1016; 082 802 0860
Jan Stander, Forester for PG Bison – 082 806 5754
– Chris Chapman
Question:
17 May, 2010
I live in Bethlehem in the Free State and have recently bought a plot that boarders a nature reserve. Hanging into my plot are some Black Wattle which is very close to my house which has a thatch roof and I am told black wattle burns very well and could be a serious problem to my house. Can I cut these back without having to go to the reserve owners and ask permission?
2. I have a lot of blue gums that I want to either tidy up or remove, how do I permanetly remove them, I have been told there is a poision we can paint onto the stumps but do not know what that is or if this is the best option. Can I use the poles for fencing and if so what do I paint onto them to stop any bugs?
3. What fast growing indigenous trees can I grow in this area for shade?
– Debbie Bowen
Answer:
Hannes Steenkamp, Houtskuur CC, might be interested in obtaining the trees form you.
Cell: 072 569 6769.
Hylton Cruse, does tree clearing as his business. He could help you with most of your questions. Cell: 083 702 0357.
– André James Vd Merwe
Question:
15 May, 2010
In Uruguay a lot of timber is wasted when forests of Eucalyptus are thinned. Is there a viable option to using this ‘waste’ which includes poles of up to 3-year growth.
– Neil Farrans
Answer:
We did an article a while back on Busby Oils in Pietermaritzburg (see SA Forestry magazine Nov/Dec 2008 issue) who take the Eucalyptus leaves and make Eucalyptus oil for such products as Zambuk, Deep Heat and Vicks. Call them on – Tel: 033 343 1761.
– Gaylene Jablonkay
Question:
13 May, 2010
My farm, some 250ha, is in the Dargle area (very near everglades hotel) comes complete with substantial wattle invasion and patches of pine plantation - it is full of stones, steepness, plentiful water and, on the southern slopes, substantial dense zones of indigenous forest - it has remained untouched for 20 years or longer and our intention is to attack the wattle and restore the valley.
We would probably start planting a selection of indigenous trees (not in rows) best suited for each local habitat starting with filling the gaps left by cropping and clearing, then extendable beyond to reach other areas.
I would welcome an opportunity to discuss how to achieve this.
kind regards
– Kevin McGarry
Answer:
I used Google Earth to look at the area – I attach the image herewith. I trust that the area Kevin talks about fall within the area of the image. If I look at this area, then it is clear that trees can grow here, but the general landscape is like the typical area around Midlands Forest Lodge and the area east of the N3 almost the same east-west line as Midlands Forest Lodge (I have visited these areas recently). The general natural landscape is a matrix of grassland, and the forests occur as relatively small patches in the landscape often on southern aspects – which give the impression that they are there because of the mist and rain from the south – but in reality they occur in the protected fire-shadow areas in relation the prevailing hot dry bergwinds during the winter months. The plantation fire protection, and fire protection measures of the hotel, and the road network all have contributed to a less severe fire environment. That is why the wattles and pines and other invasive plant species start to establish. In general I do not advise people to plant trees but rather to facilitate the natural process of forest recovery.
My advice is not to plant (I can give him many reasons for this – introducing diseases from nurseries into system, possible plants with different gene pool than in surrounding forest, more expensive, and natural regeneration has always outgrew our plantings) AND not to clear the wattle (this just stimulates the soil-stored wattle seeds to regenerate in mass). I suggest that he follows the following steps:
- Look at the natural fire patterns, as shown by the location pattern of the natural forest (see diagram in the attached article, and also in the SA Forestry magazine of NovDec 2007). He should not attempt planting towards natural forest if the sites are within the fire zone (the normal fire pathways, generally and naturally covered in grassland) unless they have good fire control, but somewhere a fire could come unexpectedly).
- If the site is within the fire shadow area, look at the wattle stand and decide in which development stage the wattle stand is (see previous article and the one which appeared in SA Forestry magazine of May/Jun2006). Note that different stages will occur within the total area. Stage 1 has dense wattle with no/very few forest species. Keep that aside for a later action (allow it to undergo self-thinning). Stages 2 and 3 have single plants to clusters of natural forest species starting to establish, and the density, size of clusters and height of the plants in a cluster will increase from stages 2 to 3. Stage 4 will rather be in the area of the forest where there are some remnants of wattle around. Follow the guidelines as provided in the article.
- Generally people tell me there is no forest regeneration in the wattle stands but if the forest is the one as in the attached image, and the wattle is also in this area, then I can assure Kevin that there will be natural forest regeneration in that wattle stand, and that he would be able to recognize the stages – he will just have to change his mindset towards the wattle being his ally in this and not his enemy
- Once he has recognized the natural forest species, he should focus on the natural forest clusters and selectively remove the wattle in those spots – not too much that the increased light conditions stimulate wattle regeneration, but enough to help the forest seedlings to grow faster (most forest species are shade-tolerant but wattle requires ample light to regenerate).
