Media Release
July 2010
Sappi donation honours birthplace of former President Nelson Mandela
July 2010
Sappi donation honours birthplace of former President Nelson Mandela
Site Map Privacy Disclaimer
Copyright © 2010 TreeRoutes Partnership. All Rights Reserved. Design by Bellboy Media
Copyright © 2010 TreeRoutes Partnership. All Rights Reserved. Design by Bellboy Media
See Also
Trees planted by President Zuma and Chief Zwelivelile Mandela to commemorate Nelson Mandela’s 92nd birthday at Heritage Site.
When at his birth on 18 July 1918, Nelson Mandela’s father named him Rolihlahla - meaning “pulling the branch of the tree” - he would never have dreamed that his son would one day be honoured in a special planting of trees in the small rural village of his birth, in just one of many special activities that were held to commemorate his birthday around the world.
When at his birth on 18 July 1918, Nelson Mandela’s father named him Rolihlahla - meaning “pulling the branch of the tree” - he would never have dreamed that his son would one day be honoured in a special planting of trees in the small rural village of his birth, in just one of many special activities that were held to commemorate his birthday around the world.
Eco-tourism = Community + Environment
On Sunday 18 July 2010 - former President Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela’s 92nd birthday - a cluster of indigenous trees donated by global pulp and paper company Sappi, was planted by South Africa’s President Jacob Zuma in the small village of Mvezo, on the Mbashe River, district of Umtata in Transkei. The trees are a symbolic representation of a much larger legacy that will be left behind for future generations with the completion of the rehabilitation work on the Mvezo Great Place, which has been partially funded by Sappi through a donation of wooden poles that were needed to complete the development.
“For Sappi it makes sense on so many levels to contribute to this project”, comments Jan Labuschagne, Chief Executive Officer of Sappi Southern Africa. “It is an honour to contribute to this project which promises to bring prosperity, dignity and sustainability to the people of former President Nelson Mandela’s ancestral village by making sure that his rich and colourful heritage will live on in this important tourism development.”
“On an ongoing and strategic business level, Sappi is a committed partner in assisting with the development of emerging rural farmers and communities in the greater Eastern Cape area by promoting sustainable tree farming through its Project Grow activities. A key milestone will be reached when the most mature timber situated at Pelepele is harvested soon as it enters the end of its 10-year cycle. Collectively, the 70 households participating in this project should earn about R1million from this estimated 8,000 ton timber harvest”, said Labuschagne.
“On this level, the symbolic planting of the indigenous trees on the occasion of the former President’s birthday will hopefully also resonate with the local communities in emphasising the importance of our natural heritage” said Labuschagne. “In addition to providing the funding for the poles, we believe the planting of some indigenous trees at the homestead is an ideal way to further promote the philosophy of our ‘Sandisa Imvelo’ programme, whilst honouring Mr. Mandela’s magnificent legacy in a lasting and fitting manner”, concluded Labuschagne.
Ends
Issued by: Brunswick South Africa on behalf of Sappi Limited
Tel + 27 (0) 11 502 7300
For further information:
Zelda Schwalbach
Regional Communications Manager
Sappi Limited
Tel +27 (0)31 279 6203
Fax +27 (0)31 266 8124
Cell +27 (0)83 652 8528
zelda.schwalbach@sappi.com
Notes to editors
Community upliftment project at Mvezo Traditional Council Great Place
This project forms part of the Mvezo Development Trust’s activities under the leadership of Chief Zwelivelile Mandela, the grandson of Chief Dalibunga Nelson Mandela. Mvezo with its rich history and beautiful natural environment has been identified for development through the Department of Environment and Tourism. The development consists of a Multi-purpose centre, Tribal court and Craft centre, containing tributes to Nelson Mandela and photographs telling the story of his lifetime achievements. Huts have been constructed in the exact place where his former home stood, over half a decade ago. This prestigious site is set to be one of the World Heritages Sites reflecting on the Chieftainship of the Mandela’s, The Mandela Family and the Mandela’s in pre 1994 and the Mandela’s in Governance.
The crucially important social aspects of rebuilding this heritage site into a successful tourism venture is backed up by a comprehensive plan to also train and educate the local community members on the advantages of using the indigenous local fruit trees for various other uses such as producing jams and jellies, vinegars and wines; all elements that will contribute to the overall sustainability of the project and of the community that will depend on its success.
For more information : Jason Law at www.rootsandculture.co.za or on 084 527 0281
Project Grow – developing emerging farmers.
Sappi is a committed partner in assisting with the development of emerging rural farmers and communities in the greater Eastern Cape area by promoting sustainable tree farming through its Project Grow activities. This has been achieved through the work that it does with the numerous communities stretching from Port Edward to Kokstad, - a programme which was first started as far back as 1983 with only three growers in KwaZulu Natal. Most recently, this programme has also extended into the Eastern Cape with communities at Bizana, Matatiele, Lusikisiki and Mkambathi participating in the project.
Project Grow is a key factor in assisting emerging rural farmers to enter the formal economy on a sustainable basis, and Sappi has positioned itself as their preferred land-use partner. It is not only about the transference of sustainable tree-farming skills, but also advising small growers on other timber uses like bio-fuels, and in partnership with Asgisa, promoting agri-forestry skills to promote multi-crop farming so that tree farmers can earn substantial income from other agricultural crops while waiting for timber harvesting cycles to mature. This initiative has also gone a long way to relieve rural communities of their reliance on the natural indigenous environment for commodities such as fuel and building materials.
