Sappi Southern Africa has created community-based nurseries in the Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District Municipality (Dr RSM) by partnering with the Department of Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment and the District Development Model Core Team. This partnership aims to establish five local municipal nurseries, which will serve as a solution to combat poverty and hunger while reducing the impact of climate change.
These community-based nurseries will produce indigenous trees, fruits, and vegetables for commercial farming and traditional medicine manufacturing. Sappi Southern Africa believes it can achieve environmental sustainability and socio-economic progress by investing in human and ecological development.
Establishing community-based nurseries in all five local municipalities will help fight against the district's hunger, poverty, unemployment, and inequality. It will also support small emerging farmers to access relevant agricultural, forestry, and tourism markets, making these sectors more racially inclusive.
The initiative aligns with Dr RSM District Development Model National Champion Hon Deputy Minister for Forestry, Fisheries, and Environment, Ms Makhotso Sotyu's mandate to plant one million trees through public and private sector programs within the Dr RSM District Municipality. Commercial timber forest development will also be the primary supplier for the Biomass Eco-Furniture Factory in Bloemhof.
During the visit, Executive Mayor Cllr Motseokae Maje encouraged the SAPPI delegation to explore other opportunities in the district that would benefit both SAPPI and the community. Sappi Southern Africa is committed to successfully working with the Department of Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment, the District Municipality, local municipalities, and all relevant stakeholders to establish community-based nurseries.
A technical team of experts from all stakeholders will convene urgently to kick-start the process of establishing the nurseries. The project's success will depend on the collaboration between all stakeholders to ensure that it positively impacts the community's lives while reducing the impact of climate change. Sappi Southern Africa's commitment to this project highlights the importance of private sector involvement in addressing social and environmental issues.
