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JULY 2010 | |||
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What’s
On? 4th
Forest Science Symposium, by: ICFR and DAFF
3 – 4 Aug. 2010,
Hilton, KZN ------------------------------------------ IUFRO World
Congress, 23-28 Aug. 2010
Seoul, Republic
of Korea
“Forests for
the future: Sustaining Society and the
Environment” ------------------------------------------ International Erosion
Control Association
Annual
National Conference
28
Sept. – 1 Oct. 2010, Saasveld
Campus, George, NMMU ”Erosion
and Sediment Control: The key to sustainable food
production” ------------------------------------------ Fourth Forest
Engineering Conference Presented by
Stellenbosch University White River,
South Africa, 5-7 April 2011 “INNOVATION IN FOREST ENGINEERING
- ADAPTING TO
STRUCTURAL CHANGE” ------------------------------------------ The
5th
International Wildland Fire Conference,
Sun
City,
South
Africa,
9 to 13 May 2011
Conducted
under the auspices of the United Nations’ International Strategy
for Disaster Reduction (ISDR), and convened by the
regional sub-Saharan Wildland Fire Network, AfriFireNet.
visit www.wildfire2011.org News
from the branches: From KZN.............. Forestry
pioneers On
22 July 2010 the KZN Branch SAIF AGM was held at the historic Baynesfield
Estate (circa 1890) just outside of Pietermaritzburg. Rather than having a
guest speaker, a guided tour of the historic Estate was conducted. The
immense foresight of Joseph Baynes and his incredible fortitude towards
the development of the agricultural sector (in an era and country where
logistics and communication were rudimentary) was highlighted during the
tour. He was the man who introduced cattle dipping into SA, was a pioneer
of the dairy industry and was one of the first to use piped irrigation.
Many of his innovations still are used to this day. To
have our AGM on the Estate was a unique experience and emphasized to us
the applicability of retaining a pioneering spirit even in these modern
times. The forest industry has undergone many changes over recent years,
both positive and negative, and is likely to continue its metamorphosis
into an as yet un-described entity full of challenges and intrigue. Those
of us involved in the industry have the opportunity now to contribute
towards directing proceedings into a positive and meaningful direction.
Just as Joseph Baynes directed agriculture, we as forestry practitioners,
are currently best placed to direct our industry into a position where it
retains its relevance and productivity in a future world as yet
undiscovered. During
the KZN Branch SAIF AGM the following committee members were nominated and
approved:- Chairperson
:
Rob
Thompson rob@nctforest.com Committee: Flic
Blakeway fblakeway@csir.co.za Peter
Odell
nctbfld@sai.co.za Philip
Croft
philip.croft@icfr.ukzn.ac.za Marius
du Plessis marius.duplessis@mondigroup.co.za Jannie
Conradie jannie.conradie@sappi.com Sally
Upfold
sally.upfold@icfr.ukzn.ac.za Contributed
by Rob Thompson From
the Southern Cape Branch …………….. NMMU
Saasveld student attends 18th Commonwealth Forestry
Conference. Muedanyi Ramantswana, a
Saasveld BTech student with a Sappi bursary, attended The 18th
Commonwealth Forestry conference that was held from the 28th of
June to the 2nd of July 2010 in Edinburgh in Scotland. The
theme of the conference was “Restoring the Commonwealth Forests: Tackling
Climate Change”. He went to the conference after writing a paper on “The
effects of climate change on forestry with possible mitigation and
adaptation strategies”, which took first prize in the Forestry Youth
Advancement Programme organised by the Department of Agriculture, Forestry
and Fisheries (DAFF). One of the key messages from the conference was that
there are many challenges and opportunities related to the increasing
change in climate. The most important actions required are more integrated
global drives to involve communities in the programs of re-afforesting
degraded forest land and reducing global emissions while retaining and
preserving the biodiversity of the available forest resource. The REDD+
(Reduction of emissions through deforestation and forest degradation)
initiative is presently being implemented by different countries in order
to increase carbon stocks and gain incentives, but a more comprehensive
policy frame work and implementation strategy still needs to be
compiled. Contributed by Andrew McEwan First Impact Factor for Southern Forests: a
Journal of Forest Science Over the last 6 years or
so, SAIF embarked on a process to improve the standing of our science
journal: Southern Forests: a Journal of Forest Science. This work
was spearheaded by Dr. Colin Smith (then SAIF President) and Mr Denis Owen
(Editor). On behalf of all SAIF members, and indeed the entire scientific
community at large, SAIF News would like to extend our gratitude and our
congratulations to these two gentlemen and to the sub-editors, Drr. Dave
Everard, François Malan and Mr. Rob Pallett, as well as our collaborators
at NISC for the work they have put in to take our journal to new heights!