- If there are specific species they would like to plant which do not occur in the area, or which do not readily disperse, they could plant those – I would normally wait with that until I get the natural regeneration sorted out. The birds (also monkeys and baboons) and to some extent wind, can help to do the planting at no extra cost!
If Kevin needs further information or clarity on this approach, he could contact me. If he understands the potential of this approach but feels uncertain about how to go about this, I would gladly help. I could fly to Durban (its cheaper than to fly to PMB) and drive up to his place, give him practical guidance in the field, and return the evening of the same day. If they are a group of people interested in this, then it could be cheaper. I will require payment of my running costs (travel by plane and car), my consultancy fee plus 14% VAT. I can discuss this with him directly if required, but I suggest that he first look at the guidance provided.
I plan to write the next two articles for SA Forestry magazine to provide general guidelines to people on what I suggested above (its better not to plant) as first article, and then the next on how to grow your own seedlings or where to collect seedlings of people do want to plant.
– Coert Geldenhuys
Question:
7 April 2010
I am trying to budget for Pine. If you are rotating on 25 years with a MAI of 12 m3/ha/yr that would be about 300 m3 at felling. But most pine operations thin, in fact they normally thin out 2-3 times between 5-15 years. If I am trying to budget in thining at 5, 10 and 15 years, what amount of timber would be extracted and is this considered part of the 300 tons expected, or is it over and above?
I understand first thining is normally at 5 yrs and takes out 1 in 7 rows for access. This yeilds around 25-30 tons/ha. But what happens in year 10 and 15?
– Ken Pope
Answer:
It is clear from the question that you want to grow saw timber. One will generally plant for saw timber at an espacement which will only require you to do a first thinning between 8 and 10 years.
To thin at 5 years will not give a utilisable product and you could rather save on not planting those trees at all.
Depending on the initial espacement and final goal (saw timber only or veneer as well) one will decide on two or three thinnings. If you do a third thinning, you will probably have to make the rotation longer to 30 years to get the full benefit of a third thinning at age 18 or 20.
For normal saw timber, a first thinning will give about 20 to 25m3 /ha and the second thinning 40 to 50m 3/ha. All depending on the site quality.
MAI means total volume grown. MAI 12 over 25 years will yield 300m3 which includes the thinning volumes.
I hope this helps.
– Louis van Zyl, Merensky
Question:
6 April 2010
How much bark do you need to produce 1 Ton of Mimosa powder? A good estimate will do.
– Ben van Jaarsveld, China
Answer:
According to Friedel Eggers of UCL, based in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands, they work on a conversion of 3 to 4 tons of bark per ton of product - moisture content and age of the bark gives the variance.
– Chris Chapman
Question:
18 March 2010
We are interested in importing Radiata Pine Plywood for use in our Australian carpet gripper factory. Can you assist us in locating South African plywood mills capable of servicing our needs? BBS is a manufacturer of Carpet Gripper. Our factory is located in Melbourne.
– Will Bateman
Answer:
Try Karl-Heinz Niemand from MTO or Jan Stander from PG Bison - they are based in the southern Cape where they grow a lot of Radiata pine, so I'm sure they can help.
– Chris Chapman
Question:
11 March 2010
Can you help me to get in touch with Mimosa manufacturers in Swaziland? China needs Mimosa for new business and are willing to invest money to expand factories in Swaziland to up their production. More than 10 000 leather tanning factories are involved in this project. South African Mimosa manufacturers are welcome to join the project.
For more information please contact me at: benvernal@gmail.com
– Ben van Jaarsveld
Answer:
According to my source, the Mimosa factory in Swaziland has closed its doors and the equipment was subsequently purchased by a South African-based bark factory. Have a chat to Dave Dobson – he has good knowledge about the state of play regarding wattle bark processing in southern Africa. email: ddobson@mweb.co.za
– Chris Chapman
Question:
9 March 2010
How much timber could I expect to harvest off one hectare of wattle trees in Swaziland?
– Salebona Simelane
Answer:
For a managed wattle plantation you could expect to harvest approximately 13 tons bark and 70 tons timber (info kindly supplied by Dave Dobson). The bark is in demand by processing factories like the one at Iswepe (near Piet Retief) operated by NTE or at Dalton in KZN operated by UCL. Ideally bark needs to be fresh to collect top prices. Currently timber prices are around R575/ton for wattle timber, and between R660 - R800/ton for bark depending on freshness and quality.
– Chris Chapman
would need to narrow it down considerably to get an answer. Perhaps you should have a chat to Jaap Steenkamp, who is a lecturer at NMMU Saasveld and manages the SA Forestry Contractors Association. Ultimately I guess the operator of the forestry business on the land is responsible for health and safety, but this responsibility is shifted across to the contractors who would be responsible for health and safety of their own workers. This of course would depend on the nature and content of the contract. Having said that, if health and safety standards are not maintained in a forestry business, then the grower/operator will lose their FSC certification which has implications.
