By Lebogang Mashala
In a significant advancement for forestry education and small business development, Sappi has partnered with Agricolleges to launch four new online forestry skills courses.
These courses aim to enhance technical capacity across the forestry value chain and are especially geared towards small-scale growers and contractors. The initiative is strongly supported by Forestry South Africa (FSA) and seeks to make quality, affordable training more accessible.
The courses, hosted on Agricolleges’ e-learning platform, build on the strong training foundation established by Sappi Khulisa’s learning programme. The four courses offered are:
- Introduction to the Forestry Value Chain (3 weeks)
- Forestry Health and Safety (2 weeks)
- Basics of Forestry Certification (FSC and PEFC) (2 weeks)
- Managing the Environment in Forestry (2 weeks)
According to Sappi, this partnership with Agricolleges reflects the company’s commitment to creating shared value throughout its forestry value chain. It aims to empower small-scale growers, contractors, forestry value-chain suppliers, and community land reform beneficiaries.
Duane Roothman, Vice President of Sappi Forests, stated that this training is intended to help participants develop self-reliant and sustainable timber businesses. “This initiative is part of our knowledge-sharing programme,” Roothman said. “By providing accessible and practical training, we strive to make small growers’ businesses more viable and sustainable. Participants will also have the opportunity to fully integrate into the forestry value chain, including obtaining PEFC certification, which is important for our customers and consumers,” he added.
Francois Oberholzer from Forestry South Africa stated that this collaboration aligns perfectly with the principles of the Amended Forest Sector Code, which aims to uplift and empower small businesses while facilitating smoother access for new participants in the forestry value chain. “This initiative will not only aid their understanding and internalisation of the activities but will also enhance their operational capacity. It’s a much-needed initiative for the sector, and we fully support it,” said Oberholzer.
Wynand Espach from Agricolleges mentioned that by providing training through online and mobile platforms, the partnership will address the challenge of geographical distance from training facilities. “Our online facilitators offer continuous support and guidance in several official languages, enhancing participant comfort and ensuring a smooth and effective learning experience,” stated Espach.
Upon completing all four courses, learners will be eligible for a one-week practical training session at the Sappi Forestry Skills Centre near Richmond, KwaZulu-Natal, at no additional cost. While shared accommodation and meals will be provided, participants will need to arrange their own travel and personal protective equipment (PPE).
To successfully complete the programme, participants must achieve a minimum of 65% on assignments and module tests.
Looking ahead, Sappi and Agricolleges plan to expand the course offerings to include a full suite of courses covering silviculture, harvesting, and forestry business management. Future plans include translating courses into isiZulu and developing an accredited NQF Level 5 forestry qualification.