Certainly a job well done! See details below….. Southern Forests: a Journal of Forest
Science has recently received its first impact
factor of 0.500, published by Thomson Reuters in the 2009
Journal Citation Reports®. The journal is off to a
respectable start and currently ranks 35th out of the 46 rated
journals in the forestry subcategory. With ever-increasing interest
in the journal and expansion in the journal scope in recent years, NISC
and the Editorial Board anticipate a
rapidly improving impact factor in the
future. For further information on this journal or to submit
an article please visit: www.nisc.co.za/journals?id=11
and www.informaworld.com/tsfs
or E-mail: journals@nisc.co.za
To celebrate the release
of the journal's first impact factor NISC is offering free access to
the Editor-in-Chief's selection of
recent articles: Authors: John
Eggers; Andrew McEwan; Beatrice Conradie Authors: G.
H. Stoffberg; M. W. van Rooyen; M. J. van der Linde; H. T.
Groeneveld Regional vegetation management standards for
commercial pine plantations in South
Africa Authors: C.
A. Rolando; K. M. Little Author: S. B.
Dovey Authors: ECL Retief;TK
Stanger |
The 2010
SOCCER WORLD CUP has been and gone and appears to have been a great
success. Life is back to relative normality for most of us. May the latter
half of this year be a rewarding and successful
one! --------------------------------------- BOOK
LAUNCH On the
27th of July, the formal book release of Tree planting in
Southern Africa, Volume 3: Other Genera by Dr RJ Poynton
was held in Pretoria. SAIF was proud to co-host this event with DAFF. The
first two volumes in this trilogy, dealing with pines and eucalypts,
respectively, had been completed in 1979. However, several developments
and changes in forestry circles during the early 1990’s led to the delay
in publishing the third volume. Our deep appreciation goes to Dr. Ronald
Heath (DAFF) who moved mountains to facilitate the publication of the book
and for his role in arranging the launch. On behalf of SAIF, a word of
congratulations to Dr. Richard Poynton, for persevering with this work
under difficult circumstances. SAIF also needs to thank Corine Viljoen for
her assistance on the day. The book can be ordered from DAFF at
R650-00. (Order form
attached to this e-mail)
(Above,
from left) Drs. Ronald Heath, Richard Poynton, Prof. Colin Dyer and Mrs.
Christine Poynton pictured at the launch of Vol 3 in the trilogy: “Tree
planting in Southern Africa.” Below: Dr. Poynton
NEWS FROM
IUFRO .... Go out there
and hug a tree! THE HEALING
EFFECTS OF FORESTS "Many
people," says Dr. Eeva Karjalainen, of the Finnish Forest Research
Institute, Metla, "feel relaxed and good when they are out in nature. But
not many of us know that there is also scientific evidence about the
healing effects of nature." Forests – and
other natural, green settings – can reduce stress, improve moods, reduce
anger and aggressiveness and increase overall happiness. Forest visits may
also strengthen our immune system by increasing the activity and number of
natural killer cells that destroy cancer cells. Many studies
show that after stressful or concentration-demanding situations, people
recover faster and better in natural environments than in urban settings.
Blood pressure, heart rate, muscle tension and the level of "stress
hormones" all decrease faster in natural settings. Depression, anger and
aggressiveness are reduced in green environments and ADHD symptoms in
children reduce when they play in green settings. In addition
to mental and emotional well-being, more than half of the most commonly
prescribed drugs include compounds derived from nature – for example
Taxol, used against ovarian and breast cancer, is derived from yew trees,
while Xylitol, which can inhibit caries, is produced from hardwood bark.
Dr.
Karjalainen will coordinate a session on the health benefits of forests at
the 2010 IUFRO World Forestry Congress in Seoul. "Preserving green areas
and trees in cities is very important to help people recover from stress,
maintain health and cure diseases. There is also monetary value in
improving people's working ability and reducing health care costs." she
says. You may find
the original story with links to translations, media contacts and
illustrations here: SAIF
PUBLICATIONS "There is Honey in the Forest – Zinoju
Ethlathini" Extremely interesting account of the history of
the SA Forest Industry. Pensioners and SAIF members can buy one book per
person at a discounted price. Normal Price: R235-00 postage
included. Contact Corine Viljoen saif@mweb.ac.za Fire
Handbook The SAIF is very proud to announce that the
following book is currently in press: The Fire Manager’s Handbook on Veld
and Forest Fires: strategy, tactics and safety (2nd South
African Edition), by W. Teie and Tiaan Pool (Editor). The SAIF would like
to express their gratitude to FIETA for Sponsorship. Price: R600
non-members R500
for SAIF members
(one copy per member) R500
for orders of 30+ books Available from C. Viljoen saif@mweb.co.za
or Tel/Fax: 012 348
1745 SAIF Forestry
Handbook The Forestry Handbook has been revised
and updated and will go to print shortly. Editor in Chief, Brian
Bredenkamp, has indicated that the 2010 Edition will be available during
the second half of 2010.
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Newsletter – SAIF Contact Details: Ingré
du Toit Cell no: 0845840071 Email: verdurecc@gmail.com | |||
