The Eastern Cape Development Corporation and Eastern Cape Rural Development Agency have unveiled a R113 million forestry commercialisation drive in Mkambati in Flagstaff in the OR Tambo district in the Eastern Cape.
Backed by a R83 million grant from the Development Bank of Southern Africa Jobs Fund, the community-based forestry commercialisation drive has already resulted in 2,700 hectares of new afforestation across five projects.
By the end of March, R56 million had already been spent on the five projects.
The ECDC says that by the end of the 2016/17 financial year, an additional 1,000ha will be planted.
It says the drive has already attracted the attention and active support of forestry giants such as KZN-based SAPPI Forests who have identified some 30,000ha for new afforestation in the Eastern Cape by 2033.