Sappi Sandisa Imvelo – Growing Nature
Through the Sappi Sandisa Imvelo – Growing Nature – initiative, a number of areas suitable for the planting of indigenous trees, such as the seam between their commercial forests and the public road, and other pockets of land have been identified on Sappi land in KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga. During each growth season Sappi has undertaken to plant at least 10, 000 indigenous trees, which will be sourced from the Wildlands Conservation Trust’s Indigenous Trees for Life project. Sappi has forged partnerships with other corporate companies in this regard and planted the trees on their behalf so that they may reap the benefits of carbon sequestration in a perfectly symbiotic win-win situation: where Sappi plants and maintains the trees, the partner company purchases the saplings from the Wildlands Trust who in turn fund learners from schools in local communities who grow the saplings in return for goods such as food, clothes, garden tools and bicycles.
“On an ongoing and strategic business level, Sappi is a committed partner in assisting with the development of emerging rural farmers and communities in the greater Eastern Cape area by promoting sustainable tree farming through its Project Grow activities. A key milestone will be reached when the most mature timber situated at Pelepele is harvested soon as it enters the end of its 10-year cycle. Collectively, the 70 households participating in this project should earn about R1million from this estimated 8,000 ton timber harvest”, said Labuschagne.
“On this level, the symbolic planting of the indigenous trees on the occasion of the former President’s birthday will hopefully also resonate with the local communities in emphasising the importance of our natural heritage” said Labuschagne. “In addition to providing the funding for the poles, we believe the planting of some indigenous trees at the homestead is an ideal way to further promote the philosophy of our ‘Sandisa Imvelo’ programme, whilst honouring Mr. Mandela’s magnificent legacy in a lasting and fitting manner”, concluded Labuschagne.
Ends
Issued by: Brunswick South Africa on behalf of Sappi Limited
Tel + 27 (0) 11 502 7300
For further information:
Zelda Schwalbach
Regional Communications Manager
Sappi Limited
Tel +27 (0)31 279 6203
Fax +27 (0)31 266 8124
Cell +27 (0)83 652 8528
zelda.schwalbach@sappi.com
Notes to editors
Community upliftment project at Mvezo Traditional Council Great Place
This project forms part of the Mvezo Development Trust’s activities under the leadership of Chief Zwelivelile Mandela, the grandson of Chief Dalibunga Nelson Mandela. Mvezo with its rich history and beautiful natural environment has been identified for development through the Department of Environment and Tourism. The development consists of a Multi-purpose centre, Tribal court and Craft centre, containing tributes to Nelson Mandela and photographs telling the story of his lifetime achievements. Huts have been constructed in the exact place where his former home stood, over half a decade ago. This prestigious site is set to be one of the World Heritages Sites reflecting on the Chieftainship of the Mandela’s, The Mandela Family and the Mandela’s in pre 1994 and the Mandela’s in Governance.
The crucially important social aspects of rebuilding this heritage site into a successful tourism venture is backed up by a comprehensive plan to also train and educate the local community members on the advantages of using the indigenous local fruit trees for various other uses such as producing jams and jellies, vinegars and wines; all elements that will contribute to the overall sustainability of the project and of the community that will depend on its success.
For more information : Jason Law at www.rootsandculture.co.za or on 084 527 0281
Project Grow – developing emerging farmers.
Sappi is a committed partner in assisting with the development of emerging rural farmers and communities in the greater Eastern Cape area by promoting sustainable tree farming through its Project Grow activities. This has been achieved through the work that it does with the numerous communities stretching from Port Edward to Kokstad, - a programme which was first started as far back as 1983 with only three growers in KwaZulu Natal. Most recently, this programme has also extended into the Eastern Cape with communities at Bizana, Matatiele, Lusikisiki and Mkambathi participating in the project.
Project Grow is a key factor in assisting emerging rural farmers to enter the formal economy on a sustainable basis, and Sappi has positioned itself as their preferred land-use partner. It is not only about the transference of sustainable tree-farming skills, but also advising small growers on other timber uses like bio-fuels, and in partnership with Asgisa, promoting agri-forestry skills to promote multi-crop farming so that tree farmers can earn substantial income from other agricultural crops while waiting for timber harvesting cycles to mature. This initiative has also gone a long way to relieve rural communities of their reliance on the natural indigenous environment for commodities such as fuel and building materials.
Sappi Sandisa Imvelo – Growing Nature
Through the Sappi Sandisa Imvelo – Growing Nature – initiative, a number of areas suitable for the planting of indigenous trees, such as the seam between their commercial forests and the public road, and other pockets of land have been identified on Sappi land in KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga. During each growth season Sappi has undertaken to plant at least 10, 000 indigenous trees, which will be sourced from the Wildlands Conservation Trust’s Indigenous Trees for Life project. Sappi has forged partnerships with other corporate companies in this regard and planted the trees on their behalf so that they may reap the benefits of carbon sequestration in a perfectly symbiotic win-win situation: where Sappi plants and maintains the trees, the partner company purchases the saplings from the Wildlands Trust who in turn fund learners from schools in local communities who grow the saplings in return for goods such as food, clothes, garden tools and bicycles.