Photo: Courtesy of NCT Forestry Cooperative
The winner of the Commercial Grower category was Geoff Wolhuter, a sixth generation Wolhuter on Elandspruit Farm in the province’s New Hanover area.
Judges praised Wolhuter’s silviculture practices, effective weed control, harvesting operations and firefighting capacities that were compliant with all aspects of sustainable plantation management.
He manages his family’s 305ha of timber plantations.
The winner of the competition’s Small-scale Grower category was heavy-duty transport driver-turned-forester Mandla Mvelasi, of Macambini Tribal Authority near Mandeni.
To start his business, Mvelasi purchased standing timber plantations from the local community and also achieved permission from the local chief use abandoned agricultural land for tree farming.
He now owns and manages 35ha of timber, and was commended by the judges for meticulously following best practices in land preparation.
