The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) has transferred the management of seven state plantations to beneficiary communities in the Nqadu area, with a further four plantations set to be transferred during the financial year.
To build communities’ capacity to manage plantations, the department is facilitating partnerships between beneficiary communities and strategic forestry companies, which will provide investment, technical expertise, skills transfer and access to markets.
“We anticipate concluding these partnerships before the end of this financial year. One of the government's priorities is to ensure that communities become meaningful participants in the forestry economy.
“However, the transfer of plantations alone is not enough. Communities must also receive the technical, financial and business support required to operate commercially viable forestry enterprises,” Deputy Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Bernice Swarts said at the Nqadu Great Place in the Eastern Cape.
The Deputy Minister said the Eastern Cape remains one of South Africa’s priority provinces for forestry expansion, with more than 100 000 hectares identified as having afforestation potential.
Swarts stressed that the potential is subject to technical assessments, market availability, and strategic partnerships.
“Working together with the Kingdom, we have an opportunity to identify suitable land within the Nqadu area and bring it into production, subject to the necessary assessments.
“Such investment has the potential to create employment during plantation establishment and, over time, support downstream industries such as timber processing, furniture manufacturing and biomass energy,” she said.
Swarts was speaking during the nature-based carbon dioxide removal and rural development initiatives event, where she announced that the DFFE will donate 2 000 indigenous and fruit trees to the Nqadu Kingdom as part of government’s efforts to mitigate the effects of climate change.
Of these, 750 indigenous trees were delivered on Tuesday, while the remaining 1 250 fruit trees will be delivered by 15 August 2026.
Swarts said President Cyril Ramaphosa has directed the department to implement the National Greening Programme, which aims to plant one billion trees within five years.
The Presidential One Billion Trees Programme seeks to mobilise South Africans from all walks of life — including government, the private sector, business, interfaith formations, the diplomatic corps, traditional leaders, NGOs, youth formations and communities — to plant trees.
“In the 2025/26 financial year, the DFFE, working with stakeholders including Traditional Authorities, managed to plant 1 303 930 trees in one day - on 24 September 2025.
“Following this achievement, the department will be facilitating and coordinating the planting of 10 million trees across the country on 24 September 2026 as part of the broader goal of achieving the One Billion Trees target,” the Deputy Minister said.
According to Swarts, the department has already implemented six successful community projects across the Eastern Cape under the Global Environment Facility.
These projects have restored degraded land, promoted indigenous tree planting, strengthened agroforestry and improved food security, while creating temporary employment and building skills in rural communities.
The Deputy Minister urged the Nqadu Kingdom to work with government to introduce the E-Waste Programme to collect and recycle electronic waste.
“Electronic waste is one of the fastest-growing waste streams globally, but it is also one of the greatest opportunities for creating green jobs. Through our national E-Waste Programme, more than 108 tonnes of electronic waste have been collected, and approximately R400 000 has been received by communities as incentives.
“We believe that similar programmes can be introduced within the Nqadu Kingdom. Working together, we can establish community-based e-waste collection and recycling enterprises that create employment, particularly for young people and women, while protecting the environment,” she said. - SAnews.gov.za
