The world's forest landscapes are continually deterioratingand their capacity to act as atmospheric stabilisers for the safety of all life is at serious risk. Although South Africa is at the lower distributional limit of the Afro-montane and coastal dune forests, we have a responsibility to maintain a representation of these habitats in our national landscape.
 
Acclaimed for giving rural communities a stake in conserving some of South Africa's most threatened natural areas, the Sappi/WWF Forests and Wetlands Venture has been acknowledged by WWF-SA as having made a Gift to the Earth. Andrew Venter, manager of the Venture, says: 'I am confident that economically viable ecotourism developments can provide a viable alternative income for the remote rural communities who are the custodians of these natural gems. The projects provide the means while conservation benefits are achieved through increased protection.'

Another Gift to the Earth was Mondi Limited's certification of their plantation holdings under the principles and criteria of the international WWF-supported Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). By becoming FSC certified, Mondi, together with Safcol and Sappi, have committed themselves to responsible forestry management, and South Africa can now boast of having the highest percentage of FSC-certified plantation forests in the world.

Click here to view all our Forests projects