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The 4th edition of the FSC® Forest Week will take place from September 20 to 26, 2025. FSC Forest week is a global campaign that highlights the importance of responsible forest management for our planet. It that drives appreciation of our forests, raises awareness about FSC’s work and highlights the role forest stewards have in fighting climate change and biodiversity loss by supporting sustainable forestry.
Under the theme “Do one thing for forests,” FSC is calling on everyone to take action for healthy forests and a sustainable future. We want you to be part of this journey by doing your one thing for the forests and inspiring consumers to find the one thing they can do that will positively impact the world's forests, ultimately promoting FSC’s work together. |
| | Even the smallest gestures can have a positive impact on nature — choosing FSC-certified products, adopting responsible consumption habits, or inspiring those around you are all simple actions that, when combined, contribute to a major collective effort. FSC Forest Week also bring to life the crucial role of forest managers and FSC in combating climate change and preserving biodiversity. |
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Why participate?
Our forests are a precious resource for nature, the climate, and future generations. Participating in FSC Forest Week means:
Affirming your commitment Raising awareness about the value of sustainable forest management and FSC certification Inspiring others to take action for a better future
How to participate?
It’s simple! FSC provides a set of communication tools:
- Social media content (images, stories, ready-to-publish texts)
- Email signatures, Zoom and Teams backgrounds
- Printable banners and visuals
These resources are available on the FSC Brand Hub, with exclusive access for FSC certificate or license holders.
Sign up to participate in the activities
For Africa, we’d love to know if you have any activities planned during this period — it could be a product launch or awareness-raising events. We’re ready to support you.
Please let us know what activities you’re planning. By signing up, you give field teams the opportunity to come and support you.
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The BT 230 Earth Auger: Revolutionising Reforestation
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In the demanding world of forestry, efficiency is not just a buzzword—it is the backbone of a successful and sustainable operation. For decades, the process of reforestation has relied heavily on manual labour, with workers meticulously digging holes by hand to prepare the ground for new seedlings. While this traditional method is tried and tested, it presents significant challenges: it is prolonged, physically exhausting, and often leads to inconsistent planting depths, which can compromise the survival of young trees. This labour-intensive process not only increases operational costs but also limits the scale and speed at which reforestation projects can be completed.
A New Era of Efficiency with the BT 230
However, a new generation of tools is emerging to address these long-standing issues, and none is proving more pivotal than the BT 230 Earth Auger. Far from being a simple drill, the BT 230 is a high-performance forestry asset designed to fundamentally change the way professionals approach planting. Its seamless integration into a forestry operation shifts the focus from brute force to mechanical precision, allowing for a strategic enhancement of planting programs on a scale previously unimaginable.
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At the heart of the BT 230’s appeal is its raw, unyielding power. Equipped with a robust,
high-torque engine, this auger is built to
manage the unforgiving conditions of forest terrain. It effortlessly bores through compacted soil, dense clay, rocky ground, and tangled root systems that would stop a manual spade in its tracks. This capability is crucial in a forestry context, where site preparation is often minimal and soil conditions are unpredictable. The
auger’s power ensures that a consistently
sized and uniform hole is created in minutes, providing the perfect foundation for each seedling’s root system. |
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This consistency is a critical factor in promoting healthy root establishment and maximising survival rates, directly impacting the long-term success and vitality of the forest. The sheer speed at which it operates means that a single worker can prepare dozens, if not hundreds, of planting sites in the time it would take to manually dig a handful, a transformative leap in daily output.
Designed for Operator Comfort and Safety
Beyond its powerful performance, the BT 230’s design is a testament to the importance of operator comfort and safety. Forestry work is physically demanding, and tools that reduce fatigue are invaluable. The BT 230 features an advanced ergonomic handle system that absorbs vibrations and provides a secure, comfortable grip. Its balanced and lightweight design minimises strain on the operator’s back and arms, enabling them to work for more extended periods without exhaustion. It not only boosts daily productivity but also significantly reduces the risk of long-term physical injury, a significant concern in the industry. For a planting crew, this translates directly to more holes dug, more trees planted, and a safer working environment, fostering a happier and more productive workforce.
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| Economic and Environmental Advantages
The economic and ecological benefits of adopting the BT 230 are substantial and multifaceted. By drastically reducing the time required to prepare each planting site, forestry operations can plant more trees per day, per worker. This increased efficiency shortens planting schedules, allowing crews to cover larger areas in a single season. |
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The time and labour savings generated by the BT 230 Earth Auger quickly make it a wise investment, paying for itself in improved productivity and reduced manual labour costs. Furthermore, by ensuring optimal planting conditions for each seedling, the auger contributes to higher yields and healthier stands, a benefit that resonates throughout the entire forest lifecycle. The precision of the auger minimizes soil disturbance, helping to preserve the integrity of the surrounding ecosystem. This combination of efficiency and environmental stewardship makes the BT 230 a cornerstone of modern, sustainable forestry practices.
