Research : Stellenbosch University
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Department of Forest and Wood Science
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South Africa has beautiful forests. Some of the tree species are used for timber that compares favourably with the best in the world. Unfortunately, our forests of indigenous trees are limited, and many years ago it was found necessary to plant tree species from other parts of the world. The demand for timber shows a steady increase. To meet the need for timber, and to ensure adequate timber resources for the future, production from the current 1,3 million ha of afforested area must be expanded by establishing new forests or by increasing the current level of production from existing forests. When trees reach maturity, they must |
be harvested. This facet of the forestry industry is very complex,
especially where trees are growing on steep mountain slopes. Road systems must
be planned in detail and expensive harvesting equipment must be acquired and
used efficiently.
The processing of the timber is the next step in the value-adding chain. This can be done either at a sawmill, where it is sawn, seasoned and graded, ready to be used in building or furniture, or at a paper mill, or at some other plant for processing into chips or fibre. Forests do not only meet our timber needs. They also provide outdoor recreational facilities. The need for forests and parks is becoming increasingly important, especially with the current population growth. The majority of forestry areas are accessible to the public. The wider field of conservation ecology addresses this aspect, for example through the conservation of the fauna and flora and the management of the natural environment for its esthetical and scientific importance. Trees also play an important role in rural and urban areas for the production of firewood, bark, medicine and ornaments, thereby enhancing the general quality of life. Seen against this background, it is obvious that special knowledge, skills and management expertise are required for sustainable agricultural and forestry production. Our wide range of teaching programmes covers, therefore, all aspects of natural resource management, plant and animal production, post-harvest operations and economic management, from the basic science, through to the practical and economic aspects of the respective value chains of agriculture and of forestry. |
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Graduates in agriculture and forestry can follow a variety of careers in plant or animal production, conservation, processing and marketing. There are, for example, careers in research, teaching, consultation, information dissemination, farm management, | ![]() |
environment management and industrial plant
management (cellars, food factories and sawmills). Professions and careers such
as these are not only practised in agricultural and forestry companies, but
also in associated industries, commercial enterprises and government
departments. Agrisciences graduates of this University enjoy high regard in the
international labour market. Departmental FociScientific work at the Department of Forest and Wood Science is characterized by a healthy blend of basic and applied research aspects. Based on this principle, the department has defined four overarching research fields that not only reflect our vision concerning the main questions to be answered by Forest and Wood Science in the coming years, but also show our ability to address the value-added chain of wood, paper and biomass production from the beginning to the end. To tackle these relevant topics we joined forces in the department to cover the necessary bandwidth of expertise and will extend our activities in the defined focal research areas in the future. Precision Forestry
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