forestry divisionSouth Africa's favorable growing conditions and the company's internationally acclaimed forest practices have resulted in some of the highest quality sustainable managed plantation forests in the world. The plantations have been managed in 22-28 year rotations for over 50 years, and the silvicultural and pruning regimes have resulted in a high percentage of clear wood and Mean Annual Increments of approximately 16 cubic meters per hectare per year. All of the forests are managed according to Forest Stewardship Council principles and criteria.
In total, York Timbers owns and leases about 86,900 hectares of land, 29,500 hectares are reserved for conservation, streams, heritage sites, roads and access routes.
Of the 57,400 hectares, 53,100 hectares are softwoods (approximately 63% Pinus patula, 27% Pinus elliottii, 9% Pinus taeda, and 1% other) and the balance is primarily Eucalyptus nitens and E. fastigata.
The value chain starts with York's world-class nursery that produces nearly ten million seedlings per annum. Years of research and development have resulted in seedlings that are disease resistant with optimal fiber characteristics. In establishing the plantations, care is taken to match plant species with the site characteristics in order to provide the best possible yield and quality and reduce the risk of pathogens. Land preparation for planting is designed to limit environmental impact and maximize the establishment of robust root structures. Planting is done at 1,111 stems per hectare with blanking taking place within six weeks. Where soil tests indicate nutrient deficiencies on specific sites, chemical fertilizers are used to improve the growing conditions. The silvicultural practices employed in maintaining, thinning and pruning the trees are done with a primary purpose of maximizing the yield of clear and tight knot material.
Weed infestation determines the method of maintenance that includes ring, row or spot clearance, Canopy closure at two or three years after planting ends the maintenance process except for noxious weed control.
To maximize the yield of clear and tight knot material, the trees are pruned four times over 10 years at heights of one, two and a half, five and seven meters. Both shearing and sawing practices are followed.
The first thinning occurs at ten years when the stand is reduced to about 650 stems per hectare and at fifteen years when the stand is further reduced to around 350 stems per hectare.
Felling, log preparation and extraction are carried out by a number of small business partners who comply with York Timbers strict environmental and safety policies. York Timbers has been and continues to be instrumental in developing small contractor businesses and conducts ongoing research and development of new and better extraction methods with its alliance partners.
A combination of mechanical skidders and high lead cable are used for extraction with bucking taking place in the field. All materials that are not required for processing are left in field to degrade naturally, over time, thereby providing the necessary organic nutrients to replenish the soil.
Road establishment and maintenance are carried out within strict parameters to minimize the impact on the environment, ensure adequate levels of drainage and maximize the aesthetics of the affected area.