A Strategic Tool for Sustainable Forestry
In an industry where sustainable practices and operational efficiency are closely intertwined, the BT 230 Earth Auger stands out as a transformative tool. It is not merely a machine for digging holes; it is a strategic partner that empowers forestry professionals to overcome traditional planting challenges. It proves that with the right tools, the monumental task of restoring our planet’s green lungs can be made more manageable, more effective, and more sustainable. The BT 230 is not just a piece of equipment; it is a critical asset in the global fight against deforestation and a beacon of innovation for the forestry industry. |
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| Mondi pioneers Cradle to Cradle Certified® certification in South Africa with its uncoated fine paper portfolio |
Mondi, a global leader in sustainable packaging and paper, proudly announces that its uncoated fine paper portfolio of office paper and reels produced at its Merebank mill in South Africa has achieved Cradle to Cradle Certified® at the Bronze level. This milestone marks a first for South Africa making...
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| SEPPI H3 direct flail mulcher |
The SEPPI H3 flail mulcher has been a reliable partner for excavators weighing between 2 and 5 tons for years. With its compact design, it allows efficient maintenance of hard-to-reach areas, easily mulching grass and shrubs with a diameter of up to 3 cm. Now SEPPI is taking it a step further: The new H3 direct version offers even more efficiency with lower hydraulic power requirements, along with increased...
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| Mastering the Cut – The Art and Science of Pruning |
It’s that time of year again – winter, when gardeners prepare for one of nature’s most counterintuitive practices: cutting back to encourage growth. Pruning, typically done in late winter to early spring while many plants are still dormant, is often mistaken for simple trimming. In reality, it’s a mix of art and science that can transform struggling plants into thriving specimens...
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| From Farm Machines to Forest Management |
| How a Girl from Rural Zululand Made Her Mark on Forestry. Yoliswa Dlamini didn’t choose forestry – it chose her. Growing up in Melmoth, a small town in Zululand, weekends and holidays as the oldest child meant following her forester father into the plantations. She learned to operate farm machinery and helped with harvesting operations while other kids were playing games.... read more |
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| Loadtech Onboard Weighing - Smart Solutions for Timber Trucks |
Timber transport plays a critical role in the forestry industry, ensuring that logs are delivered efficiently and safely to processing facilities. However, the challenges of maneuvering large, heavy trucks through rugged terrains, combined with the variability in the weight of timber, make precise loading an absolute necessity...
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| Sappi Sells Lomati Sawmill to Normandien Farms | Jobs and Growth Secured |
| Sappi concludes sale of Lomati Sawmill to Normandien Farms. Sappi Southern Africa Limited (“Sappi”) is pleased to announce that the Competition Commission has approved the transaction in terms of which Normandien Farms (Pty) Limited (“Normandien”) will acquire the Lomati Sawmilling business (“Lomati”) from Sappi... read more |
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| FAE enters the rotary cutter market with the new RCM/SSL |
| FAE is expanding its range of products for the forestry and vegetation management market with the new RCM/SSL rotary cutter for 75-150 hp skid steers. This attachment’s main application is the removal of dense brush and small shrubs measuring up to 10 cm in diameter (up to 25 cm max intermittently). It is ideal wherever speed takes priority over final product size, and when the control of discarded... read more |
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| Competition Commission approves sale of sawmill by Sappi to Normandien Farms |
Paper and pulp producing group Sappi Southern Africa has announced that the Competition Commission has approved its sale of the Lomati Sawmill, in Mpumalanga, to another South African group, sawmilling and forestry company Normandien Farms. The approval was granted without conditions...
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| Final results of the Vietnam Forest Management investigation |
FSC and Assurance Services International (ASI) have concluded the Vietnam Forest Management Transaction Verification (TV) loop. The TV loop introduced an additional level of scrutiny, leading to the voluntary exit or mandated removal of non-diligent organizations by certification bodies. FSC and ASI launched the Vietnam Forest Management TV loop in 2023 to trace the...
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| Kesla Expands Product Portfolio with Two New Tree-Length Cranes |
The 2225 and 2228 are designed for loading long timber. Replacing the previous 2124L and 2024–2028 series, the Kesla 2225 and 2228 are engineered for demanding timber loading operations on semi-trailers and articulated trucks. With optimized hydraulics, robust boom structures, and advanced control systems, these cranes are built to meet the evolving...
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| Logset is releasing four new harvester head models |
| The TH60, TH70, TH80 and TH90 heads are the result of years of experience across six continents. With the introduction of the TH60 up to the TH90, Logset’s head range is expanding significantly. Each model includes the following key updates: Bucher hydraulic valve block, offering advantages such as proportional control of the saw unit...read more |
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| Hybrid-Electric Forwarder (HEV) Concept Prototype Unveiled for the First Time |
Komatsu Forest aims to reduce the net carbon emissions from its forestry equipment. In 2023, Komatsu Forest announced an initiative to establish a brand-new development department focused on the electrification of forestry machines. The initiative aligns fully with the company’s goals, where sustainability is a...
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| New 3.3 version of the Logset 4F GT forwarder released |
Logset 4F GT is the smallest forwarder in the Logset machine range. The machine has a loading capacity of 10 tons, and it is especially designed for thinning operations in dense forests. Due to its small size, the Logset 4F GT literally floats on various types of terrain with minimum ground damage. The Logset 4F GT, the last in the forwarder lineup to receive....
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| New research: Certification can improve economic benefits of European forests |
As demand for certified forest products increases alongside efforts to decarbonize the economy and mitigate climate change, understanding the economic benefits of forest certification is critical. A study published in Frontiers in Forests and Global Change explored this question. Researchers analyzed publicly available forest...
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| Imperial Timbers Building ‘Pallet King’ Status with Rhino Sawmills |
Imperial Timbers Pallet Manufacturing combines experience, insight, and new sawmilling technology to extend its reach in the highly competitive pallet manufacturing sector. Founding partner, Neil Dixon’s 2008 start of Imperial Timbers Pallet Manufacturing laid the cornerstone of the family business’ successes to date. Neil’s son Chad Dixon, a qualified...
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| Komatsu debuts new TimberPro swing machine |
Komatsu is excited to introduce the new TimberPro TN785D swing machine. This durable, powerful and productive machine is designed to move mass quantities of large timber in log loader and millyard environments. It is TimberPro’s largest, most powerful and highest capacity machine to date, and was built with proven components and new features to meet...
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| John Deere launches its large-size H Series wheeled machines |
The 1270H and 1470H Harvesters deliver impressive engine power and torque, enabling faster cycle times and improved cutting efficiency compared to the G Series. Advanced hydraulic systems, now featuring three dedicated pumps, provide greater power for feed rollers, saw units and boom movements. Compared to the G Series, H Series Harvesters enable...
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| Mack Pioneer™ Sets New Safety Standards with Comprehensive Protection Technologies |
Mack Trucks announced comprehensive details of the industry-leading passive and active safety technologies. The Pioneer introduces a suite of cutting-edge safety features, including front and side curtain airbags, an innovative digital mirror system and a high-strength steel cab designed to exceed rigorous safety standards...
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Through FSC-certified bush harvesting, Namibia is restoring degraded landscapes, powering the grid and creating thousands of green jobs.
As the sun dips below the Namibian horizon, it casts long shadows over what should be golden grasslands. Instead, dense thickets of thorny bushes stretch as far as the eye can see. With some bushes reaching five metres high, the landscape looks like a flourishing forest...
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| Waratah Forestry Equipment unveils new H427 harvester head |
Built for extreme forestry conditions, the H427 delivers strong performance, durability and precision for harvesting large timber on steep and rugged terrain. The H427 is purpose-built to meet the demands of high-production harvesting in larger timber conditions. Its design enhances operational efficiency, ensures long-term durability and simplifies maintenance...
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| OPINION | The deep roots of misconception about forestry, paper and print |
Asked to rate the environmental friendliness of eight materials, only 24% of consumers see paper as the most environmentally friendly, whereas 56% consider wood to be among the most sustainable materials. Cue a raised eyebrow: paper is made from wood...
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| John Deere Unveils Upgrades to Backhoe Lineup, Elevating Visibility, Comfort and Performance |
John Deere continues to refine its backhoe lineup with new machine and technology upgrades, enhancing operator comfort and jobsite awareness. The latest enhancements, an expanded, redesigned cab with five inches (12.7 cm) more of leg room when swivelling the seat and improved climate control to...
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| SAWMILLS FOR SALE / LEASE: |
| ENTRY LEVEL to EXECUTIVE... |
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Woodrise International Congress 2025 |
Date: 22 – 26 Sept 2025
Location: Vancouver, Canada
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Date: 12 - 15 May 2026
Location: NAMPO Park, Bothaville read more |
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2025 Modern Silviculture Webinar |
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| WOODBIZ AFRICA I SA FORESTRY MAGAZINE |
WoodBiz Africa I SA Forestry Magazine is the pioneering digital trade journal for the wood-based
sector in Africa.
It provides in-depth news about the people, communities, services, suppliers, ideas, technologies, research, development, and innovations that add value to sustainably-managed forests. |
| Free Digital Magazine for the Forestry, Sawmilling & Woodworking industries |
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| Thank you to the following companies who renewed their advertising across our platforms in August: |
| Welcome to the following companies that joined our platform in August: |
| Copyright © 2025, Fevertree Media (Pty) Ltd, All rights reserved. |
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